Installation

I have now been installed. Though this sounds like I am some appliance fitted into the back corner of a closet. This is what Peace Corps calls it when they drop you off in middle of nowhere and waves goodbye leaving you with a puzzled look. Nowhere is a middle size village called Ouarkhokh with a population of about 4,000. It is 15 kilometers from a town called Linguere where I can go to connect to the internet, check my mail and hangout with another volunteer who calls Linguere home. I myself live in an octagon shape hut made with cement and a grass roof. It has an attached bathroom otherwise known as a hole in the cement floor that works as a bath and toilette. I also have a bit of a confusing family situation, I live in a compound with three women and their children who all shared a husband. He died a few years ago and the women have taken over the house but lost the sense of family that is seen in most Senegalese families. The women all cook their own meals (my mom also cooks for me) have their own sheep and goats and split the water bill. They of course do interact with each other but each does their own thing for most part and the compound is quite compared to any other in the village. This is an example of the complex relationships that come with polygamy that have yet to understand. Since I don’t have a father, the compound next to mine has abapted as theirs as they did with the last volunteer. The head of the family is my father, a well respected member of the community, he is very nice and his compound is the source of my electricity. Having two families also means having two lunches and two dinners. I give my mom money every month to cook for me and she does a great job adding variety to an otherwise dull menu of rice and fish for lunch and rice and beans for dinner every single day. My father also gives me a portion of their lunch and dinner. I usually push the food around to make it look like I ate something or give some to the Taliba (young boys who are sent off to the local Koranic school to learn the values of faith by begging for food everyday). My days so far are spent greeting people and going to the school and health post to talk and in order to establish a friendly relationship which will be beneficial for future work. My day ends with a refreshing bucket bath and I am usually in bed by 10. Since the heat is unbearable in my hut at night, as it is for most of the day, I sleep outside on a very nice stick bed using a mat for extra comfort. As for work so far there is not much to say. I have started a garden which is apart of the two goals peace corps wants new volunteers to finish by the end of two months when we go back to Thies for more training. The garden is still in its infancy so hopefully it will turn out some good carrots, onions, lettuce and tomatoes. On Monday I am helping out with Bob Marley day at the local high school which as music lover nothing could be better for a first project. It has been organized by a new English teacher who has quickly become my friend since he is the only one I can truly talk to as my Wolof is also still in its infancy. There is also a literary club at the school which I am excited about helping with funding for new books. That’s it all I have for now I will be accessing the internet about every two weeks, which hopefully insures regular blog posting.