I tried to write a blog post on my Volunteer Visit but i was unable due to internet problems. I didn't realize this until it we started to get really busy and lose all internet, so I wrote the rest of the adventure down and will try to add to the previous blog to share the second half of our training.
We continued on the bush taxi dodging 2 inch long Desert Date tree thorns and forgetting any personal space requirements we had ever had until we spotted a water tower on the horizon that I would call home for he next few days and would serve as my example of a "wuro Fulbe" (Pulaar Village. The whole trip on a whole took about an hour and a half. Becca motioned to the driver to stop and we jumped down, paid the equivalent of $1.50 and headed towards a concrete building with about 4 thatch roof huts located around it, which was Becca's family compound. We went around and greeted everyone and learned where every one lived, and then we sat down on a mat under a shade tree and relaxed and watched as a chicken was slaughtered for a wonderful meal that would follow. We talked a little, ate a bunch, and the night came quick.
The following morning, I awoke in Becca's Dad's bed, which he had graciously allowed me to use for my stay, as well rested as I had since first arriving in Senegal. The morning was cool and calm, the women of the compound were heating water, cleaning, and making breakfast in front of each hut and the children were slowly beginning to stir from their beds and congregate. Becca and I ate an easy breakfast and then began our tour of Tiargni at the market then a stop at the health post where unexpected excitement awaited with a women in labor, another woman finding out she was pregnant, and a host of other people greeting me and then asking Becca who I was, as I sat in front of the health post like a concierge. Following the trip to the health post we walked back through town greeting people, returned back to the Becca's compound, ate a fabulous lunch, and then laid under a shade tree drinking attaya and me trying to communicate with a couple of older Pulaar men and Becca's aunt. An enjoyable pastime for all seemed to be sharing the words of different types of livestock and helping the other to pronounce it, neither team did very well. Once fully rested we went in search of the lady that held the key to the women's garden at about 4, who was not there, so we went and greeted for the afternoon and received the flashlight tour of the women's garden by flashlight that evening. This I thoroughly enjoyed and was excited to finally see some agriculture in Senegal and be able to talk with the ones farming. The women's garden had eggplant, okra, bissap(hibiscus which is used here in many dishes), cucumber, tomato, bitter tomato (African Solanaceae), peppers, and corn. We left in the pitch black and were escorted by one of Becca's friends back to the family compound where we ate a nice dinner and laid on mats under one of the most beautiful starlight nights I had ever seen, keep in mind that I have lived in Nevada and Wyoming. As I lost count of of the shooting stars and felt a cool evening breeze, my time here became feasible, the language became manageable, my agricultural knowledge became transferable, and I anticipated many more nights looking at the stars and talking about life a world away from anywhere I had lived previously.
The next morning was as calm and pleasant as the one before, but we needed to catch an 8 AM bush taxi home so we hurried our instant coffee and biscuits, no Tennesseans not the ones you are thinking, and headed to the market. On the ride back to Dahra I was given the middle seat on top of the cab, my feet rested on the windshield of the truck and the passengers watched me for when to take cover from the 2 inch long thorns. The air on the trip back was cool against my face as I watched unknown birds of many colors flying in front of the truck.
We arrived back in Dahra, met up with more PCVs, and headed to Linguere to meet the rest of our work zone. The work zone in Linguere greeted us with open arms and full plates. We spent the next 3 days eating good food, playing games, and relaxing. The three of us that showed up as strangers to Linguere left as family. I am excited about the fellowship at my village and with the other volunteers that will help me to remember the land that I came from.
By the end of the trip I had made peace. I will learn Pulaar by bumbling sentences and hand signals, I will learn the culture through embarrassment and laughter, I will enjoy and celebrate the successes in the fields and gardens, and I will ponder the failures and move through them.
