finally at site

I don’t even know where to begin – so much has happened in the past week. I finally got to my site last Thursday afternoon. After I finished unloading all of my stuff from the Peace Corps car, the staff returned to Kaolack, leaving me at my new home. My father and 12 year old host brother are the only two people in my family who speak French and neither of them were there for my installation. Consequently, communication with my host mother and my 10 and 2 year old sisters was limited to pointing and gesturing.

I was completely overwhelmed while I was unpacking – it seemed like my family and all of the neighbors piled into my room and dug through my bags – picking out things they liked, admiring themselves in my mirror and asking me what different things were. After about an hour, everyone left (the majority of the kids stayed in the doorway to watch me) and I was able to begin to unpack and arrange my stuff. Several times during these first few hours I questioned what exactly I was doing here again – but these thoughts were spelled by my excitement to begin to get settled and adjust to my new life here.

The next morning I forced myself, somewhat reluctantly, to go wander and begin to get a feel for the town and start meeting and introducing myself to people. The first morning was easily the most conspicuous I have felt in my life. Kids came flocking from every compound screaming “Toubab” (Wolof for foreigner/white person) wanting to shake my hand and ask me for gifts, which ranged from my sandals to one little girl asking me for my hair.

With everyone I passed, I used the little bit of Wolof greetings that I learned in Thies. I was able to then switch to French with most people I talked with. In general, people have been extremely interested in why I am here (I am repeatedly asked why I would want to leave America to come to Africa) and what my role is as a Peace Corps volunteer.

I’ve continued this routine each morning – trying to go to a new part of town to meet and see new things. I come back home and eat lunch with my family and then rest for a while. Pretty much the entire country takes a siesta in the early afternoon to try to escape the heat. After my daily nap, which I am adjusting to quite well, I recruit the neighborhood kids to teach me Wolof. It typically involves me pointing to something or mimicking some action to learn new vocabulary. Additionally, I will meet with a teacher from the high school twice to week to learn the grammar and have a little more formal practice.

All in all, things are going pretty well here. I will write more as soon as I can. There isn’t internet in Nioro yet, although its rumored to be on its way (this of course could take anywhere from a week or two to three or four months) so I need to come to Kaolack for it, which is about 30 miles north of me – but takes about an hour and half by car to give you some indication of how bad the road is.

Anyway, Happy Thanksgiving to all – all the volunteers in my region rented out a restaurant that is owned by an ex-pat, and she is preparing us a giant Thanksgiving feast with all the fixings. It should be good.