Counterpart Workshop, Day 2

So today was another day of the counterpart workshop and, even though it’s only halfway done, I feel like so much has happened. First off, I had yet another experience in Senegalese scheduling: we had to create a schedule for who I need to meet in Bambey after I get installed (I’ll officially be moving there the 19^th Oct!) and the schedule consists of me meeting one person, each day, for a month… tres Senegalese (compared to American style of have as many meetings as possible and get them all done the first week). Second interesting Senegalese behavior, it’s killing me with how many languages they speak. Today a counterpart told us he spoke 4 languages: English, French, German, and Italian… no, he also speaks Serer, Wolof, Pular, and a little Mandinka…. Most Senegalese people don’t count their native language in the total of languages, compared to me who will probably always count Wolof as a language I know even if I forget it a month after getting home.

After speaking with my counterpart (who I have decided will be way more useful than my supervisor) I had that exciting first day of school feeling. Now, before you call me a nerd, let me explain: it’s that feeling of there being exciting things in the future, new things coming, but they’re not there yet, so the work level isn’t scary, annoying, or overwhelming. My counterpart really wants me to work with organizing the women’s groups and creating more concrete bylaws and rules so they function better. She also really wants me to create a girls group for girls that have dropped out of school. Hopefully I’ll be able to create a group like that as well as a group for girls in school. Mostly I’m really excited to get to work and get started! Back to the village tonight, but then I have a few days at the center with nothing going on. I’ve decided to take advantage of my off weekend by staying at the center, not going to Dakar. A break with worrying about nothing and lots of internet time will be amazing!

A Prochain!

KO

Homologues (Counterparts)

This is going to be a disjointed post, sorry about that, but that's kind of how my train of thought is right now.

Our counterparts are here and both my counterpart and supervisor seem to be nice people. They both seem really interested in working with womens groups and with girls groups which makes me very excited for the potential work opportunities. There is a hilarious possibility that I'll be helping write bylaws from some of the womens groups (I was bylaws chair for my sorority in college and I thought I had escaped it, oh how circular life can be). One of the curious things about Senegalese culture is, even though I've explained that I cannot speak Wolof yet, it doesn't seem to matter. Everyone speaks to me in Wolof, even after I say "Only French, not yet Wolof" or the million other ways to convey that message. The bizarre thing about language, however, is that some of the time, I can understand the general message of what they're trying to say with simple things.

Before the counterpart workshop, there was one Senegalese behavior that really bothered me: hissing. The Senegalese hiss when they want your attention. They hiss at each other, vendors hiss if they want you to buy something, children hiss before the say toubab or ask for money, you hiss if you want a taxi (somehow it works too). Today, I added another behavior to that list: snapping as you raise your hand to speak. During the counterpart workshop when the counterparts had something to say they would raise their hand, snap, and usually say "eh" or something. It's just bizarre.

Last night, I had my first bad run-in with Senegalese food. Looking back on the situation I should have known better: bread with tomato/onion/noodle sauce with flavorless fried dough balls was probably not a good choice. Oh well. It was a weird sandwich and, let's just say, we did not agree.

Oh well! Back to the counterpart workshop!

Beach!

The beach was amazing. That's pretty much there is to it... but I'll give you a little more. We were given a weekend off... well and by weekend I mean Monday 5pm-Tuesday 5pm, but it's the first time we've had off since we got here August 12th. Before you think "but Katherine, you say you sit around your compound staring a dirt most of the day," remember that EVERYTHING is in French... and just generally work, even if it's not real work, it's hard. But back to the beach!

Along with another girl, I organized 50 trainees to take 2 Alham's (basically an emptied out large van that's been re-cramped with seats.. they each sit 30 and are no bigger than a mini-bus, if not smaller) and go to the beach for a day. We rented two houses and piled in for a relaxing 24 hours. Once we got to the beach town, we stopped at a boutique to fill up on drinks (let your imagination wander) as well as on things for dinner. Later that night along with a VERY HELPFUL group of other trainees, I made dinner (pasta and red sauce) for everyone.

The rest of the trip was full of swimming, walking, hanging out, and generally letting loose. There were times it was almost possible to forget I was in Africa and not on Spring Break... until I saw the bugs, swatted a mosquito, got hissed at, or had to use the bathroom.

I'll add more pictures soon (hopefully tomorrow afternoon) but I've linked to another friend's blog and she has some pictures.

Our counterparts start to arrive today which means I sleep in the village tonight, Thursday, and Friday, and driven to Thies each day for sessions with my counterpart and supervisor... I'm nervous to meet them because this could really determine a lot over the next two years (aka if I'm able to work with them or if they're just in the position for credit).

I'll try to blog at night and post them during the day if anything exciting is happening.

KO