tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-77209072811628708432024-03-04T23:10:06.403-08:00Life is callingLife is calling!! and I have taken this opportunity to see where it takes me.. This is my Peace Corps experience!!!Pam's Worldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01488472459850155824noreply@blogger.comBlogger53125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7720907281162870843.post-21025853305436539422012-03-22T04:21:00.002-07:002012-03-22T04:31:18.867-07:00The Next Phase<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">My time here is winding down, my official Close Services (COS) is less than a month away. At this conference we speak of next steps and how to reintegrate back into good ole’ USA.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="color: blue;">As early as July 24</span><sup style="color: blue;">th</sup><span style="color: blue;"> I can leave and be on y merry way back to the U.S. SO </span><b><span style="color: red;">now what shall I do with my life?</span> </b><span style="color: blue;">For me this where my life starts. I have decided wherever life takes me I will like to do Peace Corps again; just to complete my life cycle; this is where life started so I feel it’s just my obligation to finish it here.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="color: blue;">Back to the important question: </span><b><span style="color: red;">What’s next?</span><span style="color: blue;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><br />
</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">If it’s up to me I won’t mind being a volunteer for the rest of my life, I like helping people, serving others and helping those in this global village of ours. Although that’s one option; what about having a life, having my own family, you know those big steps in life, (that are no quite feasible while being a volunteer). I guess the next best option is putting myself out on the job market and seeing how I sell. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">However, how does all this Peace Corps experience translate into having a sellable resume? Since being here I’ve learned how to live with the minimal, having a wardrobe that can fits in a backpack, I’ve experienced what it’s like to live on less than a dollar a day, I’ve brushed up on my French, now fluent in Pulaar and getting by in Woolof. I’ve learned how to walk the streets without getting dirty; I’ve perfected the art of taking bucket showers, using a douche (lantern). I’ve learned how to look good even though I’m covering up all my body, keeping sweat to a minimum although its 120 degrees outside. I’ve learned how to comfort myself on those lonely nights, how to hug or console myself when there is a problem; I’ve learned how be there for myself; to keep me from going crazy or crying my eyes out at night, because there is no one around me that will comprehend what I’m going through or I can’t fully express myself and frustrations in someone else’s language. Most of all I’ve learned to be comfortable in my own skin; with who I am and not be worried about outside appearances. But how does all this transpire into a resume and make more marketable amongst my peers. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So now I’m at a crossroads going back to America, and not knowing what to do with my life. </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">DECISIONS DECISIONS.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> Where I’m I going to live, who will hire me, will I still have my friends?<b> </b>Who will want to me my friend due to all the awkward, bizarre habits and things I’ll do and say when I’m back? <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So here it is all laid out, my inner most fears. How I’m I going to make it back in the U.S?<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Now I’m looking for jobs anywhere and everywhere, in the U.S, in Africa. I’m willing to go anywhere.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">SO just check out the link of my résumé and see how those greats skills I have learned did transpire into resume perfect skills. </span></span><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: magenta; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-US">PASS IT AROUND <o:p></o:p></span>PASS IT AROUND</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><a href="https://docs.google.com/file/d/1GDTdUqVdIPFfMjtAD_wO3v6dUBlRBzv7Ykkj2FUmWRNafJhaKnkmK_fCBcGv/edit" target="_blank">My Resume</a></span></div>Pam's Worldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01488472459850155824noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7720907281162870843.post-54631483126469026622011-12-03T14:50:00.000-08:002011-12-03T14:50:24.025-08:00Peace Corps Is Needed: Now more than ever<div style="color: blue;">This post was inspired by a book I recently read written by Bill Mahner, titled <i><u>When You Ride Alone You Ride with Bin Laden: What the Government Should Be Telling Us to Help Fight the War on Terrorism.</u></i></div><div style="color: blue;"><br />
</div><div style="color: blue;">I hear people ask, is Peace Corps really making a difference? Are Peace Corps volunteers needed? Can't we put the money to better us? But I say, yes we are needed and we do make a difference. We are truly Peace soldiers.</div><div style="color: blue;"><br />
</div><div style="color: blue;">The second and third goals of PC are, help promote a better understanding of Americans on the part of the peoples served and helping promote a better understanding of other peoples on the part of Americans.</div><div style="color: blue;"><br />
</div><div style="color: blue;">In our global village this is needed, now more than ever. We have reached a point in American life, where people are clueless about foreign affairs, we don't understand nor take the time to understand other countries or cultures. We are just concerned about us and us alone not caring about others. We (PC volunteers) can be a great tool an asset in fighting the war on terror, because we are learning about others, their countries cultures and beliefs and taking that back to the American People.</div><div style="color: blue;"><br />
</div><div style="color: blue;">John Powers of LA Weekely once said, "They hate us because we don't know why they hate us." So this is a time when we need to learn about others and stop being such a greedy society, we need to know why others have come to hate us much, why we are not liked and ITS NOT just the Muslim world.</div><div style="color: blue;"><br />
</div><div style="color: blue;">Theretofore as Peace Corps volunteers, we are going out there, learning about others, getting a better understanding of cultures and understanding why there is soo much hatred for Americans. We are following a call of time in which we are not asking what our country can do for us but what we can do for it. A time like World War II, when young men and women easily gave up their life for the cause. A time when rich boys like George HW Bush, Jack Kenndy gave up their future to serve for their country.</div><div style="color: blue;"><br />
</div><div style="color: blue;">As PC volunteers, we are doing what other countries need of us, to learn about them, care about them and just show that we care. Show them that we are not just occupied by our big fancy cars, fashion.</div><div style="color: blue;"><br />
</div><div style="color: blue;">Being here sitting with these people, talking to them, sharing our stories, hearing their stories, we are making connections about why we are not so liked around the world. Why using so much oil is fueling terrorist, how buying big diamonds support the bad guys. We create peace.</div><div style="color: blue;"><br />
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So as Peace Corps volunteers, we are making a difference, caring about others, those people that are so different from us. Making the connections and making America less hated. We are showing people that as Ameicans we care about something more; not just about who we have to step over to get that next dollar. And as we go back home we show America, not everybody is a terrorist and not every Muslim believes Osama.</div><div style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>At least that's how I see it!!</i></span></div><b>Check out the book if you get a chance</b>Pam's Worldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01488472459850155824noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7720907281162870843.post-16030604008530323322011-10-18T09:36:00.000-07:002011-10-19T04:42:50.964-07:00Being Black In Peace Corps<div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">There has been a lot of talk lately about race in PC Senegal, and I just want to add my 2cents. I must start of by saying I’ve also been that one raisin amongst all the white chocolate, as a result the way I process the race issues is not the same as most. The issues of race for me surfaced when I moved to the U.S as a result I still don’t comprehend the issue entirely. I mean even the issue of race in the PC I just started understanding it because people are talking about. I never knew how comments such as “us whites, us whites in Senegal,” (as there are more whites tahn balck and people just ID with the majority, as its is the American way, majority rules) were an issue till it was brought, and I guess that is due to my ignorance. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">In training most volunteers, as 95% of them are white just talk about how its hard being white in Senegal an forget to incorporate the minority of the group. To me this is not an issue, as I understand there are more whites than other race, as they are just talking about their experiences. I remember during training when people said stuff like that, ill just talk about how hard of a time I’m having as been black, or just my experiences. As black in PC I understand the issue but I don’t empathize or quite comprehend. That has always been a problem for me, even between my friends back home, they will say something like that was so racists, they did that just because I was black, I will proceed having a dumb stare like, O really. I’ve had countless arguments with my cousin about it, when it comes to our neighborhood, sport players and as always I just don’t quite get it. As I said blame it on my ignorance. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Well for me, being black in Senegal, I’ve had more issues dealing with the treatments I received from Senegalese people than other volunteers. Mostly people automatically assume I’m Wolof (one of the major ethnic group here) when they see me. They automatically start speaking Wolof to me. I’ve had countless, pointless conversations proving that I’m American. I’ll tell people I’m a American Peace Corps volunteer, and they will proceed to ask me where are you from, “America.” Then they will proceed to ask where is your family from, where were you born and I’ll tell them America (expect a few close friends and my family) and they never believe me because there are no blacks in America. I know telling them I’m from America and I don’t know my origin is a lie. But its just to prove that there are blacks in America, who don’t even know Africa.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Also when I’m around other volunteer, Senegalese will just talk to the other volunteers, the Toubabds and just ignore me. They will be so excited to talk to my peers, shake their hands, and when it come to me sometimes, I don’t even get a hi. There have also been countless of times, were I was told I’m not light enough to be American, I need to bleach my skin, or I need to perm my hair. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">These things annoys me because these African treat themselves worst than they do a stranger, then will be so open and hospitable to Toubab , but when it comes to their kind they ignore them, or just don’t care. It annoys me that they have not learned to love themselves and be kind to each other instead of the “whiteman”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Yet again, I’m happy to be black here, because I don’t get harassed, bothered or get to shake dirty kids hands as my peers. I get to blend in more than they do and I feel I reach a level of integration that they will never be able to achieve.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">As result of these issues within PC Senegal Liz (well more Liz) and I are coming up with solutions and plans that can be implement to make PC Senegal more inclusive to everyone, black, white, Asian, old young, church goers, gay, lesbian, etc. Because after all, at the end of the day our Peace Corps family is what we have and who we depend on to make it through the years as a Peace Corps volunteer, therefore we all have to be one BIG happy Family.</span></div>Pam's Worldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01488472459850155824noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7720907281162870843.post-60665195621972173662011-10-18T09:32:00.000-07:002011-10-19T05:04:23.723-07:00Kancorans<div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Its </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">circumcision season here in the Fulladom What does that mean? It means little boys get their pines circumcised. So little boys who have reached that age, decided by their parents get their pines circumcised. </span></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://photos-b.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/315898_2034979561948_1467968025_31630023_1275039545_a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://photos-b.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/315898_2034979561948_1467968025_31630023_1275039545_a.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000; font-size: small;">Circumcised boys, at the coming out ceremony</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Couple of boys get together in one house decided by their parents and they will leave there for a certain amount of time, till they are healed. After they are all together they will go to the hospital (for those fortunate to live in cities, if not the local doctor) and get circumcised. They will come home and learn some life skills till they are healed. During this time they are not allowed to see their parents. They are helped, taught by older brothers, uncles, whom have al passed that stage in llfe.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/307255_2034990202214_1467968025_31630035_1677678038_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/307255_2034990202214_1467968025_31630035_1677678038_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000; font-size: small;">Kancoran</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">These men will go out dressed as kancorans to get money to help provided for the boys while they are under their care. The boys will sometimes sit on the road on all fours or sing, to also get money and donations. These kancorans parade the streets dancing scaring away little boys and women. They carry around machetes and whips, and they do use the whip to beat boys and women. While parading people, mostly women and children will run after and away from them: getting them to dancing. while doing so they will give them some money. You can even pay them so dance for you, while videotaping or taking photos. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://photos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/316929_2098242290956_1092330093_31819927_1406301577_a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://photos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/316929_2098242290956_1092330093_31819927_1406301577_a.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">Dancing</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">After the healing period they will have a big ceremony, in which the boys will come out. During this time there will be various kancorans. After scaring boys and women they will have a big dance party in which they are allowed to stan around and watch. Various ceremonial things will be done to the circumcised boys, it involves beating them, doing flips over them, jumping over them, etc. Their family members will all be there with some men dressing up as women and the women dressed in men clothing with makeup and beeds all over them. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">Women in their outfits</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/317074_2098289692141_1092330093_31819971_1519466422_n.jpg?dl=1" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/317074_2098289692141_1092330093_31819971_1519466422_n.jpg?dl=1" width="176" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">Men dressed as women at the ceremonial event</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">The ceremony</span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The next day the boys will get dressed in newly-made outfits and parade the town, with some kind of hand-made toy in their hands, without kancorans. </span></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/296275_2034999722452_1467968025_31630046_909621354_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/296275_2034999722452_1467968025_31630046_909621354_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000; font-size: small;">This kancoran cut someone face open.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">Dancing</span></td></tr>
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</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: lime; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: xx-small;">thanks to Mr. Pierre for some of the photos</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div>Pam's Worldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01488472459850155824noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7720907281162870843.post-51169797988497637132011-08-12T07:52:00.000-07:002011-08-12T07:58:58.621-07:00I'm Loosing My Hair!!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I was looking at my hair natural hair diary yesterday. This includes hair videos pictures since I started my natural hair journey, and I got depressed. On July1st 3 years ago I started my natural hair journey. My hair is now shorter than it was last year, quite sad. It’s significantly shorter, by inches. I knew it was breaking off but I did not realize it was this bad till I looked at my dairy. I’m shredding, loosing hair, I’m not quite sure how healthy it is at the moment, don’t even want to think about it. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I am very sad about this regress. I don’t know what to do. Don’t have all my products here; I’m not doing what I normally do to it, the sun, not eating/living healthy, all this is taking its toll. I know there are better things in life to worry about like, starving children, wars, disease but just had to get this out.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9NFTNt4gmyy5Ay9X2tJbuXs1om9XUVoDjWIhQ5UcWdR3c5jJIfyqgy_HZ0uaxeaPKamiIRCSbkARVoY6Ce8saB6dx37jvZ8SMC4VJ7PPmRfcrnVoTMdmikMXJG-DjB1YT3JSWqWihn_U/s1600/30910_1318251711679_1092330093_30720377_6779066_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240px" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9NFTNt4gmyy5Ay9X2tJbuXs1om9XUVoDjWIhQ5UcWdR3c5jJIfyqgy_HZ0uaxeaPKamiIRCSbkARVoY6Ce8saB6dx37jvZ8SMC4VJ7PPmRfcrnVoTMdmikMXJG-DjB1YT3JSWqWihn_U/s320/30910_1318251711679_1092330093_30720377_6779066_n.jpg" width="320px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Summer june 13 2010</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Dy5P9cyr4zaaOip7I-WEeJ8CU4ymdEFttpq-JE_hQocaWPt54J9sTHmXvmVyUXG1XqBtzJeWWXRNElb1bIdJPC9OOmyImkI8yyKAAKdBPutzQyByeGYjNr4jRBoeV3H330Zmxy71rko/s1600/35079_1349054121720_1092330093_30794884_3627199_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320px" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Dy5P9cyr4zaaOip7I-WEeJ8CU4ymdEFttpq-JE_hQocaWPt54J9sTHmXvmVyUXG1XqBtzJeWWXRNElb1bIdJPC9OOmyImkI8yyKAAKdBPutzQyByeGYjNr4jRBoeV3H330Zmxy71rko/s320/35079_1349054121720_1092330093_30794884_3627199_n.jpg" width="177px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">july 2010</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhpxYgYGhYSPpWa4lulca0UBX5ckHWJE8xHf1K0Gf3Ow6MU80fRYxrS7FqlGvaUtPErVT3_lyH4_bUF1MFOUsGs3gTrY_bGVvZe77xfMiG6SHPUyF3Awdg5vHWibZVh5jbjWJXNMkuINY/s1600/32570_1317991425172_1092330093_30719672_1844589_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320px" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhpxYgYGhYSPpWa4lulca0UBX5ckHWJE8xHf1K0Gf3Ow6MU80fRYxrS7FqlGvaUtPErVT3_lyH4_bUF1MFOUsGs3gTrY_bGVvZe77xfMiG6SHPUyF3Awdg5vHWibZVh5jbjWJXNMkuINY/s320/32570_1317991425172_1092330093_30719672_1844589_n.jpg" width="180px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">june 2010</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDYokP2M1X7LNAIICWZN_fza5D62kojw70f5S8tRlC81-XNNYTdmEMcplAlIoYb-0LjtKktgFYq894XufNFfk_s-wCTJAHyg9X0FaXQe_WsHLcQUjtllfiF-G2O4aZGkO6-V4eoUF7FNM/s1600/38097_1349051481654_1092330093_30794863_4622432_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320px" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDYokP2M1X7LNAIICWZN_fza5D62kojw70f5S8tRlC81-XNNYTdmEMcplAlIoYb-0LjtKktgFYq894XufNFfk_s-wCTJAHyg9X0FaXQe_WsHLcQUjtllfiF-G2O4aZGkO6-V4eoUF7FNM/s320/38097_1349051481654_1092330093_30794863_4622432_n.jpg" width="177px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">july 2010</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> I don’t know what to do to get it back to where it was. I am at lost of words. Other than the fact I’m not taking proper care of my hair, I genuinely miss doing my hair, playing with it, trying different styles. This is one thing I always say I miss most America. And yesterday I got proof that its, BAAAD. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I might just lock it and cut it when I get back to the U.S. and start fresh, however, I don’t know how my community will; feel about that. Cutting it now will be worst, so I’m just out of options.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsbRlV4uBn9wHsEYcZ95A8hN1ZGAGXgeOGVZWFLbJKy_EtCvdunI163pz9x2saCRuGEePQ3jaU_LvEFXhZ37_81yy94ndnwqxnlLS84FVWQDWUzbfgZkWtcqOGt3b8bZIuEAHPaeWin6c/s1600/k.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320px" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsbRlV4uBn9wHsEYcZ95A8hN1ZGAGXgeOGVZWFLbJKy_EtCvdunI163pz9x2saCRuGEePQ3jaU_LvEFXhZ37_81yy94ndnwqxnlLS84FVWQDWUzbfgZkWtcqOGt3b8bZIuEAHPaeWin6c/s320/k.jpg" width="179px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">december 2010</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigQmKj4A3crzWkS_0QG9WBJKtbV1BfBdOxZhnjo_53HjagddoG2hFyro3jVCpI-Nfdaa_yj__89Cqn2_EZe7SZ4Dr5j_gEOKYTfcC_9E085ybt26SXGzxWHU1GIi3jYwNPS7cloCeQSAY/s1600/j.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320px" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigQmKj4A3crzWkS_0QG9WBJKtbV1BfBdOxZhnjo_53HjagddoG2hFyro3jVCpI-Nfdaa_yj__89Cqn2_EZe7SZ4Dr5j_gEOKYTfcC_9E085ybt26SXGzxWHU1GIi3jYwNPS7cloCeQSAY/s320/j.jpg" width="180px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">july 2011</td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><em><span style="color: #cc0000;">I know these pic dont help bu its BAAAD</span></em>Pam's Worldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01488472459850155824noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7720907281162870843.post-49588837823796154492011-08-10T03:03:00.000-07:002011-08-10T03:03:35.159-07:00A year In, Looking Forward to the Next!!!!!!<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: orange; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sometime today a year ago, I left America, answering to one of the most important, life changing calls’ of life. Tomorrow, it will be a year in country. At the moment writing, I’m in Dakar, at our PC Senegal office, in the volunteer lounge. My purpose for being here: Liz, one of my rocks in country went home, to Amerique for vacation, so I decided to see her off for, the time being (she better comes back), mid service check-up. I must say all is in order, minus a few chest pains and an infection that is been taken care-off at the moment, and what’s ALWAYS a bonus, getting into some trouble and eating till I drop. Oh and I found out I’ve putt on some weight. OH rice, how I hate thou!</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: orange; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I remember when I first got off the plane, about 2am. The humid air at such hour in the morning was my welcome to Africa, then everyone at the airport trying to be your friend, while looking for some handouts. We them drove about 3hrs to the Theis, and then definitely knew I was in the land of tengana (hospitality), the staffed welcomed us, with joy, big hugs, laughter and OFFCOURSE some dancing at about 5am. The entire I was thinking how these can people be so jovial at cette l’heurre.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: orange; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I’m at the point of my service, we I’ve just accepted the little things, like taking 12hrs just to travel to the capital from my site, due to bad roads, car troubles and just plain greedy people. Accepted, that rice is a main dietary staple, people listening to music on full blast without headphones. Where little things just don’t bother me anymore, or it just depends on the day. I’m also at the point where the things and people of Senegal that I love, I love more and just appreciate, and the others that just annoy me; my tolerance for accepting them is just deteriorating. I’m, also at the point where I’m well integrated enough, that I’ve realized although I’m here to learn these people’s culture and valves, I should remember not to loose myself in the process and what I believe in, what are my values. Although by no small defeat, this will help shape Pamela. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: orange; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I’m comfortable enough to let them see the true Pam, while still respecting their values, although this is not a two way street. I find myself constantly defending what, I do, why I do it and how things are just not the same in the U.S. Most of all, my thinking of “you don’t have to understand or agree with ones values and beliefs; you just have to respect it,” is now deeply rooted in me.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: orange; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Is PC what I thought it would be? No. I did not have much expectations coming into PC, I just had a goal of giving back and helping my birth land, giving it something to be proud. I wanted my first home to move forward, with the help of my second, with me as a guiding light. After all that was one of my main reasons for going after my American Citizenship, to serve and become a PCV.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: orange; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was expecting more development work and experience, and less cultural exchange. I was expecting to have more projects by now (they say that usually comes in the second here), more sustainability work and a more a defined program and my purpose of being here and how to help and move the people of my community forward. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: orange; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If I could go back will I still do PC? Yes. It has been one of the best experiences of my life, and I’m looking forward to my next year, with apprehension and joy. I have made a difference, I have helped my community. I’ve made long lasting friends, Senegalese and Americans. I always have a family and home somewhere here in Senegal. I’ve given people here stories to tell for years to come. I’ve placed smiles on peoples’ faces, bonded and made a connection with this country that will always be a part of me. It has raised more questions for me, about my future, my dreams aspirations, and values beliefs, relations, and relationships, and the true meaning of friendships. . It has shattered what I once knew and just giving me a new lens for looking at life.</span><br />
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<div style="text-align: right;"><span style="background-color: #93c47d; color: #cc0000; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So clinking the champagne glass and waiting for the next leg of this journey. </span></div><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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<span style="background-color: #93c47d; color: #cc0000; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thanks to those who have helped keep my sanity along the way, the emails, messages, and calls. </span><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #ffd966; color: magenta; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Loving the many parts of Pamela</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #ffd966; color: magenta; font-family: Verdana; font-size: large;">:)</span></div><br />
<div style="text-align: right;"></div>Pam's Worldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01488472459850155824noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7720907281162870843.post-34999414043952671202011-08-01T08:41:00.000-07:002011-08-01T08:41:46.350-07:00America: I Appreciate You<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The more I learn about the Senegalese culture, its people, and values the more I’ve come to truly appreciate America and the comforts its offers to those who are fortunate enough to live there. There are things that are just part of the American life, which one takes for granted that becomes quite eminent, while leaving in the middle of no where. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And no it’s just the obvious things that you that are just a evident part of life, the yang to the yang of life, such as, clean running water, 24hrs electricity, Aced rooms, internet 24/7, a sit down toilet. Or not even a properly function car, people being on time, health care, etc functioning public transportation system, getting everything I need without leaving the house(although that I do miss sometimes, lol).</span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It’s the abstracts and sometimes not so abstract things like the right to a free education, the time allotted for I, JUST TO BE A KID, a government that helps me out when I fall down on luck, the right to choose, free thinking, to be independent, to dream, to believe, that I can be whatever I choose, and that the sky is truly the limit. The choice to have and make educated decision, having education discussions, to hold my political leaders accountable, (now with it been election season), to see free and (maybe not so) fair elections, the change of command without major hassle, or the president trying to change the constitution to suit his needs. With all this election hoopla, I just think back to the day President Obama took the oath of office and became the 44th president of the United States. Most people did not like it, hated him but, its was done drama free, its just amazing to see such peaceful transfer of power that most countries don’t enjoy and most people of the world will never experience. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I do also miss the customer is always right, as customer service is nonexistent in this country. Sometimes you would think you were begging people to give you their products for free, by the way they act towards their customers. I also miss being treated as an equal because of my gender. Here I’m just a second class citizen, were my opinion does not matter and my only domain is in the domestic arena. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Most of all I miss the right to just be ME. I always have to constantly defend why I do things the way I do things. The way I dress, walk, do my hair, talk, etc.</span><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">One thing journey has helped be realized is how fortunate I was to grow up in the United States, things that we take for granted that are just the way of life are not even foreseen in this culture. It has made me truly proud to be an American, and now I see what all the fuss is about for that blue book. (American passport). </span></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBrIsbGzL7gILxMeVOJsNwTTndU2lNP9vCh9hXJ6pxWhbsVDMm-YWaZZp08lPICWiLdjZDgPOqm_5c-AerzUmM_VRzZ8J377ImeBUSFYiUksJNkx10l7tEpPYratxr5Txs4iIFqbz2oz4/s1600/SAM_3426.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: lime;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBrIsbGzL7gILxMeVOJsNwTTndU2lNP9vCh9hXJ6pxWhbsVDMm-YWaZZp08lPICWiLdjZDgPOqm_5c-AerzUmM_VRzZ8J377ImeBUSFYiUksJNkx10l7tEpPYratxr5Txs4iIFqbz2oz4/s320/SAM_3426.JPG" t$="true" width="180" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: lime;">Rebeled and did some twists</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>Pam's Worldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01488472459850155824noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7720907281162870843.post-3962114247554512192011-06-24T12:30:00.000-07:002011-06-24T12:33:33.601-07:00Birthday Celeberation!!!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/247819_10100504924079991_10048429_60132529_7722086_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: #990000;"><img border="0" height="240" i$="true" src="http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/247819_10100504924079991_10048429_60132529_7722086_n.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #990000;">Bday cake ordered by Sam.. Was almost as decilious as the U.S.</span></td></tr>
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One of the best Bday memories of my life!! Who can top drinking Polish nuns dancing souja boy “Crank that” and them acting like American thugs.<br />
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I must start of by saying I love my PC/Kolda family, they made this one of my best bday memories. One of the best birthday’s I’ve had since my young age. Oh I must add I am now 22, getting up there in age.<br />
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Well, my actually bday was uneventful, just any other day in the life of Ms. Pratt. Got calls from American friends, (well only two, Yinka and Lele) and family, more calls from the PC family. <br />
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This is not how I intended to spend the day BUT this is Senegal, nothing goes as planned. I was in Dakar for med reasons, and then decided to visit St. Louis (5hrs from Dakar) for the weekend, it was jazz festival. Then I was going to take the overnight bus home, on Sunday and be on time to celebrate my bday, the Monday. So I reserved my space on the bus, however, I was not able to pick up my ticket since I was in St. Louis, I was only going to be able to make it back on time for the bus at night. And OFFCOURSE, they said it was okay, but guess what, it was not, I had to pay for the ticket by a certain time or they will give away my spot and that is what they did.. COMMUNICATION! COMUNICATION!! So just bought a ticket for the next day.<br />
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Therefore I was stuck on my bday in Dakar, in the Med hut (our PC hospital), with not enough money in my bank account to celebrate in Dakar. Friends mandate (paycheck) had ran out, already being in Dakar for a week<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">Polish ganster nun</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">PARTY!!!</td></tr>
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Ok fast-forward, make it back to site and I got to celebrate my bday that Wednesday. <br />
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Mike, my husband, Sam, my jaja, Jeanne, Rachael, Cara and Charlene, and Aly in Spirt all made it out for the celebration, with my banker friends whom got there later. OH and the nuns. <br />
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It was really lovely; the nuns learning how to crank that, Macarena, and various others. We had delicious warthog, cake, and delicious Senegalese beverages. <br />
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We made it home about 2 in the morning, with four people in my bed (the intake of how many people my bed can take keeps going up) and one on the floor (we could have squeezed her in too)!!!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/261715_10100504924394361_10048429_60132534_2404595_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" i$="true" src="http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/261715_10100504924394361_10048429_60132534_2404595_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">Lecious pork dinner</span>.</td></tr>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">So this is just thanks to everyone who made my 22 years on this earth special.. LOVE YOU all <span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span> </span></div>Pam's Worldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01488472459850155824noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7720907281162870843.post-19819098901636684502011-06-12T10:19:00.000-07:002011-06-12T10:19:39.167-07:00As Integrated as I get!!!!!!!<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Almost a year in-country, and about 10 months as a volunteer and at site, and I’m quite comfortable in my community. I feel well integrated, as integrated as I can ever be. My language is flourishing; I can have full-lengths conversations now about serious issues. Well as serious as conversations get in <place w:st="on"><country-region w:st="on">Senegal</country-region></place>, there are not much intellectual conversations going on.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I now get comments like “you are a Senegalese now,” “you can really speak the language,” I am included in family conversations and decisions. Quite awesome!! I really feel like I can do as chez moi. This is not to say I’m 100% integrated, but I’m as integrated as I can get, granted I’m only here for two years, I have a whole n’other life and world waiting for me. I have come to realize I will never be a true Senegalese no matter how much integration I do and the faster I’ve come to realize that the better my service is going.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Some things I’ve learned to tolerate and live with it for the moment; such as I’ll always have living creatures in my room no matter how hard I try to get rid of them. I’ll have to use the left hand for the moment, I can’t take showers, or sit on a real toilet, or that I’ll be eating rice daily. Other things I just refuse to accept, like being treated a as second class citizen been treated as the rich <country-region w:st="on"><place w:st="on">America</place></country-region> (which I’m not). Not agreeing with teachers and students relations, men having more than one girlfriend at a time. Overall just not subsuming to the ideas, (which is due to lack of education of the people), which I know if I get use to, it will be hard to break when I return. Writing this I’ve come to realize WOW I’m really getting comfy here and I’ve come to accept quite a few things and just learning to adapt and rolling with the punches. When I’m away from my family I really do miss them, I miss my routine and the many friends I’ve made along the way. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Work is coming along slowly but surely. I’ve also come to terms with myself that there are three goals of PC, each equally important. It’s not just about the development work but also the sharing and exchanging of cultures and ideas, which is as important if not more. Because if we do truly understand each other (the various cultures) there will be less tension, which increases peace.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">With all that said I’ve been doing quite a lot, working mostly with school, I have a few clubs going at the school, computer classed, giving (trying) to give the various women’s groups the basic business skills. Working on scholarships, staying in school programs early teen pregnancy, some environmental and health issues.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">No “grand” projects so far, just working daily one person at a time, which is were the real change lies. Laying the foundation!!</span></div><span style="color: #351c75;"></span>Pam's Worldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01488472459850155824noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7720907281162870843.post-33185208438014417222011-06-06T06:51:00.000-07:002011-06-06T06:52:59.729-07:00Food for thought: Its the dating game<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">This is something I've come to realize that is very paramount, in African cultures (maybe it’s just an African thing or a developing world thing has those too always kind of go hand in hand with various issues). I've experienced it first hand in Sierra Leone; see it happening here in Senegal, having personal stories from friends in other African countries that have seen this transpire in their day-day lives. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">What is this thing you ask? There is no one word for it so I'll try my best to describe it. Before I go any further I'm not saying every one is this way, it’s just a generalization and there are always people who don't fit into these categories.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I guess you can call it cheating but it’s not the cheating that the problem. Not that cheating is not a problem but people all over the world cheat. And this is about cheating while in a relationship, so the deceit in love. (This will be a comparison between the U.S. and African cultures). But it seems in African cultures it’s accepted, especially when the men cheat. Women are complacent when their men cheat; they accept it and at times are even okay with it. This is the major difference with the African and Western mentality. Yes, Western men cheat but they hide it, and Western women will throw a fit if they ever find out, even end the relationship. But not so with African women.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">African women will know there men are cheating, have solid proof, even know who the other women are, maybe even have the same group of friends BUT yet they do nothing about it. This will NEVR fly in the U.S. With Americana it’s me and only me, if we don't work out then you can go and try someone else. But with Africans it’s about having all this women and seeing which one works best and which one is wifey material. The women silently (not always) compete with each other for this position. You hear things like "I'm his number, even though he has other girlfriends", "I'm the one the family knows, so that’s what matters," “I can go and come out of his house when I feel" Things like that you hear.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d;"></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">And this does not just stop at the dating level it also goes on during marriage. Husbands having wives at home yet have girlfriends in the streets (I'm a by product of such relations). And this is not just to blame the men, women will know these men are married but they don't care as long as they get their money, sex and whatever else they need from the man. The wives know this too but even if they are not okay with it they accept it. Which is my problem, the fact that we (women) just accept it. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d;"></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Some argue that we (Americans) are stupid for not accepting which they point out to one of reason why so many American women are still are not married even in their late years. I guess the African way does make of the lack of companionship that’s Americans yearn. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d;"></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Just a food for thought on this issues because it’s something that has been on my mind. At first with so many things I was disgusted but now I have come to tolerate and accept it as the way of life. Not quite sure who is wrong or right. (next blog topic). I mean everyone seems to be happy and get what they want out of the relationship. The wives are home, have everything provided for them by their husband (relatively speaking). The husbands get to have more than one sex partner and girls get the money they need to pay for their various expenses. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d;"></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">But again why is it right for the men to do this and not the women. When I ask this question the answer I usually get is I’m a man I can you are a women you should not do these things. As most of you know I’m a firm believer no matter what, if a man can do it so can a woman. As men will quickly tell you I want my girlfriend(s) to only be dating and definitely my wife just to be sexing me and only have that emotional bond with me (as you know cheating is not just about the sex). This how the men weed out the wives in their life to choose wifey, choosing the woman who will stay faithful.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: #38761d;">There is also a factor that there is lack of dating people start off telling each other ther love each other, before even knowing each other and then they start bulding a relationship. There is never a d<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">efinite break up. (another issue I'm expericing first hand). Things just die down and there is always possible that it can be resurrected. People start a relationship with the end in mind saying you will be my wife and see how things go. Another difference in <place w:st="on"><country-region w:st="on">America</country-region></place> we date, people break up and move on. Sometimes they stay friends but of the time that’s the end of that relationship.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>So what are your thoughts on these issues. Is it right what the men are doing and what about the fact that these women just accept it (my biggest issue) and should women too be able to do the same thing as men. And what the fact that people never beak up.</strong></span>Pam's Worldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01488472459850155824noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7720907281162870843.post-28356616499784956882011-03-30T08:47:00.000-07:002011-03-30T08:54:21.234-07:00In need of a good ole hug<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This might come as a surprise to most of you, Pam wanting a hug! As must of you know I'm not the touchy feeling type but been here, I've just missed that good ole feeling of someone caring. Just a hug to show someone is thinking of you and just a hug, when it seems all it lost. You know a hug has that power, just to wipe away that sad feeling make everything just a tad bit better.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">People here are not big not hugs, not even saying I love you, there is no exact translation for this phase. Just feeling lost, alone, missing friends back home. No matter how nice people are here its just not the same to have that network of support you have back home. Sometimes people just don't comprehend what this experience is all about and think you are just been crazy for missing home, or been a little down.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Just feeling alone, left out, missing all the friends and things going on. Did not know I'll miss good ole USA this much, but its just when you have to eat the same thing one more time, you've been eating the entire week, when someone just decides not to show up for a meeting, your family telling you, you can't do nothing right, making fun of you. After saying good morning the first thing your mom wants is something from you, asking for this of that. Been overcharged once again in the market just for been a Toubab and they think you have money. Your own family cheating you, JUST BECAUSE THEY CAN!!! AND THERE IS NOT A DARN THING YOU CAN DO ABOUT IT!!!! People rejecting your ideas and projects for work, always constantly defending America, culture and views, even things you don't personally identify with, BUT you have to defend as that all makes up the American culture. </span><br />
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</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">No matter how one try true intergeneration would never be achieved, because at the end of the day you are still an outsider, you will never truly be a part of the family, never be a Senegalese. Things will always be foreign to you. And at the end of the day you can't blame anyone after-all, this is just two years and you leave that family and try to get back in to the heat of good ole USA...</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In having all of this and feeling life passing you by. A good Ole BEAR hug, will just do, will be quite the cure and assurance that all will be okay. It's in the back of your head that all would be okay, BUT having that reassurance now and them won't hurt!!</span><br />
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</span>Pam's Worldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01488472459850155824noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7720907281162870843.post-35746085138148998582011-03-26T08:31:00.000-07:002011-03-26T08:31:08.853-07:00The week in hindsight<div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Writing this to you while in bed. A bit sick, weak and tired. To top it all off I just walked about 7 miles, in 3 and half hours under this HOT BRULING Sun. I went to pick up the names of the scholarship nominees from the school principal, which OFFCOUSRE he did not have ready, and he told me this after two hours of waiting (he told me to wait). I tell you, OH SENEGAL </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> This was a fun-filling week. I got to prove my competence, prove to my family that I am competent and I do know how to do things. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">For some reason my family thinks, like they think of most volunteers that we are incompetent and we can’t do anything because we don’t know the language or are familiar with our culture.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">This week however, I was responsible for two students; six in the end (will get to that later). I was their mouth, map, tour, eyes, and ears. So who are these students, you ask? They are CIEE students, a study aboard program. They are in Dakar for a semester studying, mostly always speaking English. They visit volunteers for a couple of days, to see what they do and get a firsthand look at the Peace Corps world. And most had not seen the “real Africa” till actually been on these visit; because Dakar is like a metropolitan city that can be found in the US, minus a few issues. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Most of them still take showers, eat good food, live in house, have internet 24/7, have classes in English and only fall back on their French when it’s extremely needed. So I got to hang out with them for a quick, show them my life here and the “real Senegal.” I took them to the schools I worked at, showed them my projects, did their barraging, showed them around Velingera.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">One day is took them to the grand market, like a farmers market were one can find anything. We went there on Wednesday, which is the grand market day, people from the Gambia, Guinea Bissau, all come to this market. It was pretty intimidating to them, HECCK to me as well, because there are people everywhere, BUT we all make it through safe and sound. They did some shopping as well.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">On the last day six of them spent the night with me. And you wonder why? Because they got a car, taxi which is called 7place, here, back to Dakar from Velingera. The other five came from volunteers in the surrounding area. This allowed them not to spend a night at the Tamba regional house, which they said had lots of mosquitoes, one of my student’s have the marks to prove it.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So I arranged a 7place for them. On that note, the first time a Senegalese person has been on time. The 7place drive told us here would be at my house by 4am and behold he was there at 4am, maybe even before that. Four of us slept somewhere else, like 5mins away and we woke up four and when we got here the driver was already here.. IMPRESSIVE. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So I spent them back around 430am on their merry way and they made it back safely.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">My week was ended on a sad note because a little girl of about 5 died and she was a friend, always asking for candy. All she complained was a headache for about two day then she died. Before I found that out I also found out a guy that I had been working with to organize a week long formation, which was scheduled for next week went back to Spain without even telling me. I tell you these people. SO the formation has been cancelled and someone was coming in from Dakar. So I may have to put something informal together, so this man can still offer his training.</span> </div>Pam's Worldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01488472459850155824noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7720907281162870843.post-38483352374585348182011-03-17T05:38:00.000-07:002011-03-17T05:46:15.314-07:00Update<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> It’s has been a while, so I just want to keep you guys updated on what been going on. I've been pretty busy getting some work done. Just update on work I've been doing.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Exposition. Selling juice syrup</td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On March 8<sup>th</sup> for International Women’s day my supervisor and I organized a fair and a day for the women. This day included, guest speakers, debates, discussion, an exposition and OFFCOURSE dancing and food. We invited a couple of guest speakers to talk about health related issues for women and their kids, how the various women’s groups can become more cooperative. Later in the afternoon, we had an exposition of the various products women are working on, some women sold syrup juices, vegetables from their garden, bed sheets, etc. Then BOOM lunch was provided with music and fun. I also got a fruit dryer which I showed cased during the day, and the women seem to love it.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Selling local cereal and International Women's Day</td></tr>
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</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I also offered a week long business class with the girls I work with. Its soo hard teaching here as students are just using to dictation, going home studying for the exams. No discussion, so it’s hard doing these classes as it requires participation. Needles, it was fun, I worked with the teacher and now she would be able to teach these classes in the future.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Students eating during my computer formation</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Teacher eating during the formation</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ivie also done a couple of computer formations, which will continue throughout my service at the middle school. These formations are both for teachers and students.</span><br />
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</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I got my first package from a friend, it was book, so nice of her and soo unexpected and it came at a day when I had cried twice.. Ms. Payne made my day.. Thanks a ton Lady </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">What would I be working on this month?</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I will continue my computer classes. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have a weeklong formation coming up. It would be for all women in a community rural (an entire village community). This formation would include health topics, getting women to make healthy foods for their kids, which will end with some business classes. After this formation I would go back and work with each group in trying to sell the baby foods and just helping them with their various businesses. I’m getting some help with this form other volunteers and a business teacher. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I also would be working with Sam to do a formation about how to use solar fruit dryers, she found a guy who already does this and is pullar, so he would know how to explain better than us.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I would also be working on scholarship applications for girls and local middles schools.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And then April, I get to go HOOOME (Sierra Leone) for two weeks. It should be an eventful two weeks because its Sierra Leone 50 years, Easter and the Boo’s bady…</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> I hope your months goes as swell as mine</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My Counterpart/work partner </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Solar Fruit Dryer</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lunch time</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More of the women</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lunch</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEG0GH02ZUolsauePdImE0oCXE2CgrYPcjfIBzETcTr3tK69GN5T1dtVt-Il5wHyR1-SeVKpEcPipxc75lZ_tVuOP8TaNd04asaD51jL4rUGqM-QB0D5RA0d1CT9gQEOJiWDpAF92hUAU/s1600/SAM_2873.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEG0GH02ZUolsauePdImE0oCXE2CgrYPcjfIBzETcTr3tK69GN5T1dtVt-Il5wHyR1-SeVKpEcPipxc75lZ_tVuOP8TaNd04asaD51jL4rUGqM-QB0D5RA0d1CT9gQEOJiWDpAF92hUAU/s320/SAM_2873.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More of the things the women show cased.. Incense pots</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More Discussions </td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">AND</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: lime;">“Don’t believe the world owes you a living; the world owes you nothing-it was here first”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
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</div>Pam's Worldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01488472459850155824noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7720907281162870843.post-52391932176851212052011-02-27T14:03:00.000-08:002011-02-27T14:08:29.191-08:00Baptism: Senegal Style<div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: cyan;">Just came back from a baptism. It has been quite a long day. One of my sister’s many little sisters (just someone of the family) had a baby. The baptism takes place a week after the baby is born. It an opportunity for us to all get dressed up, so I took out my best outfit.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNCw6hWZ4N_aafZj0pi5nEQA5wyF1tUGlWsPElN65MHxu7GA8mexvN4sQmHq3S2VI7HfSvCA7ww9yFdtan9BAll5dItP_8_P68l5mU83YhyphenhyphenElCzOU2ws6FApTUyGDW2mldBSdYd9oWOEA/s1600/SAM_2758.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNCw6hWZ4N_aafZj0pi5nEQA5wyF1tUGlWsPElN65MHxu7GA8mexvN4sQmHq3S2VI7HfSvCA7ww9yFdtan9BAll5dItP_8_P68l5mU83YhyphenhyphenElCzOU2ws6FApTUyGDW2mldBSdYd9oWOEA/s320/SAM_2758.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">The Mom breastfeeding the baby</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: cyan;">So my sister has been talking about this for a while, I said I’ll go with her. This would give me the opportunity to visit the village of my family and see what really goes on at these ceremonies; NOT MUCH, I was highly disappointed. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgxrkazxf3QG6b8kV-C-RGgMXNgdL68AAZsvBfjxruXWfxzgwcCjCrJoHrCk7HgWfA6s3jcMf1v_J2sLDxVlDSDb24IQji10o9GzbdWirsuTM8Z_XPmrkZSDvkBJfCMr-LjJJ0klJtjj4/s1600/SAM_2763.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgxrkazxf3QG6b8kV-C-RGgMXNgdL68AAZsvBfjxruXWfxzgwcCjCrJoHrCk7HgWfA6s3jcMf1v_J2sLDxVlDSDb24IQji10o9GzbdWirsuTM8Z_XPmrkZSDvkBJfCMr-LjJJ0klJtjj4/s320/SAM_2763.JPG" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">Baby's big sis and mom breastfeeding</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: cyan;">So we were supposed to live the house at 8 and OFFCOURSE that did not happen, we ended up living the house around 9:30. My sister was waiting on someone to give here fabric, which will be given to the baby’s mom as a gift. Well this someone never came, so we went to about four different houses, after we got tired of waiting for this lady to look for fabric. We finally got one. Then we left for the garage. We had to sit there for another 2hrs waiting on a car/driver. Supposedly it was prearranged the day before that we will meet at the garage at 8 and leave.. BUT this is Senegal NOTHING ever goes as planned. So we sat and kept moving around to various shops/restaurants (restaurant meaning someone has a table with some kind of shade structure selling food). </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: cyan;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: cyan;">So the driver came and we finally left around 11ish. Got to the village around 12ish. There were six of us that left my city to go, all cramped in one car, which we had to pay about $2 each, which I think is too expensive, based on the distance we traveled.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: cyan;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVVB8otrn9HZeaIkheedZft5Xhfrv6k9Hyy9Fl4ndvdMSoQYs17CPWyKbT9CP3QvG3PE9QAmOOjYge_n0psqZaKIuw2rKTN3Ss-reC4qIp8842sETM1BtwWiE5t-S5QUC2TUb-JNqlq3c/s1600/SAM_2764.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: cyan; color: black;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVVB8otrn9HZeaIkheedZft5Xhfrv6k9Hyy9Fl4ndvdMSoQYs17CPWyKbT9CP3QvG3PE9QAmOOjYge_n0psqZaKIuw2rKTN3Ss-reC4qIp8842sETM1BtwWiE5t-S5QUC2TUb-JNqlq3c/s320/SAM_2764.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: cyan;">Me, trying to hold her.. Sirra</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: cyan;">We get to the village/house, we greeted the family and people already there, and we went straight to the mother’s room. We were there just hanging out, 20mins later rice and peanut sauce was brought so we could eat. I did not… OH SOOO VERY RUDE OF ME. After that more hanging out and I just fell asleep on the bed. Woke up and more hanging out. Then I got talked into telling the baby’s father that I would be doing the mother’s hair and it would cost him about $10. The father and I bargained and got it down to about $6.50. Why this, I don’t know, I was not doing the lady’s hair, it was my sister and her friends that would be doing it. They did not know what they were doing either, so luckily another lady came that knew how to do weave and saved the day.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: cyan;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: cyan;">After that more food was brought, this time it was couscous, made out of corn with sour milk. That again I did not eat. I don’t like that type of couscous, so I just tasted. After that they brought me some sour milk and crackers, ate the crackers and drank just a little bit of the milk.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvkEVwqEa4b7mCtkcEPtIUfIdh7LR6nxDp4hpPt_jVgSw4RIMQ5I-RY3g6ShwzJODE7XTPKRIH6YUd4l9CjH5mMTyTBKD4W9HMljUsiWU662h_3erKQJ2bm3fe_qyVDl6ek-Vcmg7SI3Y/s1600/SAM_2765.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvkEVwqEa4b7mCtkcEPtIUfIdh7LR6nxDp4hpPt_jVgSw4RIMQ5I-RY3g6ShwzJODE7XTPKRIH6YUd4l9CjH5mMTyTBKD4W9HMljUsiWU662h_3erKQJ2bm3fe_qyVDl6ek-Vcmg7SI3Y/s320/SAM_2765.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">GOT IT!!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: cyan;">After that more hanging out, IN THE SAME ROOM. We still hadn’t moved. So I spelt some more, while they did the mothers hair. After the hair did, they got the mom all dolled up with makeup. Here after putting on makeup the women just look like clowns, SERIOUSLY. The mom was all dressed up in her outfit; she changed about three times the entire day. The other women twice.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: cyan;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: cyan;"> After she was dressed we left her and went to another house, this involved more sitting around OFFCOURSE. We were all in one room again. My family members that were all there put all the gifts they brought for the baby and her parents together. Each person would give what they brought to the eldest in the room; she would then go around calling each person’s name and showing/telling telling them what gift the person brought. </span></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh61hSdtHz4cxS-wdU7C9FTJJSbnwn0ZOgCZkZzlI1FOLmOBRYTXhRwZoBbttfeQ8XJcIzLv9TMYRGiDpNEiUxt7rpa8oeIQNHeJgKlEANXH9O4hyphenhyphenpI18c7ztr5JvpKaSe-wgTyzdCGc34/s1600/SAM_2766.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh61hSdtHz4cxS-wdU7C9FTJJSbnwn0ZOgCZkZzlI1FOLmOBRYTXhRwZoBbttfeQ8XJcIzLv9TMYRGiDpNEiUxt7rpa8oeIQNHeJgKlEANXH9O4hyphenhyphenpI18c7ztr5JvpKaSe-wgTyzdCGc34/s320/SAM_2766.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">She is soo tiny</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: cyan;">After that the women changed outfits and they went over to the baptism house. I think that’s when they presented the gifts to the baby’s family. BUT off course, my crazy ASS sister did not want to go, she wanted to eat. SO the both of us stayed behind and ate lunch. Lunch was brought over in two big bowls from the baptism house. One was rice (cheb) the other was white rice with a macaroni tomato sauce base. I ate with my hands as there were no spoons.. SO MESSY</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: cyan;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: cyan;">After we ate we went over to the baptism house, while walking over the others were walking back to eat lunch. So back at the baptism house, we went back to the same room, hung out drank some more milk and the baby pooped/peeped on me EEEWWWWWW…<span style="font-family: Wingdings;">L</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="background-color: cyan; font-family: Wingdings;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: cyan;">So we waited till the car came and picked us up, it took about 30mins for us to say goodbyes. On our way back, we stopped at my family village to say hi and then headed home.. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj6PmAsUOgaDr06WJxvhvR-pYGFUsmrqb6XC_hknn1CAdES5ZegNDLo9s9MiDW-IUfIuZH5SkmmUBtf5FGNBozSvEnyC-W-v0Xlc6KeDiCK9wIc2yQOI1Cuix3TAbGR2KT7vb5Ut65yUo/s1600/SAM_2769.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj6PmAsUOgaDr06WJxvhvR-pYGFUsmrqb6XC_hknn1CAdES5ZegNDLo9s9MiDW-IUfIuZH5SkmmUBtf5FGNBozSvEnyC-W-v0Xlc6KeDiCK9wIc2yQOI1Cuix3TAbGR2KT7vb5Ut65yUo/s320/SAM_2769.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">Baby Sirra taking a nap after she Pooped on me</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: cyan;">SO overall it was an interesting, long day, I’m still not quite sure what baptisms are all about…</span></div>Pam's Worldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01488472459850155824noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7720907281162870843.post-38221253785854732442011-02-24T12:55:00.000-08:002011-02-24T12:55:58.258-08:00Dakar, where dreams are made: WAIST 2011<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYRGenKKd1kgST6Yec4hrbfNFv4ZdRv3SJabx_9M9jqzRS8wklf_7wl8hfC4vROtn9v95jM8fHqr_GJP4LwEC7ZrQKnJI-3jBAdK8Gecd2P8bPb5IbkCVeqFFv0NhcFO1xrdu9oFtFkt8/s1600/181984_1396978841602_1146150057_31848875_363856_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYRGenKKd1kgST6Yec4hrbfNFv4ZdRv3SJabx_9M9jqzRS8wklf_7wl8hfC4vROtn9v95jM8fHqr_GJP4LwEC7ZrQKnJI-3jBAdK8Gecd2P8bPb5IbkCVeqFFv0NhcFO1xrdu9oFtFkt8/s320/181984_1396978841602_1146150057_31848875_363856_n.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me trying to swing</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: yellow; color: purple; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This past week was the West Africa Invitational Softball Tournament (WAIST). It’s basically where all the West African Volunteers come together for a weekend of fun, for us to relax, chill, and share ideas and best practices, in theory. However it was a weekend of partying and just OUTRIGHT fun, involving lots of alcohol..</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: yellow; color: purple; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: yellow; color: purple; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I went down to Dakar last Wednesday, an all day trip. I had a med appointment the next day. All the Senegal volunteers, that requested, got home stays, which is staying with expats, people that work at the embassy. They are soo kind opening their homes to a bunch of us, (as much as they can take for the weekend). My home stay mom was AWESOME>>SUPPER AWESOME>.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: yellow; color: purple; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: yellow; color: purple; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">She took in 10 of us, all girls and opened her home to us. They were just required to give us a roof over our heads for the weekend and nothing else BUT mine went all out. First, she let me move in earlier, like two days before schedule, provided food for us, all the days we where there. There was no need to go out and eat in Dakar and spend a bunch of money we had it all at home. I only ate out for lunch as I was at the fields “playing” softball. Our house was soo conveniently located near all the madness, a 10miniute from all the fields and club Atlantique (we call it American Club). Which is like a recreational/YMCA, that has pool, tennis, volleyball, food court. etc. Americans use this club and pay for it but us volunteers get to go in for free.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: yellow; color: purple; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5T3Fk2KtaCdZ4NuANMiNbeUSF442wfSW7l8bPMEhB8h0xjdBb00tdzFiXg07C_gu7DN41LNAP5gCdwhPW_DAbMAkCiyc4yImp_PXRBbJSP47jt0caYtVzIUmiNDJnT3M4TQ1qJOaRHm4/s1600/184196_1396980521644_1146150057_31848885_3163386_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5T3Fk2KtaCdZ4NuANMiNbeUSF442wfSW7l8bPMEhB8h0xjdBb00tdzFiXg07C_gu7DN41LNAP5gCdwhPW_DAbMAkCiyc4yImp_PXRBbJSP47jt0caYtVzIUmiNDJnT3M4TQ1qJOaRHm4/s320/184196_1396980521644_1146150057_31848885_3163386_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kolda Region Team</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: yellow; color: purple; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So the only rule at her house is “make yourself at home.” Everything is up for grabs, expect dinner, that the cook prepares before it served. The first night there, I just had leftovers of fish brochette, rice, with a tomato sauce. It was yummylicious, I will take leftover there any day over food at site. The next night was cheeseburgers, with everything; I repeat EVERYTHING needed for a cheese burger, with onion soup. I don’t even like soups but Jean (their cooks) soups are AMAZING. The next night was taco night, AGAIN with all the right toppings. Another night was lasagna, carrot soup, then another night keeshe, chicken pot pie and yummy desert, and the last night was pesto pasta, with BIG ASS SHRIMPS. For breakfast I usually ate leftovers or cereal, with real milk.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: yellow; color: purple; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: yellow; color: purple; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">SO she fed us, opened her pantry to us, even used some of her goods for a bake sale we had, with proceeds going to our women empowerment initiative. We used her washer and dryer, my clothes smell like Amerique once again. Funny story on that note another volunteer and I put the clothes in the dryer to wash instead of the washer LOL.. How shall we function back in the U.S. lol. HOT SHOWERS, with nice shower heads. Door-to-door services in a hummer. YES A HUMMER here in Senegal. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: yellow; color: purple; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: yellow; color: purple; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So for WAIST, Friday was All-vol, which is where all the volunteers got together to showcase what they are doing by region and sector, with each other and NGO’s and then in the afternoon, the NGO’s did the same. That night was a talent show and a club, open only to us.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: yellow; color: purple; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: yellow; color: purple; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The next day was softball, in which we all had different costumes by regions; my region was space corps. The games were fun as we were just playing for fun. We won two games in total and lost two.. My region has not won a game in years. The two games we lost were to a Senegal team, that took the games super serious and we had to play by the rules NOOO FUN.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: yellow; color: purple; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: yellow; color: purple; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Saturday was a party/auction at the Marine house. A couple of male volunteers got auctioned up to help SENGAD, which is our gender awareness aspect. The night was ended with partying and a lot of girls in rural villages would be sent to school. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: yellow; color: purple; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: yellow; color: purple; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The next day was more games and a party at a club called Oceanium, which was also just for us, Djed by our region. THAT WAS AN AWESOME PARTY… too much went down to even mention but all in the name of fun. The next day was a pool party at the American club, but people were too over partyed from the night before to enjoy. SO most people like I just went for a while and left; some did not even show up at all.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: yellow; color: purple; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: yellow; color: purple; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I ended my night/stay in Dakar, hanging out at the richest hotel in Senegal, maybe even West African…</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: yellow; color: purple; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: lime; color: purple; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">HAHAHAHA wouldn’t you like to know what happen.</span></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnQdufXKWWv0EG97Q9vCbfZeD69iEK8u5LJpz8Ehz38rzptr06_HsxAD5bWqOuVGZ826RxnR1dgrj1tP9QWbJ0qMXkE3FM9D2zN1Clx3rPTIv519xd0NI1x1z10ShWKtg7hycH4BU8bMU/s1600/184951_1396982361690_1146150057_31848891_3536096_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnQdufXKWWv0EG97Q9vCbfZeD69iEK8u5LJpz8Ehz38rzptr06_HsxAD5bWqOuVGZ826RxnR1dgrj1tP9QWbJ0qMXkE3FM9D2zN1Clx3rPTIv519xd0NI1x1z10ShWKtg7hycH4BU8bMU/s320/184951_1396982361690_1146150057_31848891_3536096_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Team</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #f1c232; color: #351c75;">BUT NOW I’m Back <span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">L</span> to Maro (rice) tan (only).. and its soo much hotter down here than it is in Dakar.</span></div>Pam's Worldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01488472459850155824noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7720907281162870843.post-50654393517614903662011-02-11T03:18:00.000-08:002011-02-11T03:18:51.847-08:00It's Already been six months<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLBAtlHoGSYp8Vvoxh6wbByuDEHQUTEI520eb5VAwzRjHTsh7CxX4U6j7BpUJ2ExvKnm9ohA5hpCDNYxPN3SJJY1zWkE0p7L1VDqZPvflVJpq8icmZ8Z_Leil1qu81jBn5c-Yd-j09xPU/s1600/163706_10100192360804301_10048429_57432050_1017666_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLBAtlHoGSYp8Vvoxh6wbByuDEHQUTEI520eb5VAwzRjHTsh7CxX4U6j7BpUJ2ExvKnm9ohA5hpCDNYxPN3SJJY1zWkE0p7L1VDqZPvflVJpq8icmZ8Z_Leil1qu81jBn5c-Yd-j09xPU/s320/163706_10100192360804301_10048429_57432050_1017666_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me and my gene pants</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> Today marks my 6 months anniversary in country, four months as a volunteer. Can you believe, almost half a year gone already? It all seems like yesterday, I was getting off the plane and been hit by blistering heat at 5am in the morning. As I’m writing this, I’m in bed sick. In the afternoon I threw up a couple of times, I have a headache, stomachache, possible diarrhea. My first sickness/diarrhea since been in country, the diarrhea has been going on for about three weeks, BUT today was just a shitty day. I’m stuck drinking O.R.S, YUCK.. But thanks to Mike my AWESOME site mate, he made it tasty.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi860pMwERBSzaWfozCacfBOgpaXPIUai4bHyGyc0xlmOuidwSA90vTEtu-Hru1USyj1U4ymszW8Uiz4tluicH9cZbZijMOrPLRhtZiMLHmoT6ryS_BdwUMC1hyPJ1Z4sC1HjWrXHD8MUA/s1600/SAM_2512.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi860pMwERBSzaWfozCacfBOgpaXPIUai4bHyGyc0xlmOuidwSA90vTEtu-Hru1USyj1U4ymszW8Uiz4tluicH9cZbZijMOrPLRhtZiMLHmoT6ryS_BdwUMC1hyPJ1Z4sC1HjWrXHD8MUA/s320/SAM_2512.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My awesome Mike planting me trees</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">On that note its soo funny how I’ve grown fond of Mike and we can tolerate each other now. We’ve come a long way since training. I mean after all, we are all we got. He has been awesome in giving advice; although his means are bit crazy he always comes through in the end. Like for example as soon as I told him I threw up, he was here before I hung up. He made me O.R.S, filled my filter, told me what to do and came back later to check on me. And I’m pretty sure he’ll be here in the morning too. I’m so grateful for having a site mate so close. I think we are the closest volunteers in country. Others have their closest neighbors 15k away, mine is just a two minute walk away.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I have also learned to rely on my Peace Corps family, as they have helped me go through the hard times, sometimes they are there to keep the candle morning, when it almost goes extinct. We have all joined the land of hospitality, sharing, giving and so helpful to each other. I’ve become good friends with people I will never consider friends in the U.S. I guess that all the part of growing, a cycle, people change and the things they learn to love and appreciate also change.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Not too diminish the efforts of you guys back home, my friends and loved ones, all my lovers. Thanks to you guys for checking on me, kind words, words of inspiration and keep be updated on the U.S. I won’t be able to do this if you weren’t there to keep my sanity and know I have something to look forward to after these two years are up. I feel like I’m here, life is passing me by. You guys are all growing up, getting jobs, Masters, and moving o with your life. Just DON’T FORGET.. I’ll be BACK to claim m spot!!!!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">These six months I’ve gotten extra close to my mommy. It so funny, I never knew that was possible. Don’t get me wrong I always loved my Mommy but I was always daddy’s girl. But when my dad died she took his place and now been here I have really really depended on her. After the PC family, which will never understand all, she is my confidant. I find myself calling her more often, when I have a bad day, need to let out some frustrations, she kind of always knows what to say to get be going. After all I am her baby so, she is taking extra care with me.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Knowing and been from Africa, I did not know this experience would be so hard. Although most things don’t surprise me, I had never had to experience it before. Yea I knew people took bucket baths, had no plumbing, used outside bathrooms in open space, used water for toilet paper, eat with their hands, get water from the well, eat the same thing over and over, don’t use soap. BUT I had never had to experience or do these things myself. Now I found myself doing most of these things, sharing a cup, spoon a bowl with five or more people, eating with dirty snotty children.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I find myself doing this I thought were crazy, making funny sounds, avoiding the sun, not respecting time, following the sun to plan my days, sit around talking and drinking tea, playing with kids that are not always so clean. I find myself making new friends every day. I thought it would be hard working here, been black and people thinking I’m Senegalese. Although I don’t get the Toubab and much of the harassments that my colleagues do I am still respected after people are convinced I am really American. I found people talking to me, remembering me just after an encounter. I get some special treatment, like extra salad from the fish salad lady, shop owners selling things I want.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I don’t think I’ll however get use to people not been motivated, been so noisy and not respecting personal space. They ALWAYS want to touch you, THAT, I don’t think I’ll get use to, heck I don’t even like hugging my friends. Here you are just not allowed personal time, or time to oneself, people automatically think something is wrong, they get upset and think its all their fault, When I may really need is some alone time. I always have to explain, where I’m going, why I’m going and all that. It’s like been a child all over again but I have to report to about 10 different people. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I cannot get use to been second class as the women here. People always asking me why aren’t I married and have kids by now. Although here, I am considered higher than a women, because I’m not from here, but I am still not equal to man, and sometimes I am more superior and have all the answers because I am American. <span style="font-size: 20.0pt; line-height: 115%;">(Just had vomit break).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 20.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Needless to say, I have loved my experience thus far. Yesterday I had e visit from our security guy and our doctor. The doctor asked, on a scale from 1-10, 1 been worst and 10 been happiest, where I am I with my whole experience I said a 9. Thinking about it maybe a 8, lol.. BUT I do love it here expect for my mom and dad’s compound I’m enjoying it. Taking in the seconds, minutes, hours and days as they go by. Obviously there are days, I just want to tear the heads of my family and the people I work with BUT Hey, that would happen anywhere I am, TIS LIFE.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So for now, I’m still here, I hear no ET (Early Termination) bells. I’m here and would be here till the very end. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: lime; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: lime; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Love you all!!!!!!</span></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigqDE4R9f0PQV_l5sW872MO2HGDPDmKsO3BotNtUVnONUSXjjho4QIyuEEG2LQR33xziDnpND1aXRHEHvkR53xh9NMrR2I1WgoOyLVniDqLukVrF2CQoWyPL1mm83UUOQDWy6dY1PhHko/s1600/144.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigqDE4R9f0PQV_l5sW872MO2HGDPDmKsO3BotNtUVnONUSXjjho4QIyuEEG2LQR33xziDnpND1aXRHEHvkR53xh9NMrR2I1WgoOyLVniDqLukVrF2CQoWyPL1mm83UUOQDWy6dY1PhHko/s320/144.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At the beach</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Pam's Worldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01488472459850155824noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7720907281162870843.post-2804224901813248182011-02-11T03:03:00.000-08:002011-02-11T03:03:14.340-08:00Pam, the Painter<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhcXII-847a6UID7iPXL9F40gqOfgyUKqLHjPe0xmVVjknCyC3m_tv8-KmykPST4-18dfXATvsvSIHboy_C2NReHu4RavPXHd25f2rnvbFQ4tpMIORohnwBxfUgQ_r6MLrmYj321ZdIYQ/s1600/SAM_2685.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhcXII-847a6UID7iPXL9F40gqOfgyUKqLHjPe0xmVVjknCyC3m_tv8-KmykPST4-18dfXATvsvSIHboy_C2NReHu4RavPXHd25f2rnvbFQ4tpMIORohnwBxfUgQ_r6MLrmYj321ZdIYQ/s320/SAM_2685.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Computer screen</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;">On Tuesday and Wednesday, I got to demonstrate my poor art skills. I mentioned I would be offering some computer workshops to students, professors, and some parents at high school, in a nearby village. In the computer room, I painted some murals, just to beautify the room, and help as a teaching tool for the classes. The work was mostly done by another volunteer, Charlene, she is such an artist. She did everything free hand, and all I had to do was color in lines. Even that I messed up, lol… BUT Charlene saved the day and made it look beautiful. Now the salle (room) is beautiful, so let the formations (workshops) begin. Everyone in the school was happy with the paintings and OFFCOURSE them being Senegalese, they want more.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;">I funded this out of pockets; it was around $35 for everything. I still have some paint and stuff over, so I may do other paintings, or just try and beautify my room a bit. I’m so happy it turned out lovely and everyone likes is. And more grateful to Charlene for all her hard work.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;">To add on to this I have schedule two weekends, one in February and in, March in which I and the technology teacher would be holding computer workshops. One day would be dedicated to teachers and the other to the students.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXmrWshkTyJxgSv5eeAThI-Uwb_iKH1kvPM0zWwhjOewinU2w4mF261pxLPJ3c9OFV0ghyphenhyphenuJkZ_fXsPo7NeutET5yIl22ziOULRsobw_fGSnZXi1nPmMcIjrizySpOuBLF0jYYolqCAJQ/s1600/SAM_2702.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXmrWshkTyJxgSv5eeAThI-Uwb_iKH1kvPM0zWwhjOewinU2w4mF261pxLPJ3c9OFV0ghyphenhyphenuJkZ_fXsPo7NeutET5yIl22ziOULRsobw_fGSnZXi1nPmMcIjrizySpOuBLF0jYYolqCAJQ/s320/SAM_2702.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">back of the computer</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;">My plan for making this suitable is teaching a group of about 12 students, which was already formed into a computer club; and also the teachers. After that the students would become teachers and teach their pairs, with the help of the technologic teacher. But it will be mostly the students teaching. I had proposed to the principal that he gives each student 2hours each month dedicated to computer lessons, BUT he said no as that would take away from the academic calendar, in which computer lessons are not programmed. But he did offer that maybe twice a month; for the two hours students have in class, the classes would break up in two, one classes could be in the computer lab and the other in regular classes, after an hour they switch. I’m also encouraging the teachers to give students homework that require them using the internet and Microsoft Office. This was the students can mess around on the computers on their own time.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS3PIeKVAu2wBqYud-t_4n77vQ3gjUuZgWfqTkohnSbEEAsv6kPDPbyJVLv2U5ZOCzfHhLKshKS9OXYutXjdnkrSl0EBcCzP93AvKxONmSdvgOIAOFi7u4cFMetIrZsD1Hl6lzQjYkIik/s1600/SAM_2710.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS3PIeKVAu2wBqYud-t_4n77vQ3gjUuZgWfqTkohnSbEEAsv6kPDPbyJVLv2U5ZOCzfHhLKshKS9OXYutXjdnkrSl0EBcCzP93AvKxONmSdvgOIAOFi7u4cFMetIrZsD1Hl6lzQjYkIik/s320/SAM_2710.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">comp, the front</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;">I love this school. The people here are soo motivated and willing to work, they are the one actually pushing everything, I just offer what I can. The most motivated set of people I’ve have worked with thus far. SO I will keep you updated on this work</span>.</div><br />
<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiFbiY2fICoewJ2w92qBz1f0x89xvGMzUvWsbkHXhpKB_PQNXKkdZxzjUqM2yGjzY9ZPvF8ivrVP5V8EX_NbwFN_kyQclGtA0gFm2CMTyJ3hwvDwFgDaIpNKGE6xtupH7g-pZmq8JtsJY/s1600/SAM_2711.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiFbiY2fICoewJ2w92qBz1f0x89xvGMzUvWsbkHXhpKB_PQNXKkdZxzjUqM2yGjzY9ZPvF8ivrVP5V8EX_NbwFN_kyQclGtA0gFm2CMTyJ3hwvDwFgDaIpNKGE6xtupH7g-pZmq8JtsJY/s320/SAM_2711.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">keyboard</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQaOz6SkgKmu_NjRKIV9JpLH7c5lF-itrJ9apUugNNHv2LMF9V-K-q_Up8HLUYL1aVZdenkLbgnsXHFHBvAVjJBJ5YLsVPN9d7VG0MzN84u5fcFe2dcYYzc1oZBRkeYSgIOJI8TQT4AdQ/s1600/SAM_2647.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQaOz6SkgKmu_NjRKIV9JpLH7c5lF-itrJ9apUugNNHv2LMF9V-K-q_Up8HLUYL1aVZdenkLbgnsXHFHBvAVjJBJ5YLsVPN9d7VG0MzN84u5fcFe2dcYYzc1oZBRkeYSgIOJI8TQT4AdQ/s320/SAM_2647.JPG" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Charlene hard at work</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Pam's Worldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01488472459850155824noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7720907281162870843.post-20577169872134061392011-02-07T13:57:00.000-08:002011-02-07T13:58:28.410-08:00I Got to watch the Super Bowl too<div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was not left behind in the festivities of Super bowl 45. A bunch of us got together in the Kolda regional house to watch it. It did not start till around 1:30am, our time here but, we were all patriotic, so, we stayed up till around 4am just for the super bowl. One of the volunteers has his parents use slingbox (I think that what’s it’s called) to stream it to us throw the internet. When the game started everyone was kicked off the internet so we can have the real time experience just as if we were in the U.S. It was projected on screen, well for us on a wall.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We also had a big feast to go along with it, so it was a super bowl party Senegal style. We had grilled pork, which I carved mac and cheese, baked beans, devil eggs and apple cobbler. The food was soo delicious, ate soo much that I could not even move for a while.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The projector had a bit of a glitch but that was fix..THANK GOD.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Needless to say it was fun getting to hang out with the volunteers. This super bowl however, seemed quite patriotic, any particular reason why? I was also not that impressed by the commercials. They all seem boring, outdrawn and some just did not make any sense.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">OH I was extremely happy that this Sierra Leonean player won some award that was presented in the beginning, due to his humanitarian.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Well now I have to catch up on my sleep. I’m panting a mural tomorrow, at a school, in a computer lab. I will be working with this school in rendering some IT classes to students, teachers, Admin and some parents. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #20124d; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">OH CONGRATS Packers :)</span></div>Pam's Worldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01488472459850155824noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7720907281162870843.post-23507864774009649512011-01-31T08:33:00.000-08:002011-01-31T08:33:18.219-08:00It's SOOO AMAZING<div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">IT’s Soo AMAZING, how much I can do here, and how much substitutions work. For Example, you know when you want some AMAZING pasta, you will just go to an expensive restaurant and eat it there, and you would be SOOO AMAZED how they get it soo good. BUT HERE, I get to make AMAZING pasta, with local ingredients. You would be amazed how many things you can use Laughing Cow cheese for and how it turns out sooo delicious. If I want baked cookies just got to the bakery or buy the ready mixed box. BUT HERE I GET TO MADE iT FROM STRACH, and it tastes sooo good. All these little things that we take for granted or we just go buy, I get to make it here and the complicated science I thought went behind it not so complicated. I never thought I would be able to produce such good food here, from starch and with limited ingredients.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It’s soo amazing that I can eat from places that the FDA would ban in America, I can just eat all these street food, that has been sitting out all day eating mayonnaise that has been out for a week. How I only get to eat one big meal each day and eat the same thing for lunch and dinner. Eat rice everyday with about the same three sauces. Eat with about 6-10 people in a bowl depending on the day, with them eating with their hands and shaking the rice everywhere. Eating with utensils that are sometimes washed with soap, sharing the same tea glasses with 6-10 different people.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It soo Amazing, how the kitchen is right in front of my door. I have rates, cockroaches, mice antes, flies mosquitoes lizards and the likes in my room. Mice crawling under my mattress. It’s amazing how much time I just sit around, drink tea and chill. How I walk in anyone’s house and feel right at home. How I can eat their food, sleep on their bed and do pretty much do as I like in my own home.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It’s soo Amazing how things that I use to think were bizarre I now partake of, I catch myself doing things that at first that use to annoy me and I just thought were soo different. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75;">Its soo Amazing, how I’ve been tested times and times again. Reaching a part of me I knew ever existed. Digging deep inside me to get through and just deal with the difference of this place. Over these past few most I've grown and matured and it’s only the beginning. </span><span style="color: #351c75;"> </span><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: lime;">So watch a for a brand new me.</span></i></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: lime;"><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghBUoMdM-MvEixGF9xmWtNokCpX-hWxGcUpxFAE2YdrvgLndk7Lj6wll8OhCt9UXNYD9AmLb7EiiVnvVOSQBgCswzxOMFfhEq87F7PfFXh9QVm_nSu92aFabK-USL6a-JFTH1ybJGvPDM/s1600/SAM_2492.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghBUoMdM-MvEixGF9xmWtNokCpX-hWxGcUpxFAE2YdrvgLndk7Lj6wll8OhCt9UXNYD9AmLb7EiiVnvVOSQBgCswzxOMFfhEq87F7PfFXh9QVm_nSu92aFabK-USL6a-JFTH1ybJGvPDM/s320/SAM_2492.JPG" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">doing a fro and people thought i had gone mad</td></tr>
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</div>Pam's Worldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01488472459850155824noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7720907281162870843.post-67809565059995463662011-01-31T08:04:00.000-08:002011-01-31T08:04:25.024-08:00Making a Difference I get to See<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeVJp8Mzt3RSzAPC7vIIswPRCNY81YgV7MVkCUG5g4HlL-BVqIYpyhyphenhyphenHR-HO6oBH09K69B6C3WlOObspXmcM5lnwYnkTjmN_YQ8Tmzsbdv8KPlgvkAy8JON_45HRYWu7ZbKx4F2n3Tqgs/s1600/SAM_2567.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeVJp8Mzt3RSzAPC7vIIswPRCNY81YgV7MVkCUG5g4HlL-BVqIYpyhyphenhyphenHR-HO6oBH09K69B6C3WlOObspXmcM5lnwYnkTjmN_YQ8Tmzsbdv8KPlgvkAy8JON_45HRYWu7ZbKx4F2n3Tqgs/s320/SAM_2567.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A surgery in session</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal">This past week was my hardest working week EVER since been in country. I am now a certified nurse under Senegalese standards. I spent the last week being a nurse, doctor’s assistant/translator.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>YES A TRANSLATOR, who would have thought; YES after just 5 months of been in country I GET to translate for others. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">These doctors from New Jersey are here for two weeks doing eye surgeries, taking out cataracts. They do these mission trips all around the globe and this is their third time in Senegal BUT their most successful mission thus far. Check them out at <a href="http://www.righttosightandhealth.org/">http://www.righttosightandhealth.org/</a>. Usually while here they do about a 100 surgeries, in the Philippines about 29 BUT so far for week 1 they have done 102 surgeries and have 20 patients for each day remaining.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">So I worked from Monday through Saturday, getting up each day at 7, the earliest I have woken up since been here, then I work till around 6pm and for the most part I am on my feet all day.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">So my job was pre-up, getting patients ready for the surgery. When they come to me I had to dilate their eyes, given them surgery instructions, clean their eyes, GET THEM TO GO PEE, and prepare them to be injected with numbing solution. The getting them pee part worked for the most part, expect three times, when one of the volunteers had to hold, THREE penis in a bowl, so the men can pee, as they CANNOT get up during surgery. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC0AHyy1YVARw55oz_P-6quJ-yzU5Uk-8xeMFWfumZXh9lu9ZQATXJBEvTPtYanaGxJY2S1pzpS0Qvl2NgaB49heNQL7c8F4sdvdAkIQzvkad_b6Ou6wOcY1UTwSOwuLhQtkC_dN8y6QA/s1600/SAM_2527.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC0AHyy1YVARw55oz_P-6quJ-yzU5Uk-8xeMFWfumZXh9lu9ZQATXJBEvTPtYanaGxJY2S1pzpS0Qvl2NgaB49heNQL7c8F4sdvdAkIQzvkad_b6Ou6wOcY1UTwSOwuLhQtkC_dN8y6QA/s320/SAM_2527.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">cleaning an eye</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal">This was such a rewarding week, getting to give people their sight back, something they have been missing for so long in their life. They get to see their children, they have never seen, the new addition their families, needless to say I was quite touched. Most of the patients we saw were young under their 30’s, so that was quite sad. There were some older people; it got me thinking this person could be my dad, mom, or family member. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Some other volunteers even had harder jobs of telling people that there is nothing that can be done, they would be blind for the rest of their life, they can never see again, especially to young women and men who were 25 or less. What’s interesting about this culture, that I think we can take a page from their book is they see it as God’s Will. They took it so well saying, well this is how Allah wanted it to be and there is nothing I can do about. Here we are getting emotional but they don’t even cry or show any emotions, they just take it as God’s will.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">This was also a reaffirming week, that my language is improving, that I can speak Pullar just after months of being here, and that my French has improved immensely. I can communicate with people, be the voice for these American doctors, getting across important, delicate and even life changing messages to people. I also improved on my medical jargon in both French and pullar. At first, after I heard what I had to do I was nervous and even wanted to back out because I was not sure how good my language skills are, and since I had to deliver such life changing messages, I did not want to make a mistake and the ruin the life of someone forever.. SO THERE WAS SOME PRESSURE. However after talking to a few volunteers and getting a booster I decided to stay. AND I’M SOOO GALD I DID. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I am so glad I did this because I get to see the lasting effects. Unlike most work I do here, the effects are so minimal; it would take generations to ever see a true difference of what I’m doing here. Because I’m here trying to change history, change the ideas, minds, and way of life for these people that has taken years to build, that has worked for them for sooo long. A culture cannot just be changed in two years, after all Rome was not built in a day. Unlike the Agriculture volunteers, who plant tress and you can see it grow, even at that, if proper techniques are not utilized the tree will never grow.. NEEDLESS to say, I’m just here planting seeds and hoping they would be watered, and were planted on the right spot so they can grow. BUT doing this clinic, the results are immediate, people get to see, and are now part of the world moving around them. They are no long a burden to their family members they can now be useful to society once again. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">It was overall a fun hanging out with some fresh Americans, that money to them is not a problem. Because now before I even spend a dollar I have to think hard, it it’s really worth it but for them not sooo much. They took us out to dinner one night and the food/drinks were all on them. Too bad I can’t drink alcohol till March due to my TB meds. Then on Saturday they had a dinner for us, all the volunteers that helped with the clinic, and some who did not. The dinner was by far the best food in country so far. It was sheep marinated overnight and slow cooked all day, scalloped potatoes, baked Zucchinis/eggplants and stuffed baked tomatoes, with and open bar, all the drinks you can have.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I got to even hung out with the nurses took them shopping, to buy material and just go the market. It was AWESOME showing off my language and barging skills. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was splendid too because I was full every night I was there. Tamba, the city where I was for the week is bigger than mine so it has good food, Toubab stores (like a grocery store, like a mini Wal-Mart/Target) Toubab store literally means white people or foreigner’s store. I also got to materialize few new recipes that I had in my head and they were big hits at the house. I also did some baking, which I brought back for Sam, gave some to my family and my patron friends. I’m eating some of it now while writing this YUM.. Patros means rich (used as a joke to say someone has some money).</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">So I’m back at site now getting back to my other projects. But I slept the whole day when I returned. I missed my bed. Back to rice again YAYAYAY..</div><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgih542vzk8ZnZASwWPCFT4TddwJmuE3hsT_EOSHVz5znXGNHGHRushUa3ZdYe4ynqWhkfwbjBq1NC0sabtJKcWFcfKpRG5XSN334zqyxb7EuBCwk3mZGsWkpN9F5kVRF9YWeo0n9kJiAE/s1600/SAM_2569.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgih542vzk8ZnZASwWPCFT4TddwJmuE3hsT_EOSHVz5znXGNHGHRushUa3ZdYe4ynqWhkfwbjBq1NC0sabtJKcWFcfKpRG5XSN334zqyxb7EuBCwk3mZGsWkpN9F5kVRF9YWeo0n9kJiAE/s320/SAM_2569.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Surgery in process</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Pam's Worldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01488472459850155824noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7720907281162870843.post-37636900345583300682011-01-23T14:28:00.000-08:002011-01-23T14:28:44.626-08:00Help Bring Libraries to SenegalAJAARAAMA my peeps,<br />
<br />
I have one of my first project getting of the ground, and its in partnership with other volunteers. We are trying to open various libraries across the country. It would consist of school and community libraries. These libraries would be used by kids and people in the community.<br />
<br />
All around structures are going up for these libraries. All we are waiting on are the books.<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">SOOOO PLEASE help us bring these books.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">All you have to do it click on this link</span>>>>>>> <a href="https://www.peacecorps.gov/index.cfm?shell=donate.contribute.projDetail&projdesc=685-164">https://www.peacecorps.gov/index.cfm?shell=donate.contribute.projDetail&projdesc=685-164</a><br />
<br />
You can make a small or a big contribution just as you would like.<br />
<br />
Thanks you soo much guys.. Much lovePam's Worldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01488472459850155824noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7720907281162870843.post-5975813295651881242011-01-20T15:30:00.000-08:002011-01-20T15:32:56.949-08:00May the Formation Commerence<div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #ffd966; color: #4c1130;">Today I had my first formation (workshop). It was done with the girls I previously mentioned I’ll be working with. The girls range from 13-19. There are 30 girls, around 20 are married and most of them have kids. They come to this center to learn Pullar alphabets and get some kind of vocational training.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #ffd966; color: #4c1130;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #ffd966; color: #4c1130;">I will be helping them with various trainings. So today, I had a workshop on creating lekki Bowdi (literally means mosquito medicine), so mosquito repellant. I made this one out of pocket. It was really cheap cost me about two dollars and the price can be cheaper. I wanted the girls to try it, so they see that it works. After they test it for themselves and they see it works, they in turn can make it for their households and even make it to sell in their villages. People here know the effects of mosquitoes and are aware of malaria and are scared of it. SOOOO this is a cheap way for them to prevent malaria and the future heartaches of doctor bills or even death, which mostly is the result as people cannot afford the medications.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #ffd966; color: #4c1130;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #ffd966; color: #4c1130;">The repellant is made out of Neem leaves, a tree found all over Senegal. The leaves are boiled then soap broken into pieces and old are added. This turns into a nice lotion that can even be used as lotion, quite moisturizing. It does not even have a bad order. BUT I have an idea. I want to turn this into a business; I’m really trying to sell it to a women’s’ group, to make different scents. Various others leaves can be boiled, or perfume added, or using scenting soaps that can offer a variety of smells. This does not decrease the effects of the Neem. Anyways I’ll keep you posted on that.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #ffd966; color: #4c1130;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #ffd966; color: #4c1130;">It was a major hit with the class; their teacher had told them the day before about it, its effects and all that. But I stressed it on them too, telling them to use on their kids and all that. SO I’ll go back and see what they thought of it and if they would be willing to make it at their homes for personal use OR PROFIT. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #ffd966; color: #4c1130;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #ffd966; color: #4c1130;">I’m also going to start business classes with the girls. This will start when the books I’ve ordered arrived. I’m trying to do projects t that would be suitable after I live and it can be continued without the help of my replacement.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #ffd966; color: #4c1130;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #ffd966; color: #4c1130;">So I’m going to work with their teacher, so she can teach the classes. They have manuals, that I would be using too so it should be easy.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #ffd966; color: #4c1130;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #ffd966; color: #4c1130;">And on that note it seems women in the villages are more serious and have their act together than the women in the cities. Like this women’s group I met today that I may just end up working with because I like their motivation. One of the ladies, whom is well off, offered to do micro financing for the women, instead of them going to micro financing institutions, with outrageous costs. All the women, I’m guessing uneducated pay their dues on time. This takes me to a point, as I was doing interviews with the micro financing institutions in my town, most said they liked women in the villages because they pay on time and are more useful with the money than the women in my city. They say, they are sometimes even reluctant to lend money in my city.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #ffd966; color: #4c1130;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #ffd966; color: #4c1130;">Then I was suppose to have a meeting with the women group in my city, PEOPLE DID NOT SHOW UP ON TIME… and I was already 30mintues late because I knew that one going to happen. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #ffd966; color: #4c1130;">SO I left that meeting and went to another. Were the women just stared fighting with each other as they did the last time, when the same such meeting was conveyed. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: lime; color: #4c1130; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">That’s my day in a nutshell.. HOW Was Yours?</span></div>Pam's Worldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01488472459850155824noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7720907281162870843.post-84255062849226046062011-01-19T18:46:00.000-08:002011-01-19T18:48:02.392-08:00So its not a Public School after all<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So I had a revelation today, at this redundant meeting. I'll get into the meeting later.. BUT "public schools" here not not funded by the government. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">This is how it works.. Kids pay a fee at the beginning of the year, which is about a dollar (when converted) with this amount, the school is expected to run an entire school year. Not every kid even pays that fee, however they are still attending classes. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Knowing this culture maybe about 50% of the students pay this fee and the rest don't. Nothing is done about it by the director or the school. Kids are still allowed to attend classes.</span><br />
<br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d; font-size: x-small;">Just a Guess based on what I've seen....</span></i><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So, the land is there for the school and maybe a few classes put up by the government. However mostly what I've seen, is NGO's or us that build extra classrooms.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The teachers are paid a salary by the government and this has nothing to do with the school. Teachers are sent by government to the various schools. This all done in Dakar by the "education department." In some areas, mostly the villages, these teachers are highly disliked because they lack the passion and motivation. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">They are sent to this village school for a couple of years, so they can climb up the ladder and end up in big city schools. This seems to be how most government workers are selected or placed. They are just sent by the government to a place to work for a couple of years. Like my supervisor, she was just sent by the government. P.S. she does not speak a leak of the language, that is used here.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Then the kids have to provides their own learning materials, pens, pencils papers. At the beginning of the school year, each student is given a list of materials that they should purchased. Forget about textbooks. Those are provided by the government when available. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So I found this out because I was at a meeting for the computer lab my ENCN (predecessor) started, because, we were trying to regulate some issues as the lab has fallen on hard times. I just had the idea, why don't the school make the lab part of its budget and the government foots the bill. Then I got the explanation.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">OH How Did The Meeting GO?</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">NO FREAKING WHERE..</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">.. people just kept saying the same thing over and over, till someone was like lets just pick this up another day :) WHOOPI</span>Pam's Worldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01488472459850155824noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7720907281162870843.post-90714124637672910682011-01-07T09:35:00.000-08:002011-01-07T09:35:13.698-08:00Getting to the 1st Goal of the Peace Corps<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ok. So the PC has three goals the 1<sup>st</sup> helping the people of interested countries in meeting their need for trained men and women. The 2<sup>nd </sup>is helping promote a better understanding of Americans on the part of the peoples served. The 3<sup>rd</sup> is helping promote a better understanding of other peoples on the part of Americans.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The first is where the real work comes in and helping others.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">While been here, I’ve been focused on the 3<sup>rd</sup> goal, learning about Senegal, its culture and its people. The last two goals are ongoing and can be simply achieved by meeting, talking to people and making new friends, however they cannot be quantify. The 1<sup>st</sup> goal is the one that can be quantified; it shows that the PC is helping the developing world and the people of these countries on a grassroots level.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I’m a Small Enterprise Development (SED) volunteer. This means I can work on anything that involves business with any sector of the community. However, nothing in the PC is what it seems and a good volunteer is one that works on what his/her community needs. A good volunteer is one the listens to the requests of his/her communities and try to help them with their various needs. This means by the end of my two years of services all I do may not be business related, or I might not even do anything with business but I’ll do what my community requests of me.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Anyways, NOW I’m back from training and ready to work. On the 1<sup>st</sup> goal that is. </b>Because I have been working on the other two since been here.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So yesterday I went to a neighboring village to observe a class. One of my neighbor’s is a teacher of this class, which consists of about 30 girls. They come from surrounding villages and learn the basics of their local language, Pullar. So they are thought numbers, alphabets, basically reading and writing in their local language. Senegal was colonized by the French, so the official language of the country is French, kids are taught in French in schools but at home they speak their local languages. SO it gets confusing for them at times. They can speak their local language but can only write in French. (I kind of had this same problem too been brought up in Sierra Leone, thank God my local language is close to English.)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The age range of these girls differ from like 15-20, some with kids and some without, some that have been to school while others have not. I was just talking to my neighbor the day before and she was telling me what she does and I was like can I come with you to check it out, and OFFCOURSE she said sure. I love these people, they are so welcoming. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So I went and observed the class. It’s a center where there is also a class for little kids and the girls learn various skills, like sowing, cooking and they even have a huge garden. This center is sponsored by the government of Senegal.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So after observing the class and talking with the girls, by neighbor and the director of the center, I’m going to start working with them. This class is first stage, the next stage is getting them to start a business, and they are going to have a food transformation workshop. THIS IS MY ARENA. I’m thinking I can work on giving some business classes, helping the girls do accounting, marketing and the various other components of business, when they move to the next phase.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75;"> So for now I will me going with my neighbor to the school and observing and getting to know the girls a little more. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><b>In Senegal, relationships are everything</b>,</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> I have to build the trust of the center first, before then can let me in, and my work would be soo much easier. So while I’m just sitting around I’ll be working on the 2<sup>nd</sup> goal. You see I am getting things done here.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Okay so after that in the evening, I had a meeting with my supervisor and the various women’s groups. In this meeting I was supposed to be introduced to the women, so they could know the various things I can offer them. We never got to that point because they started fighting. It was about missing money, jealousy all the things that come about with having women around and them trying to achieve the same thing. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Needless to say, I already knew most of the women there as I did my walking around, introducing myself. So I would be working with these various groups, just to get them started on business or improve their current business practices. Some have gardens, others sell products. So I am going to work with these groups. AGAIN, no actually work will be off the ground yet, I will just be meeting with these women, telling them what I can offer, asking what they need, while working on the 2<sup>nd</sup> and 3<sup>rd</sup> goals. Because even this blog is fulfilling the 3<sup>rd</sup> goal, I don’t have to wait till I get back home to fill that goal. I’m sharing my experience and sharing the culture of these people.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I would also be working with this center for girls; it’s kind of an institute for girls that traditional school is just not working for. Again they are learning various business skills, like, sowing, catering. The director wants me to help them build a business component into the school curriculum and help the admin with computer lessons. My ENCN (predecessor) worked with them. Today I gave my first minicomputer lesson. I helped one of the admin do an excel document.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So guys although it does not seem like I’m doing much and at time I just say I’m talking and just chilling with people, that is a BIG part of this work. Gaining the trust of the people, teaching them about American culture, which in turn I can relate to you. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I’ll keep you posted on how these projects turn out.</span></div>Pam's Worldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01488472459850155824noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7720907281162870843.post-40712509191233191452011-01-02T08:40:00.000-08:002011-01-02T08:40:17.689-08:00My first day in 2011<div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So for my first day in the year, I had no plans really as I was at home and it is only celebrated by Christians. The night before I bought a cake, which I did not end up liking, because it was like eating creamy sugary butter. I shared it cake with my family and neighbors and OFFCOURSE they liked it. I hung out with my family a little, went to a soiree (a party) but there was nothing much there so I left. I ended up hanging out with some friends till the wee hours of morning.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ok back to my first day in 2011.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As I was walking, going, to say hi to my parents my Christian neighbor stopped me on the road and was like, Hey I was just coming to get you, so you could come eat lunch with us, we are having pig today. As you know Muslims hate pigs, THAT’S RIGHT NO BACON FOR MEL. Anyways, I went over and I had a tasty lunch. My neighbor’s entire family was there, people all out of town coming to celebrate the holidays. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I even drank some wine, like a sip (shh, I’m not supposed to, as I am on TB meds). After that went out, to his friends’ house. Apparently during the festive seasons they just do tour née of each other’s houses and eat and drink throughout the entire day. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">At his friends’ house, they were bumbling to say the least. Alcohol and music, dancing in so many crazy and rude ways. Anyways at around five, I was beat and ready to go home BUT THEY STILL HAD A LONG WAYS TO GO. So they convinced me to go to another house, there again it was the same affair. After that house, they brought me back home and continued on their merry way.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It was soo fun watching these people have fun, dancing and hanging out with friends and family. I’ve never seen that much people in Senegal drink together and it was just cool to see the other side of Senegal and how the Christian holidays are celebrated here. While they were drinking their alcohol, I was just drinking soda.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">To top it off, when I came home I had Salad for dinner. This was my first time eating salad with my family, so I guess they too were in the festive mood. It was a BANGING salad too, with tomatoes and eggs, with a twist, here they season the lettuce with magic (OFF COURSE because you cannot cook without magic in this country) then they make a onion sauce that is quite tasty, that is spread all around the lettuce and just some mayonnaise in the center. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">FUNNY SIDE NOTE. While out with my neighbors, whenever I got introduced, I got some BLANK Stares, like what the heck are you doing here, you are not one of us and one guy even said, I don’t like you (although it was in a joking way). Just because of my Name. As I’m not a Toubab (white) they automatically think I’m Senegalese and think I am Muslim due to my Senegalese name, Kadijatu Camara. So my neighbor had to explain the situation and who I really was. After that all was Okay and I was welcomed. </span></div>Pam's Worldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01488472459850155824noreply@blogger.com0