Going to the mosque and we're gonna get married!

Today started out as a pretty average day, pretty much I had one thing to do in the morning and one to do in the afternoon (that's kind of sad but whatever). I'm embarrassed to say today was my first day at the middle school; in my defense it's in a really weird place and pretty much outside of town. I met the principal who though I was my ancienne (no offense taken). After correcting him, we scheduled a meeting for tomorrow "at the same time" (neither of us looked at our watches) because he was in a meeting. He seems like a really great guy and I know my ancienne worked with him so I'm hoping he becomes a pretty steady work partner.

Afterwards, I decided to head to the market and buy green beans because it was 11 and I'd left the house at 10:30 and my next "meeting" was around 5. On my way to the market I decided to stop in and say hi to my friend the 1st assistant mayor. I sat down and we chatted about my training and then he launched into, "so explain this compost project you're doing." The "compost project I'm doing" is actually something my ancienne started and I've been asking just to see if people are still interested... well he's VERY interested. I managed to run through pretty much everything I remembered about the compost project in Joal (the APCD - my boss - had started it a few years ago when she was a volunteer). He took notes and then explained it back to me to make sure he had gotten it right. Next, he decided I NEEDED to meet the president of all of the women's groups, who I've met before but not really officially, and found someone to take me to her house as well as the treasurer for the women's groups. The treasure wasn't home so we moved on to the President. Even though her son/nephew (?) was in the room (and spoke French) I managed to explain myself in Wolof and understand what she was saying back to me! She said she's going to call a meeting of the board for me.

Then I went to the market to buy my green beans.

I got home a little before lunch and was hanging out with Miriam. I thought I'd ask when Fatou (my older hfsister who goes to school in Dakar) is going to be back.
"April 1st I think."
"Ok. Cool."
"She's getting married."
"WAIT WHAT?"
At that point my host mom came out to join us and Miriam informed her that I didn't know Fatou was getting married.
"oh. yeah. You were in Thies I guess, we forgot. She's getting married on the 3rd." as in... 3 weeks.

On one hand, I can see...maybe... how it would slip your mind? We're all here, and she came and told us and we just forgot that you weren't here... BUT COME ON. Don't you think when I walked in the door you would say FATOU'S GETTING MARRIED!!

Nope.

The marriage will be interesting and I'll take lots of pictures (I'm getting a new outfit I've decided).

The second half of the day I visited Awa (the entrepreneur who I really like) and said goodbye to her for a little bit because she has a job working with an NGO in the Southeastern part of the country. Her family is always really nice to me and Oussmane (her husband) offered to help with any projects I have in the future, so I'm going to go over there even though she's out of town.

Pretty much though, the entire day was overshadowed by the almost-surprise marriage. Oh Senegal.