News Round Up

Senegal Updates:

The power outages have been horrible and the teachers were on strike for a few weeks; those two things together just caused restlessness among the students. Last Monday the students decided to go on strike themselves to protest the teachers striking… it wasn’t entirely in solidarity but it was a little. They threw big rocks and burned tires to block the national highway that cuts through Bambey. It made it on the news (even though taking to other volunteers these strikes were going on all over the country). My host family and I were watching the news that night when we noticed a familiar face… YOUSSOU WAS ON THE NEWS! He wasn’t speaking but he was standing next to the student being interviewed! Now whenever I ask how his day was I ask if he talked to any news crews.

On Saturday there’s supposed to be a huge opposition rally in the main square in Dakar and also in other cities. The government is cautiously letting it happen and supposedly each opposition party will be represented (Senegal isn’t a 2 party system). My host sisters haven’t heard anything happening in Bambey – I’ll keep you updated as it all happens.

Peace Corps Updates:

My work is coming along well. I’m still teaching business classes and I have several side projects. We’re gearing up for the 2011 Girls’ Camp. I’m trying to put together some stuff with my girls’ group and also one of my business classes to do some skits. There’s a volunteer working with a radio station and, theoretically, these girls’ skits will be played during a “Peace Corps Hour” sort of thing on the radio.

In other areas of the country it’s just volunteers talking about things on the radio – which ours will be as well – but I’m hoping that my girls’ can create some good discussions and we can diversify the project.

Last night 3 volunteers finished their services! Oliver and Ankit were a year ahead of me and extended for a few extra months. Chris was a few months ahead of me and just finished his two years. A whole bunch of people went into Dakar to see them off. We spent most of the afternoon at the American club and then went down to Happy Hour. After Happy Hour, around 30 of us went to the Chinese Restaurant. We toasted to their services and safe travels with moonshine made of rice alcohol which was followed with cans of PBR. Yes. American beer that had been made in America, sent to China, imported from China to Senegal, then drank by Americans… globalization at its finest. After Chinese we all went back to the regional house and ate the cookies, brownies, and cake that Alyssa, Jackie, Erin, Tamar, and I had baked in the morning.

Finally around 2:30am they said their goodbyes and went to the airport. They’re now somewhere in the US on their way to Las Vegas for some March Madness games. While it was sad to say goodbye to volunteers that I’ve become really good friends with, I found it also really exciting. They had put in two amazing years of work for Senegal and influenced so many volunteers’ services (mine included) with their senses of humor and kindness. It was exciting to see them basically graduate from Peace Corps and go on to their next adventures. Also, being a little selfish, it made my end-date seem just a little closer.

That’s all that’s really going on in Bambey right now. I’ll try and blog more – hopefully the internet will be fixed.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day and enjoy March Madness for me!

KO