Cosmic Love

One of the greatest things about the peace corps is that I get to live with and become a part of a family. No matter where I am on the roller coaster of emotions, I am always thankful for this aspect of my service...even when it's, in fact, my family that is causing one of my moods. I have written here and there about them, but I don't think this blog has really done justice in depicting what I love about my daily life. It's commonly the little oddities, misunderstandings or events that really make living with my family, and in senegal, such a wonderful experience. So here is a list of the things that help to depict life here better...or at least serve as amusing.

Things I love about Senegal....

1. Samba, my 5 year old nephew, giggling and happily repeating everything I say in wolof to someone else. To hime it's still too funny that this goofey white girl is speaking wolof.
2. My ability to make everyone laugh, and sometimes (emphasis on sometimes) gain street cred by dancing.
3. My women's group calling my Chapan (vagina), however one of the recently decreed no one is allowed to call me that during my American mother’s impending visit. I'll admit this is an odd thing to love, but when I can rightfully call a sixty year old woman poop as much as I want I'll take it.
4. People praying for you. Yes, this one sounds weird, but it's a touching gesture that i've come to appreciate, especially when they get creative. Read...lots of money, twins, a husband who keeps me happy at night (women's group)...I’ve even gotten some people praying for a man that does laundry!!
5. The great sense of community. I'll miss this the most when I leave. I often feel as if i'm living in a african version of the Andy Griffith Show. A simplification I realized, but I bet in Mayberry you could also by things on credit at the local shop.
6. Sending kids to do my errands. Yup I have easily adjusted to that one.
7. The smile on my sister's face when she finally understands the math problems we've been working on...even better when her uncle tells everyone she's really good at math. Kids are unfortunately not praised enough here and I believe this is one of the biggest impacts i'm actually making.
8. The birds I always hear right at sunrise and sunset. They have such a distinct call that I will already relate to senegal.
9. While on the phone my 21 yr old brother came into my room with fake hair and a girl's phone number. Saying nothing, he handed it to me and walked out. Very confused I demanded why he thought I needed fake hair...was mine not pretty enough. After too many jokes and lots of confusion (on my part), I realized it was for my sister who I was going to see the next day.
10. Tying in with 9...Life here is living in a constant comedy of errors. This is a sorce of frustration yes, but usually it's just hilarious. I'd like to say it's largely language and cultural based, but us PCVs have become so comfused living the bridge between 2 cultures, that we commonly misunderstand eachother, other toubabs, other americans...etc.
11. Juice and snacks. For 10c I can buy frozen juice, or ice cream, for under a dollar big bags of peanuts, beignets, bookies, and other baggies of delicious local treats. The mix of ease, but unreliability makes getting snacks an instant mood booster. I could write a whole paragraph about this, but suffice it to say that nothing makes me happier than unexpectedly running across a crème or peanut lady.
12. My 2 sisters...Sophie and Miriam. Growing up I'd always wanted an older sister, even if it was solely increase my wardrobe. Now I’m blessed with 2 sisters. While, yes sometimes they can be a source of frustration, I could not be more thankful for them. \

And finally...it was a big annoyance in the begging but i've grown to enjoy the constant conversation about my future husband. Now that I’m adept enough in wolof I can easily navigate the conversations, and they usually end up being hilarious. The best example is when my women's group recently told me, once again, how I should marry a local man. This man has lots of strength, they tell me. Well knowing him, I decided, no he doesn't. He's fit yess, good looking, of course...but he's not huge. Last year I may not have felt comfortable to announce this, but feeling like my usual ornery self, I declare he's not big enough. They giggle and start to argue. I explain... no no...I like my men huge (making a tall motion). After lots of arguing and laughter, because I'm knowingly only using adjectives like big and huge, never tall (what can I say I've sunken to their level), I explain i'm so small I have to have a huge husband so we have normal children. Yaay Chiro, one of the older and quiter women, then declares, this is true! I can't have pigmy children (her word not mine). Just like that all the women agree...yess I'm making sense..I'm very smart.. They will find my a very big, more likely huge husband.

So there you have it...a few of the reasons I love it here. I can think of more, but I don't want to make you all jealous.  Now for some pics with my new camera to make you more jealous. 

Samba, maybe a future buckeye

My beach 

Mosque in Ngallou

Salt mines in Palmerin