Thanksgiving Eve

I realize Thanksgiving is a few days off, but I'm headed to Dakar tomorrow to start the celebrations so it feels like Thanksgiving starts tomorrow (after the 3+ hour bus ride into Dakar and the errands I have to do). The trip will be filled with eating and good times with friends, it's the first time I've seen Tamar since she went island-princess (aka went to site, hers happens to be an island) and everyone else in the Dakar region is also always a party. I'm off on another earlllyyyyy bus tomorrow morning and I'll be back on in the first sept-place out of the garage on Friday because Tabaski (a huge holiday) is Saturday. I have to pack my backpack, which will be filled to the brim because I don't have the right clothes so my solution was to bring a lot of wrong clothes, do my dishes, double check my food buckets are SEALED TIGHT, and hit the road!

But, before I start donning the halls with turkeys cut from my handprint, let me give you a run down of today:
I started my day with an AMAZING bean sandwich... no worries, I have the recipe and will make them for anyone who wants one ... you know, in two years. After that I headed to the women's training technical center. For some reason I am incapable of remembering what order those four words go in so I usually just pick one each time I leave the house: "go I women center training technical" or "go I center women technical training" then, of course, I gesture widely in the direction of the center and leave. I think my hfamiy's either figured out what I'm talking about or they're cemented in their views of my craziness - either way, I was out the door! I finally met the director and she seemed really excited to work with me. I told her that I knew "business things" weren't exactly as interesting (I still haven't figured out the appropriate word for "exciting," which makes for occasional awkward conversation, not much of a change from my daily life now that I think about it) "hair styling" and "cloth making" but if I could teach 1 business hour in each session, maybe people would want to take my classes eventually. She then told me she already had a group that wanted to take a marketing class and if I would come back after Dec 3rd we could talk about starting it! I'm really excited to work with this center, there sounds to be a lot of potential and I feel like I could do a lot of good projects with them (as well as fine more good work parters).

After women training technical center I went to the store to buy a can of Fanta because I knew that my package wasn't going to be here and wanted to have a cheer-up. Boy was I wrong! I got to the post office and there, in my box, was a beautiful scrap of white paper that said "Katherine, PCV, 18000cfa." WAIT WHAT?! 18,000CFA?? That's gotta be wrong! I thought to myself. I know sometimes they try to overcharge you, but this guy's been good so far, everything's been 1,000cfa. (for some perspective 18,000 is about $40). I didn't have 18000 on me and I barely had 18000 left (it's the end of the month and there aren't atms at site). On the walk back to my house, with only slip in hand, I did the math: if I got the packages, I would have enough to go to Dakar and be fine (yeah, my parents are probably freaking out right now... in my defense, I hadn't planned to spend an excessive amount on packages). I got the money and started working up arguments for why it should be a lower fee on my way back to the post office. When I handed over the slip and he said "18000cfa" I responded with my first defense "18000, that's expensive!" He quickly shut me up with a "you have three." THREE!!! THREE!! Christmas came early in Bambey! About 45minutes later (post offices taking forever seems to be universal) I strode proudly out of the post office weighed down with packages. I hobbled across the street with a large envelope stuffed into my side bag, trying to carry the two boxes. Finally I decided to give in, "can you me put these my head?" I asked a stranger. An arm lift later and I was teetering down the street with boxes balanced (barely) on my head. I know why Senegalese women walk with their heads high! To carry something on your head, even with your arms steadying it, you have to keep you head high, you also have to watch out for low tree branches, but you live and learn! I even heard some punk kids say, in a non-sarcastic mean way, "look, she's Senegalese!"

By the time I made it to my room my neck felt like it was going to snap in half, but I had enough energy to open all of the boxes and sit on the floor surrounded by my loot. It was amazing (thank you so much parents and AS)! I opened some of the candy corn and took it downstairs to my host family. While candy corn probably wasn't the best "cultural exchange" the HF seemed to like it, or at least they lied about it well. I tried to explain to my hfmom that "it must resemble maize" (that one was in French too... can't win 'em all). The rest of the day has been filled with delicious American treats including easy mac and peanut butter (and of course more candy corn).

I also did some tutoring and where I tried to explain Thanksgiving and mashed potatoes. Thanksgiving was explained well, mashed potatoes weren't.

So I'm off to Dakar! Happy Thanksgiving everyone! Enjoy "say you thank you and pass time with your house. Eat, pass time with your house."

Happy Thanksgiving (and friendsgiving for those of you out there),
KO