visitor

{ August 28, 2011 @ 7:09 pm } · { Uncategorized }

This month, I had my first visitor! My BFF and former college housemate, Katie, dared to enter the life that I currently live in Peace Corps Senegal.

I threw her right into the game by taking a nightbus to Kedougou the day she flew in.  (Her sleep would already be screwed up right? All that travel?)  When the bus broke down at 2am rather than sit in the bus, I taught her how to pee on the side of the road and not care if people see.  She also was immediately taken by the site of the stars in the African bush, which I realized I had forgotten about.  In the beginning of my service my host family thought I was a crazy person for always looking up there…

After a restful day and a trip to the market in Kedougou to purchase food to gear up for the lack of it in Saraya due to Ramadan, we headed to Saraya on the sept place, which lately has become a neuf place.  I.e. 9 people plus driver in station wagon: 2 in front, 4 in back, 3 in way back.  I took her on a tour de Saraya and had to explain to everyone that 1. she is not a Peace Corps volunteer 2. She is not mine to give you to marry and 3. No she does not speak Malinke yet, she just got her.

My family was THRILLED to have her, and gave her a name, Diounkounda, after my sister.  Even though I was there to translate, it was fun to see the non-verbal communication when I did not have to participate.  Trying to express gratitude and friendship through laughter and handshakes.  She bonded with the kids, we went to my mom’s fields and took photos and made nutritious moringa beignets with my family (such a good PCV!)  Of course, my family was so excited that she was there that they made AMAZING food the whole time.  She barely believed me when I said it is not usually like that and they are only doing this for her.  Which I can now attest to because I am back at site and the vegetables are gone.  Bland-o.

She got a mini-view of what it is like to live my life in Saraya.  She decided that the best way to describe it to outsiders is that I am camping for 2 years.  She also decided that after living in a hut by myself for two years that I am going to need to live alone upon my return stateside…

Then I decided it would be a good idea to take her on a 50k bikeride through a barely existing muddy path through rivers to the most beautiful waterfall in Senegal.  She was the best sport ever.  She lept hydrated, re-applied sunscreen, did not complain about a lack of .  She also lived through bailing our tent out of 2 inches of water during a storm and walking 10kilometers when Kate’s nozzel came off her tire and there was no path because it rained and we were about knee deep in mud for a while.  Needless to say, I gave her quite the taste of what gives Kedougou our reputation of “bros on bikes,” me obviously.

After that we decided that we had enough physically-demanding adventures and went to the beach.  Minus awful sept-place drivers and rain, we got some good relaxing time, seafood and beach walking.

After a couple of days in Dakar off she went! What a quick 3 weeks! I am really happy that I now have someone I can email with updates and not have to explain who everyone is.  And when I come home and forget English words and my feet are gross, she will understand why.

She also reminded me off all of our friends back at home I am missing.  Even though a lot of what I am missing is drama that seems like it was made for a bad reality TV show, talking about it all did make me homesick and miss everyone.  Although apparently right now everyone is sitting around in earthquakes and hurricanes.

Next visitors: the parents and aunt liz! Good thing Katie came to tell me I am not allowed to make them do most of the things I made them do…

Also, check out Katie’s blog of her travels around the world! http://www.worldwidewebbed.blogspot.com/