Magal

I should be giving this post more energy but I can't talk about the Magal much more. Long story short the largest holiday for the largest sect of Islam (the Magal, the Mourids respectively) was yesterday/today. It takes place in Touba which is about 50km northeast of me. People come from all over the country (and I'm told the world) to go to Touba and the only real way to get there is through Bambey. There are definitely benefits (our main road was re-paved, there are people spending some money in town) but sheesh the traffic and crowds! Everything pretty much shut down to allow people to go. Depending on the person and the responsibilities trips were varied in length. Awa, one of my work partners, went for the whole week (she's staying with her parents in law who live in Touba), my mom and sisters went for a few hours, a few days before; my hfdad for the actual Magal. We've had people traveling through our house (staying for lunch only) for about a week. Now that the Magal's over, I'm expecting those same people stop by on their way home.
Even though nothing's going on, it's exhausting. Sheesh.

Other than that, nothing too exciting. I'm heading to Dakar this weekend to watch the Superbowl (technology is amazing), then the Thies for a month of training.

KO