Status: I'm always hungry, always sweaty, so exhausted all the time, I am a giant mosquito bite, getting skinnier as we speak and getting really sick of flies. My email inbox and mailbox are still empty :( sad
As of right now, I do not but i was informed that I will have them in a few months. GREAT!!!! haha! I guess its more of an initiation thing than anything else. However, this whole not eating business has started to take its toll. I feel weak and shaky almost every day, but I've been willing to deal with it (despite the heat) to avoid a greater fate of being violently ill from all the gluten and wheat in the meals. What I wouldn't give for a delicious dinner in the states. Or an Avocado hoagie--bread and all. I'd put up with the cramps from that if it meant I wasn't hungry.
So the toe.....it was doing great!!!!! But after a "light" game of soccer, I'm back to bandages. Had it only been our PC group, everything would have been just fine. We weren't playing competitively and no one really had to worry about guarding me because lets face it, I suck at soccer haha! Even after some of the seneglese kids joined in (who are REALLY good by the way) things were fine. Until some crazy 30 something year old Iranian dude popped into the game. No one even saw where he came from either! So I had the ball and kicked it away, since i suck and didn't want the ball. After (repeat AFTER) the ball had been gone for a good 30 seconds or so the guy comes up and kicks me right in the toe. I went down. HARD! the guy then proceeded to try to touch my toe repeatedly after I kept smacking his hands away and the guys told him to leave. One of the boys was helping me limp home and sure enough a creepy molester van pulls up, fully equipped with the iranian and tried to get us to get in. Yea right creeper haha!
Random: a lizard just ran across my feet. He was cute. I probably have ebola now.
Last night we went out for the first time and had a blast. Got a little schwastey not gonna lie, but don't worry mom, everything was fine. By schwastey, I mean 2 beers haha! Oh and I do enjoy that the frites are put on the sandwiches here at restaurants. Its the meme chose as chips on sandwiches in the US! yay! But bad part, I just found a part of a plastic bag cooked into my sandwich. Again, I have ebola now, or ameobas :(
Just to warn you all I won't be on the internet probably for the next two weeks. 11 full days at the village should be interesting for sure. Bucket shower everyday with the monster spider yikes! But also if you want to skype me my name is Buhoe1. And don't worry mom, I miss you too!
-i was putting up a picture but its taking too freakin long...sorry no luck :(
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Mbiyete mi ko Binta Sih
So, I had my first home stay experience in an African village. And in retrospect it really wasn't that bad. My family is so welcoming and trying to help me with the language (which is absolutely crazy!). Pulaar is definitely a challenge to learn and I feel like an idiot with my family since I can't speak anything and its a complete immersion program. The title says that my name (in Senegal) is Binta Sih. Weird that my sister's name is the exact same. Talk about confusing!
My room is pretty nice. Its HUGE!!! but there's only a bed in it so it looks even bigger. I have to close my window and door at night too keep the critters out so its like an oven. I've lost at least five pounds already in sweat and the inability to eat alone! Since its ramadan, I have to eat lunch in my room which is actually really helpful since I cant really eat gluten and everything here is carbs. Yikes!!! Not to mention the fish head looking at me. Yay vegetarian diet at the training center!!!! Anyway, there's a donkey that lives outside my window and continues to make noise from sun up to sun down and every moment in between. And, if you were ever wonder if Roosters really sound like that. Yes, they do. And no, its not just when the sun comes up. Its when it comes up and every 5 minutes after that! its great. Oh and there all giant turkeys that run around my village and all I can think is THANKSGIVING!!!! haha! But my sisters are great. I sat around peeling beans with them and pointing to a bunch of things and asking what the pulaar word was. I felt retarded haha! and I've never been laughed at so much in my life.
As far as the food. Its tough. I can't eat anything and as a result, I almost passed out at my training sight and succeeded in thoroughly freaking out the town. Which the negative effect is now that they make me eat everything in sight (everything gluten) and i'm even sicker ah! plus the PCMO's recommendation for cleaning water is bleach, so i feel sick even more often. Yay peace corp solutions to untreated water!
As you can see, everything is touching and its all carbs basically....I cant eat anything
My emotional state was questionable since i couldnt get a hold of my buhoe and was sick and frustrated. So we got back into town and got beer and ice cream yum. There's a ben and jerry's in dakar so i'm really excited for that.
Im excited and a lot more encouraged since i talked to him and i cant wait until June when I see him and until next christmas when I'm home for a month. I got a cell phone so shoot me a message I'll give you the number.
I planted a garden today during training, apparently I have to plant 50 trees next week yikes!!!! But its ok, if you all are going to send anything though, make sure its gluten free! Also, please send me some letters. its really depressing when other people get letters and I dont. So get on that people, come on i'm over here in the middle of nowhere while you watch tv and drink your cold beers...i feel so bad for you haha! Love you guys
Peace Corps Quote #3 "So, this isnt FDA approved, but......."
on the way to our site!
My room is pretty nice. Its HUGE!!! but there's only a bed in it so it looks even bigger. I have to close my window and door at night too keep the critters out so its like an oven. I've lost at least five pounds already in sweat and the inability to eat alone! Since its ramadan, I have to eat lunch in my room which is actually really helpful since I cant really eat gluten and everything here is carbs. Yikes!!! Not to mention the fish head looking at me. Yay vegetarian diet at the training center!!!! Anyway, there's a donkey that lives outside my window and continues to make noise from sun up to sun down and every moment in between. And, if you were ever wonder if Roosters really sound like that. Yes, they do. And no, its not just when the sun comes up. Its when it comes up and every 5 minutes after that! its great. Oh and there all giant turkeys that run around my village and all I can think is THANKSGIVING!!!! haha! But my sisters are great. I sat around peeling beans with them and pointing to a bunch of things and asking what the pulaar word was. I felt retarded haha! and I've never been laughed at so much in my life.
As far as the food. Its tough. I can't eat anything and as a result, I almost passed out at my training sight and succeeded in thoroughly freaking out the town. Which the negative effect is now that they make me eat everything in sight (everything gluten) and i'm even sicker ah! plus the PCMO's recommendation for cleaning water is bleach, so i feel sick even more often. Yay peace corp solutions to untreated water!
As you can see, everything is touching and its all carbs basically....I cant eat anything
My emotional state was questionable since i couldnt get a hold of my buhoe and was sick and frustrated. So we got back into town and got beer and ice cream yum. There's a ben and jerry's in dakar so i'm really excited for that.
Im excited and a lot more encouraged since i talked to him and i cant wait until June when I see him and until next christmas when I'm home for a month. I got a cell phone so shoot me a message I'll give you the number.
I planted a garden today during training, apparently I have to plant 50 trees next week yikes!!!! But its ok, if you all are going to send anything though, make sure its gluten free! Also, please send me some letters. its really depressing when other people get letters and I dont. So get on that people, come on i'm over here in the middle of nowhere while you watch tv and drink your cold beers...i feel so bad for you haha! Love you guys
Peace Corps Quote #3 "So, this isnt FDA approved, but......."
on the way to our site!
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Oh yikes Africa.
Today I finally was able to leave the compound which was WONDERFUL!!!! The training site is ok, full of mosquitos and the only green area in the city. Probably why there are so many mosquitoes. I am convinced that I will die by mosquito bite sometime while i'm here. Either that or malaria. Hopefully neither, but i'm convinced. Right down the street is a maximum security prison and a "red zone" but the train tracks which we are not allowed to go (obviously). I guess someone was found dead there last month (not a pc volunteer mom chill out). The town is crazy and confusing.....and sweaty. I don't speak wolof so I cant really communicate unless someone speaks french. Actually, I wont even be learning Wolof. I'll be learning Pulaar which is spoken in more places than just Senegal. Its more of a nomadic language.
For those of you who are wondering when you'll get to see my beautiful sweaty face again. Other than Chris or anyone who is coming to visit, I'll be back to visit the states and put on weight again is Next Christmas for like 2 weeks. So get excited and buy me lots of christmas presents and candy k? thanks
As far as my health, that is questionable already. I've had a stomach ache since I got here. The heat probably doesn't help the nausea and I can already tell that my weight will drop dramatically. The food is decent despite it all touching :) Luckily its taboo in Seneglese culture to take a bite of multiple things at once. Yay for my phobia!! But my stomach isn't really able to handle it and whenever I smell it cooking, waves of nausea hit. Apparently everyone else likes it though. My body is just weird I guess. Which sucks for me since this is when they're feeding us well. I'll basically live off whatever I can make since the sanitation standards are much different from the states. That and I really don't want to get sick in a squaty. The toe is hanging in there all though I'm not sure how long. Keeping it clean is the hard part since i'm constantly walking in sand. Also, I got a rabies, hep A and meningitis vaccine. My arm is going to fall off.
I totally lucked out in my training hut. I'm in a room with 3 other girls and my mosquito net and pictures have become my comfort zone. Never thought that'd be the case, even when my bed has an imprint of my body in it at all times haha! Fat body.....yea right. But, our batiment (kinda like a barrack) has western toilets!!!! Now, you guys know that I cant even pee at a gas station restroom, but i've never been so happy to see a toilet in my life. Fear #1 overcome. The showers are cold and its wonderful!!!!
The days are long but the cultural training is fun. I learned how to carry water on my head yesterday. Its heavy and yes, it is hard. I am the sweatiest person you will probably ever meet. I actually wrang out my shirt today after getting back from the market. I am disgusting. But mascara makes me feel pretty :)
I'll have my own hut which I was disappointed about before, but now I'm really excited and am really looking forward to the privacy and time to make my own food and stuff.
As far as things to send FOOD! and TOILET PAPER!!! I found out the reason its not acceptable to use your left hand for anything and let me tell you, I will not be taking part in that tradition. Toilet paper is a must in my life. Everything else, I'm pretty much set on for a while. Except that my alarm clock doesnt work, but if I have a phone I should be ok, at least for a while.
FOOD FUN THINGS TO SEND:
-Candy that won't melt (skittles, jolly ranchers, etc.)
-Crackers
-Cliff Bars, they don't really melt and give me extra calories and protein
-Dried Cranberries are like my candy
-maybe some pasta once I get to my village so I don't always have to have rice
-cookies (the butter cookies that you can put around your fingers would be delicious)
other yummy non-melty stuff you can think of would be great too
everybody enjoy the american food. i miss it and I cant wait to eat it next december Love you all!
Peace Corps quote #2: "Wherever there's water its wet, and wherever its wet, there's poo somewhere"
For those of you who are wondering when you'll get to see my beautiful sweaty face again. Other than Chris or anyone who is coming to visit, I'll be back to visit the states and put on weight again is Next Christmas for like 2 weeks. So get excited and buy me lots of christmas presents and candy k? thanks
As far as my health, that is questionable already. I've had a stomach ache since I got here. The heat probably doesn't help the nausea and I can already tell that my weight will drop dramatically. The food is decent despite it all touching :) Luckily its taboo in Seneglese culture to take a bite of multiple things at once. Yay for my phobia!! But my stomach isn't really able to handle it and whenever I smell it cooking, waves of nausea hit. Apparently everyone else likes it though. My body is just weird I guess. Which sucks for me since this is when they're feeding us well. I'll basically live off whatever I can make since the sanitation standards are much different from the states. That and I really don't want to get sick in a squaty. The toe is hanging in there all though I'm not sure how long. Keeping it clean is the hard part since i'm constantly walking in sand. Also, I got a rabies, hep A and meningitis vaccine. My arm is going to fall off.
I totally lucked out in my training hut. I'm in a room with 3 other girls and my mosquito net and pictures have become my comfort zone. Never thought that'd be the case, even when my bed has an imprint of my body in it at all times haha! Fat body.....yea right. But, our batiment (kinda like a barrack) has western toilets!!!! Now, you guys know that I cant even pee at a gas station restroom, but i've never been so happy to see a toilet in my life. Fear #1 overcome. The showers are cold and its wonderful!!!!
The days are long but the cultural training is fun. I learned how to carry water on my head yesterday. Its heavy and yes, it is hard. I am the sweatiest person you will probably ever meet. I actually wrang out my shirt today after getting back from the market. I am disgusting. But mascara makes me feel pretty :)
I'll have my own hut which I was disappointed about before, but now I'm really excited and am really looking forward to the privacy and time to make my own food and stuff.
As far as things to send FOOD! and TOILET PAPER!!! I found out the reason its not acceptable to use your left hand for anything and let me tell you, I will not be taking part in that tradition. Toilet paper is a must in my life. Everything else, I'm pretty much set on for a while. Except that my alarm clock doesnt work, but if I have a phone I should be ok, at least for a while.
FOOD FUN THINGS TO SEND:
-Candy that won't melt (skittles, jolly ranchers, etc.)
-Crackers
-Cliff Bars, they don't really melt and give me extra calories and protein
-Dried Cranberries are like my candy
-maybe some pasta once I get to my village so I don't always have to have rice
-cookies (the butter cookies that you can put around your fingers would be delicious)
other yummy non-melty stuff you can think of would be great too
everybody enjoy the american food. i miss it and I cant wait to eat it next december Love you all!
Peace Corps quote #2: "Wherever there's water its wet, and wherever its wet, there's poo somewhere"
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
I'm officially a hippie
Today was the last day of staging which is nice, long boring days filled with skits/role play, holding hands and sharing our feelings. (insert awwww here). I wore my dinosaur shirt today! It was a big hit especially at lunch when I tore up my food like a t-rex. Just kidding, but seriously I wanted to. Instead, I chewed it really hard. You know, just to show it who was boss. Haha! We're supposed to leave tomorrow at 630am for the clinic. Oh and for the record, we all had to take pregger tests since the yellow fever vaccine is a live vaccine. Nice huh! But tomorrow at this time I will be in-route to Senegal. After all of these people holding my hand I'm starting to really feel like a part of the group. Well, that and I really want to wash my hands.
The luggage is stressing me out. Apparently I'm much more of a city girl than I had realized. My roommate brought a backpack. But I feel a little better that one girl who I met brought like 100 things of lip gloss and hair product haha! I'm not quite that bad, but I did bring make up. She's really nice and is doing the same work that I will be doing, so I should get to know her a little better over the next few weeks. Agroforestry Extension Agents UNITE!!!!
Today, we had to get into groups and do something with our "talents" that portrayed our fears or hopes for service. Attempting to play guitar in front of 40 people was hilarious. At least there were more up there too though.
As for my hippiness, I've pretty much decided to go vegetarian unless it is absolutely necessary to eat meat out of respect for my "family." My chacos are awesome and I think everyone has a pair. The good thing is that it will keep these worm like things from laying eggs in my feet and making me have to pick them out when they hatch. Yum! Apparently though, the RPCV's said we'll get used to it and share war stories of the things we find on our bodies and what may or may not come out. No thanks! haha! Oh to be thrown in with a bunch of strangers and learn everything possible about their bodies. There are just some things about guys I don't want to know (and girls for that matter).
Overall, I'm excited, terrified, anxious, a little hungry, sad for leaving the people I care about the most and the list could go on and on. I can't wait for visitors! And I think I'll feel better about everything once we get in country and I can meet my house family. I am a little disappointed about one thing. We were told that there's a good chance our homestays at our site will only be for two months. Then, we'll get our own place. Which the privacy may be nice, but it would be so much more fun to live with all the kids and would assimilate us so much more than living alone. :( Oh well, I'll call tonight before bed. Love!
The luggage is stressing me out. Apparently I'm much more of a city girl than I had realized. My roommate brought a backpack. But I feel a little better that one girl who I met brought like 100 things of lip gloss and hair product haha! I'm not quite that bad, but I did bring make up. She's really nice and is doing the same work that I will be doing, so I should get to know her a little better over the next few weeks. Agroforestry Extension Agents UNITE!!!!
Today, we had to get into groups and do something with our "talents" that portrayed our fears or hopes for service. Attempting to play guitar in front of 40 people was hilarious. At least there were more up there too though.
As for my hippiness, I've pretty much decided to go vegetarian unless it is absolutely necessary to eat meat out of respect for my "family." My chacos are awesome and I think everyone has a pair. The good thing is that it will keep these worm like things from laying eggs in my feet and making me have to pick them out when they hatch. Yum! Apparently though, the RPCV's said we'll get used to it and share war stories of the things we find on our bodies and what may or may not come out. No thanks! haha! Oh to be thrown in with a bunch of strangers and learn everything possible about their bodies. There are just some things about guys I don't want to know (and girls for that matter).
Overall, I'm excited, terrified, anxious, a little hungry, sad for leaving the people I care about the most and the list could go on and on. I can't wait for visitors! And I think I'll feel better about everything once we get in country and I can meet my house family. I am a little disappointed about one thing. We were told that there's a good chance our homestays at our site will only be for two months. Then, we'll get our own place. Which the privacy may be nice, but it would be so much more fun to live with all the kids and would assimilate us so much more than living alone. :( Oh well, I'll call tonight before bed. Love!
Monday, September 8, 2008
First night in Philly
So I arrived in Philadelphia this morning and was completely lost. My luggage is heavy, most people have less (crazy kids, everybody needs a dinosaur shirt!). The good thing is that everyone is around my age, which also tends to be the bad part since for some reason guys can tend to get possessive of girls before they even know your name. Some boy asked my about my Chris and made a bet about how long we'll stay together. Ever since the homeless man I don't really do facial hair. Frankly, I'm afraid facial hair automatically means homeless. So, Chris don't grow a gragg stash/ merkin on your face haha!
Other than him, everyone seems pretty nice. Terrified just like I am of course. But, I did realize one thing that I forgot: a baseball glove. Oh well, that can come whenever or I'll let you guys know if I need you to send one. I'm shaken after tonight. Stupid boys always get to me even when they should be focused on more important things in life. After all, isn't that what the peace corps stands for? I hate him already, I hope he ends up no where near me, knob.
As for my toe, it's a mutant. It is doing better, but wearing heals pushes any type of padding or bandage off of it so everyone can see the mutant tendancies. I'd fit right in at the walmart in Galveston Rachel!!!! Maybe I'll put up pics eventually, but i'm too grossed out right now.
Peace Corps Quote #1: "Oh don't worry, you'll get used to the parasites"
Love you guys, its time for bed but ill write as soon as possible!
Other than him, everyone seems pretty nice. Terrified just like I am of course. But, I did realize one thing that I forgot: a baseball glove. Oh well, that can come whenever or I'll let you guys know if I need you to send one. I'm shaken after tonight. Stupid boys always get to me even when they should be focused on more important things in life. After all, isn't that what the peace corps stands for? I hate him already, I hope he ends up no where near me, knob.
As for my toe, it's a mutant. It is doing better, but wearing heals pushes any type of padding or bandage off of it so everyone can see the mutant tendancies. I'd fit right in at the walmart in Galveston Rachel!!!! Maybe I'll put up pics eventually, but i'm too grossed out right now.
Peace Corps Quote #1: "Oh don't worry, you'll get used to the parasites"
Love you guys, its time for bed but ill write as soon as possible!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
