I wouldnt say that these first five months would be an accurate representation of what my life as a PCV will be. I mean lets face it, I spend at least 5 hours a day sitting. Mostly by myself (feel free to insert aw of sympathy here). Another, at least 3, being confused and the rest sleeping. But, hfaving ordered my seeds and sacks, come march, I can start my tree nursery. Yay! Enough of this sitting around drinking tea, that will surely turn me into a diabetic by age25, kuddi (crap in pulaar). And the good thing is, Ill be at site more often and can fully attack the termites. Ill be like buffy, but with termites. WATCH OUT!
Speaking of the little mutants, apparently, my wall is just not comfortable enough anymore. I came back from our regional strategy meeting to find that they had made their mound through my mosquito net and were now, resting comfortably on my bed. Not cool. And I think the goat that loves my pillow will have something to say about that too.
And its not like im planning to move to the floor either. Its too freakin cold! Thats right, Africa is an artic blast! I came here expecting warm, nope. It reminds me of my decision to go to KY for school. Its the south, its warm year round! ha! Too bad i sleep in fleece and 2 layers of sweats. ugh and im still cold. lame. But being cold here, where its perfectly acceptable to look utterly ridiculous, i made an impulse purchase. A sexy little number that can be best described as flashy, vibrant and bill cosby-esque. I paid about a mille (2 dollars) and when your family tells you you paid to much, you begin to second guess yourself. Or at least most people do. My goalwas to get a hideous sweater and i succeeded :) Go figure, the senegalese, the royalty of ugly attire,had the nerve to criticize me! it must have been bad! Oh well. You can all sleep well knowing that you will be able to call a sweater just like that your own next christmas. Thats right guys, fugu jai christmas, the african version of a good will. The reject american and european clothes. YES! Ill put up a picture when i get on next time, since my camera chord has gone missing, like so many other things in my life. kuudi.
Monday, January 26, 2009
Friday, January 16, 2009
Character Building 101
Dodging a dive-bombing Danza as I burst out of my mosquito net and break through the door, plunging onto hands and knees and throwing myself face first into my douche is not what I would call a particularly pleasant evening. Food Poisoning: Another one of Africa's little ways of telling me it hates me. I don't think I even have to say how many reasons the words face and douche should not be used in the same sentence. Much less come even close in reality. Unfortunately, it only took me a few moments, scratch that, I immediately regret the decision to develop an intimate relationship with my little hole in the ground. One would think that a chicken would be much better lunch choice than one of fish face, bird seed and ameobas. One would think. Seriously though, how often do I get to eat meat?
Considering that after pulling the lid off the bowl, the first parts of the chicken I saw were the feet followed shortly by the beak, I should know better. Sure enough, almost exactly 8 hours later, I'm curled up fetal positioned around a bucket on a freezing cold, concrete floor and praying for the sweet relief of death. Also praying that the mice don't realize that I'm on the floor as well. Mouse bite to the jugular would not be my preferred way to go, and lets face it, there would be no fighting it. It was pathetic. However, while trying to maintain a positive attitude that I will, infact, live through the night contrary to what my body was telling me, I tried as hard as I could to think of something else.
Ok, so brace yourself, this is why I will be such a weirdo when I come back to the states. Unlike a "normal" person, who would choose to think of oh I don't know, what I might do the next day or my Paris vacation in June, Christmas next year in the states....no. What pops in my head? Sheep. Sheep? Really? The only way to rationalize this is that I was trying to fall asleep. Counting sheep right? Well, thats not exactly how the thought process went. I want to know, who the hell thought of counting sheep before bed. Sure the serta sheep are cute, but Pakane Toucouleur sheep? Absolutely not. There is no way on earth, I would ever want one of those no wool, crusty, crapping, snot machines jumping over me until I slept. There is one in particular that is overly creepy. It has a cold, I'm sure, and will come up behind you after the sun goes down and do one of two things. The first: use me as a personal snot rag and the second: does anyone remember the creepy kid in Hey Arnold? He is the sheep version of that kid. I am still wondering what threw that into my mind, but its an honest question? Does anyone know where the idea of counting sheep came from? Why on earth wouldn't they choose something cuter, like koalas or something. What the h?
On the other hand, I feel that I have successfully done my job here in Senegal and come home now. No, I have done nothing Agfo related or work related yet period. But, I have successfully incorporated sass into everyday conversations. And I now know how to call someone a creeper in Pulaar. I do so at least once a day. My 15 year old brother does not appreciate it, but I don't care. As I said, mission accomplished :)
Things at site though are going better, I'm a lot happier despite the fact that one of my mom's is evil. She hates me and I'm not particularly fond of her either so it works out. My other mom is about to pop and I'm hoping that she doesn't have the baby while I am gone for IST. I really want to be there for it, as well as the baptism. IST brings me to another point. We are being forced to commute back and forth everyday from the training villages. I absolutely hated that family and really feel no reason to be nice when I go back. They certainly aren't. The Peace Corps staff is about to see one grumpy Sarah, that's for sure. Unfortunately, this means no skyping and I will be stuck eating more millet. Ugh!
Give me a call whenever though, it does get lonely in the village. Its really hard to relate to women, since we have absolutely nothing in common and the men always have ulterior motives. Its annoying. Oh well, hopefully soon I can feel like I have actual friends there as opposed to still feeling like a guest. Lame.
I hope everyones new years was fun and happy 2009!!
Considering that after pulling the lid off the bowl, the first parts of the chicken I saw were the feet followed shortly by the beak, I should know better. Sure enough, almost exactly 8 hours later, I'm curled up fetal positioned around a bucket on a freezing cold, concrete floor and praying for the sweet relief of death. Also praying that the mice don't realize that I'm on the floor as well. Mouse bite to the jugular would not be my preferred way to go, and lets face it, there would be no fighting it. It was pathetic. However, while trying to maintain a positive attitude that I will, infact, live through the night contrary to what my body was telling me, I tried as hard as I could to think of something else.
Ok, so brace yourself, this is why I will be such a weirdo when I come back to the states. Unlike a "normal" person, who would choose to think of oh I don't know, what I might do the next day or my Paris vacation in June, Christmas next year in the states....no. What pops in my head? Sheep. Sheep? Really? The only way to rationalize this is that I was trying to fall asleep. Counting sheep right? Well, thats not exactly how the thought process went. I want to know, who the hell thought of counting sheep before bed. Sure the serta sheep are cute, but Pakane Toucouleur sheep? Absolutely not. There is no way on earth, I would ever want one of those no wool, crusty, crapping, snot machines jumping over me until I slept. There is one in particular that is overly creepy. It has a cold, I'm sure, and will come up behind you after the sun goes down and do one of two things. The first: use me as a personal snot rag and the second: does anyone remember the creepy kid in Hey Arnold? He is the sheep version of that kid. I am still wondering what threw that into my mind, but its an honest question? Does anyone know where the idea of counting sheep came from? Why on earth wouldn't they choose something cuter, like koalas or something. What the h?
On the other hand, I feel that I have successfully done my job here in Senegal and come home now. No, I have done nothing Agfo related or work related yet period. But, I have successfully incorporated sass into everyday conversations. And I now know how to call someone a creeper in Pulaar. I do so at least once a day. My 15 year old brother does not appreciate it, but I don't care. As I said, mission accomplished :)
Things at site though are going better, I'm a lot happier despite the fact that one of my mom's is evil. She hates me and I'm not particularly fond of her either so it works out. My other mom is about to pop and I'm hoping that she doesn't have the baby while I am gone for IST. I really want to be there for it, as well as the baptism. IST brings me to another point. We are being forced to commute back and forth everyday from the training villages. I absolutely hated that family and really feel no reason to be nice when I go back. They certainly aren't. The Peace Corps staff is about to see one grumpy Sarah, that's for sure. Unfortunately, this means no skyping and I will be stuck eating more millet. Ugh!
Give me a call whenever though, it does get lonely in the village. Its really hard to relate to women, since we have absolutely nothing in common and the men always have ulterior motives. Its annoying. Oh well, hopefully soon I can feel like I have actual friends there as opposed to still feeling like a guest. Lame.
I hope everyones new years was fun and happy 2009!!
Friday, January 2, 2009
A celebrity in Senegal
That’s right ladies and gentlemen, a celebrity made a guest appearance in Senegal. Even better, in Pakane. Toucouleur…my hut. No no, I don’t mean Akon, that Seneglese sensation (gag). Since its been about a week and a half since I have been at site, this could be old news to some of you who got my excited text message late one night. Bear in mind that I am on hallucinogenic malaria medicine, so don’t judge me. Seriously. Anyway, so here I am minding my own business, sleeping and feeling the breeze as Felix the bat buzzes too close to my mosquito net, when he starts to talk to me. Naturally, as anyone would do when I bat starts talking to them, I respond in Pulaar. It’s apparently not weird at all for a bat to speak to me, aka I am insane. So, peering through my mosquito net, the bat flies toward me and hovers at eye level, giving me the pleasant surprise of speaking face to face with my first celebrity. Tony Danza. Much better than Akon in my opinion. Especially since, the Danza bats face was that of a young, whos the boss Tony. Delightful! However, I am apparently crazy, since I’m not exactly sure if it was a dream or not…
It had to be, right? Oh Melfloquine, you make my life interesting. And for lack of anything else to do in the village, I now have a friend. Tony Danza.
As far as projects, I start my field training on February 5th, back in Thies. That means skype possibilities people! Get excited. After that, probably early march, it is time to start planting trees. However, I’m going to try to hold a meeting with my village (despite my lack of pulaar abilities) and see who all is interested in having a tree pepiner. Also, I’m still really excited for this drip irrigation project that I’ve been talking about with local ngo’s in Senegal and West Africa. I think that it is something that will have a real lasting effect. Not that trees will not, but hey, gotta water them some how right!? Wish me luck on that one.
I’m a little nervous to go back to my termite mound…oops, I meant my hut. I’m pretty sure that when I go back, they will be one in the same. It’s been about a week and a half, since the 23rd, when I left for Christmas. I was planning on being back in the village for new years but seeing as how my fears came true since the last blog, and I have giardia…that didn’t really happen. I have been sitting in Dakar, watching countless movies over and over since Med was conveniently out of the office and not picking up my phone calls. The treatment of waiting it out a week and seeing if it goes away is not really my idea of fun. And I think Tony Danza would agree. I finally got so fed up that I left Dakar on New Years day, after a night of curling up on the couch of a 3rd year volunteer’s Dakar apartment and watching as we lit off, what would be, extremely illegal fireworks in the states.
So here I am, in Kaolack, staying an extra day to play with all the fun goodies I got in Christmas boxes. I picked up 4 more today. ☺ So far, I’ve gotten 3 from the parentals, 1 from the sister (I LOVED it!!!! It was so much fun to open and I’m guessing that the only non-girly thing was from Scott. Too bad zeke wasn’t here to open my presents for me though), 1 from the Pittengers (thank you so much, crunch berries are amazing), 1 from Chris (I’m a little terrified of the present you sent) and 1 from the Graggs. Thanks everyone, its really made my Christmas! Happy New Years and I hope to hear from everyone soon! The danza bat sends his bat along with my parasite too!
Whats the score up to so far? I think its…
AFRICA:3 (maybe 4)
SARAH: 1
Also….that is the cutest picture of max and sammy that I have ever seen!
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Its beginning to feel a lot like Christmas.....
Well, not really, if you count the endless summer of death that I am currently living in. Who ever would have thought it true, but I do miss freezing my butt off walking to class/making Chris drive me in any temperature below 50. More than anything, I miss Christmas in the city. Don’t get me wrong, I did pretend like I was window shopping outside Marshall Fields while shopping in the Kaolack market. But, the endless hissing and shouting “hey toubab” or for those who pretend to speak English “hey sister” (or brother when they really cant speak English), tended to annoy me more than make me smile. And especially following Tabaski, the streets were covered with trash rather than snow and Christmas cheer. Ok so that doesn’t reeeeaaaallllyyyy happen, but since I’m here, I like to pretend like it does.
I came to Kaolack, once again, for a number of reasons. I am certainly spending my time in the village and trying to learn pulaar (tons of fun let me tell you), but the dramatic drop in number of fruit trees in my backyard and the random disappearances of personal items let me know that it was time to leave for a night. That, and I wanted to decorate Chrismas cookies. So here I am, spoonless, toothbrushless and alarm clockless (all taken by the fam…random) but I’ve got cookies. Not that I can eat them. However, I will eat them all in front of my family out of spite. Hey, maybe I’ll even eat them with the new spoon I bought, fully equipped with my initials via permanent marker.
However, it is questionable if I will go back to the village today. Yesterday on my way into Kaolack, I found myself stuck in Nioro because the Alhum driver decided he wanted a nap. WHAT?!?! Oh Africa! Being without my nalgene and dying of thirst, I had no other option but to buy water from a street vender. In some circumstances this is okay because the water is in “sterile” water bags. Meaning, purified water bags instead of the one I drank: Pretty much a plastic bag that tasted like someone’s hand and was filled with puddle water. Greeeaaaattt….. Needless to say, my tummy hasn’t felt so good since last night and I’m afraid Galaas is rearing his ugly head again….NOOOOOO!!!!
On a brighter note though, the Alhum I rode in today was extra classy. When I stepped on, I wasn’t sure if a Mexican birthday party had thrown up all over the inside of it or if Snoop Dog was throwing a party. First, the festive blue with white ruffled fabric hanging down every row and down the windows was perfect length to just touch the top of my head. I wonder how many other people’s heads it has touched? Ew. The gauwdy gold pictures of Muslim Cheiks hung down like Pinatas all around the car constantly bumping people as they walked by. But with the windows obviously lacking a tint, the sun reflected of the disco ball hanging from the center of the car. Right from the stomach of a life size cut out of Snoop Dog. Again, WHAT?!?! The entire ride I had the pleasure of listening to “gin and juice” dubbed into French, while being blinded by Snoops disco ball bellybutton. It was great. Not to mention the chickens that were under the seat in front of me pecking my toes for the entire 3 hours. I swear it was an accident that I dropped my bag on them. 6 times. Whoops!
I’ll keep everyone posted on my whereabouts. Keep stalking me on google earth Chris haha! Maybe you’ll see my hut sans banana and papaya trees. I’ll probably be back in Kaolack on the 22nd or 23rd before I head to Dakar for Christmas. Yay Beach!
Oh also, if anyone can find some information on NGO’s who deal with building wells or info about grants and that kind of stuff let me know!!! I think I’m going to start working with that. When I went to the gardens, the people digging the wells made sure to stop for about 2 hours to tell me how tiring it is to build a well. Think they were trying to drop a hint? Well, I caught on so I’m going to see what I can do with it.
Enjoy the snow and downtown Chicago for me!!! Steal a present off the big tree since I’m not there to do it dad!
Also, there is a new critter in my hut....Look closely and see if you can find him. He needs a name. Unfortunately, Tyler, has already be taken by Rachel's roommate.
I came to Kaolack, once again, for a number of reasons. I am certainly spending my time in the village and trying to learn pulaar (tons of fun let me tell you), but the dramatic drop in number of fruit trees in my backyard and the random disappearances of personal items let me know that it was time to leave for a night. That, and I wanted to decorate Chrismas cookies. So here I am, spoonless, toothbrushless and alarm clockless (all taken by the fam…random) but I’ve got cookies. Not that I can eat them. However, I will eat them all in front of my family out of spite. Hey, maybe I’ll even eat them with the new spoon I bought, fully equipped with my initials via permanent marker.
However, it is questionable if I will go back to the village today. Yesterday on my way into Kaolack, I found myself stuck in Nioro because the Alhum driver decided he wanted a nap. WHAT?!?! Oh Africa! Being without my nalgene and dying of thirst, I had no other option but to buy water from a street vender. In some circumstances this is okay because the water is in “sterile” water bags. Meaning, purified water bags instead of the one I drank: Pretty much a plastic bag that tasted like someone’s hand and was filled with puddle water. Greeeaaaattt….. Needless to say, my tummy hasn’t felt so good since last night and I’m afraid Galaas is rearing his ugly head again….NOOOOOO!!!!
On a brighter note though, the Alhum I rode in today was extra classy. When I stepped on, I wasn’t sure if a Mexican birthday party had thrown up all over the inside of it or if Snoop Dog was throwing a party. First, the festive blue with white ruffled fabric hanging down every row and down the windows was perfect length to just touch the top of my head. I wonder how many other people’s heads it has touched? Ew. The gauwdy gold pictures of Muslim Cheiks hung down like Pinatas all around the car constantly bumping people as they walked by. But with the windows obviously lacking a tint, the sun reflected of the disco ball hanging from the center of the car. Right from the stomach of a life size cut out of Snoop Dog. Again, WHAT?!?! The entire ride I had the pleasure of listening to “gin and juice” dubbed into French, while being blinded by Snoops disco ball bellybutton. It was great. Not to mention the chickens that were under the seat in front of me pecking my toes for the entire 3 hours. I swear it was an accident that I dropped my bag on them. 6 times. Whoops!
I’ll keep everyone posted on my whereabouts. Keep stalking me on google earth Chris haha! Maybe you’ll see my hut sans banana and papaya trees. I’ll probably be back in Kaolack on the 22nd or 23rd before I head to Dakar for Christmas. Yay Beach!
Oh also, if anyone can find some information on NGO’s who deal with building wells or info about grants and that kind of stuff let me know!!! I think I’m going to start working with that. When I went to the gardens, the people digging the wells made sure to stop for about 2 hours to tell me how tiring it is to build a well. Think they were trying to drop a hint? Well, I caught on so I’m going to see what I can do with it.
Enjoy the snow and downtown Chicago for me!!! Steal a present off the big tree since I’m not there to do it dad!
Also, there is a new critter in my hut....Look closely and see if you can find him. He needs a name. Unfortunately, Tyler, has already be taken by Rachel's roommate.
Friday, December 12, 2008
Tell me Sira Ba, have the lambs stopped screaming?
Actually Dr. Lecter, no they have not!!!!
Tabaski-- the Muslim equivalent of Christmas sans presents. I think the best way to describe any type of Senegalese holiday is anti-climactic. There was so much build up from my family about it for days before, a countdown even. Waking up that morning, i expected a breakfast of something other than well, my best friend millet. I was sadly disappointed. Thank god for my scrambled eggs and starbucks espresso that I made for myself instead. Sorry millet and fish heads, there are much better things in life than you.
Looking sadly at the sheep who is going to bite the big one, I waited uneasily as it frolicked around the yard completely unaware of his fate. As he was tied to the tree I fought back tears and ran into my room and grabbed my IPOD. Theres nothing like a little Barry White while you're forced to watch a sheep get slaughtered. Utterly horrified and unable to hide it on my face, my families laughter was less than appreciated. Especially when they tried to hand me the rusty machete. Yea laugh it up guys, ever seen a creepy mutant sheep movie called black sheep? Well I have. Jerks.
An afternoon snack of "Teew," meat, was a pretty broad description of what I ate/might have ate. A spoon full of sheep testicles accidentally fell out of my hand and on to the ground. Accidentally. Im pretty sure I don't need testosterone, especially from a sheep. Egads! And the bowl filled more with bones than actual meat was attacked by hands and mouth noises more than I could handle. Oh wow, mi haari! I'm full. Time to break out the food stash in my room. Damn it, those starbursts are a poor substitute sheep balls. Yea right :)
I didnt even have to wear my senegalese clothes because only the younger girls changed into their nice clothes and dolled themselves up "libby lou" style. Glitter galore. This turned into me as a personal photographer, I was not impressed. My camera just happened to die and I have to buy the batteries in Dakar. I don't but it gets me out of picture taking until after new years I suppose. Oh well, another lie whatever. But as I sat, cameraless, on the rugs outside, the sun began to set and the other sheep were returning from the fields. I swear to god they new what had taken place earlier that morning. Well, it could have been the blood soaked sand everywhere. But as they walked past my hut and into the compound, they all stopped, dead in their tracks if you will, and looked at me. Then at the blood, back at me, blood, me. I think I have it coming when I go back to the village. Those sheep are plotting against me. I swear I didn't do it!!!! I didn't even eat it!!!! Those sheep are creepers and they definitely knew.
Coming out of the village this time was a much needed break. A few nights ending in tears and the never ending battle with the termites has finally started to get to me. Although I am growing rather attached to the bat. His name is Felix. But, having things "borrowed" from my hut only to be returned broken was fun. Even though they are only scissors, they were golden. What the hell. Oh and my wonderful bananas are no more. My family came in and chopped them down. I asked for some, but the response was that "well sira ba, you didn't plant them so why should you get them?" Newsflash genius, neither did you. I cried alot and didn't talk to them for a day and a half. I'm still bitter, a little.
I will be coming back to Kaolack again after a short 2 day stint with the termites and banana thieves to decorate christmas cookies. Then its off to Goree Island for Christmas. Sad that I wont be spending time with my family and friends, but I think the egg nog and wine might help with that. Haha just kidding mom!
I love you guys, Merry Christmas! Call me anytime!
Tabaski-- the Muslim equivalent of Christmas sans presents. I think the best way to describe any type of Senegalese holiday is anti-climactic. There was so much build up from my family about it for days before, a countdown even. Waking up that morning, i expected a breakfast of something other than well, my best friend millet. I was sadly disappointed. Thank god for my scrambled eggs and starbucks espresso that I made for myself instead. Sorry millet and fish heads, there are much better things in life than you.
Looking sadly at the sheep who is going to bite the big one, I waited uneasily as it frolicked around the yard completely unaware of his fate. As he was tied to the tree I fought back tears and ran into my room and grabbed my IPOD. Theres nothing like a little Barry White while you're forced to watch a sheep get slaughtered. Utterly horrified and unable to hide it on my face, my families laughter was less than appreciated. Especially when they tried to hand me the rusty machete. Yea laugh it up guys, ever seen a creepy mutant sheep movie called black sheep? Well I have. Jerks.
An afternoon snack of "Teew," meat, was a pretty broad description of what I ate/might have ate. A spoon full of sheep testicles accidentally fell out of my hand and on to the ground. Accidentally. Im pretty sure I don't need testosterone, especially from a sheep. Egads! And the bowl filled more with bones than actual meat was attacked by hands and mouth noises more than I could handle. Oh wow, mi haari! I'm full. Time to break out the food stash in my room. Damn it, those starbursts are a poor substitute sheep balls. Yea right :)
I didnt even have to wear my senegalese clothes because only the younger girls changed into their nice clothes and dolled themselves up "libby lou" style. Glitter galore. This turned into me as a personal photographer, I was not impressed. My camera just happened to die and I have to buy the batteries in Dakar. I don't but it gets me out of picture taking until after new years I suppose. Oh well, another lie whatever. But as I sat, cameraless, on the rugs outside, the sun began to set and the other sheep were returning from the fields. I swear to god they new what had taken place earlier that morning. Well, it could have been the blood soaked sand everywhere. But as they walked past my hut and into the compound, they all stopped, dead in their tracks if you will, and looked at me. Then at the blood, back at me, blood, me. I think I have it coming when I go back to the village. Those sheep are plotting against me. I swear I didn't do it!!!! I didn't even eat it!!!! Those sheep are creepers and they definitely knew.
Coming out of the village this time was a much needed break. A few nights ending in tears and the never ending battle with the termites has finally started to get to me. Although I am growing rather attached to the bat. His name is Felix. But, having things "borrowed" from my hut only to be returned broken was fun. Even though they are only scissors, they were golden. What the hell. Oh and my wonderful bananas are no more. My family came in and chopped them down. I asked for some, but the response was that "well sira ba, you didn't plant them so why should you get them?" Newsflash genius, neither did you. I cried alot and didn't talk to them for a day and a half. I'm still bitter, a little.
I will be coming back to Kaolack again after a short 2 day stint with the termites and banana thieves to decorate christmas cookies. Then its off to Goree Island for Christmas. Sad that I wont be spending time with my family and friends, but I think the egg nog and wine might help with that. Haha just kidding mom!
I love you guys, Merry Christmas! Call me anytime!
Friday, November 28, 2008
Thanksgiving in Senegal
It was well.....strange to say the least. I spent the day and night in the Kaolack regional house along with about 20 other volunteers. Despite the 100° heat, one thing that did make it feel like Thanksgiving however, was cooking. I made some awesome apple pies and of course pumpkin pies, yum! Also, true to thanksgiving form, I made spinach dip for an appetizer. Overall it was a pretty good time, one of the guys even made some millet bread instead of regular since I cant eat that! So nice!
And while I am a bit disappointed, but slightly relieved, that we did not kill the turkey ourselves I was there for the head chopping (with a dull knife--ick). But explain to me how I can watch this going on with nothing more than an "eww dude, thats pretty nasty" and continue to drink my wine, but when a cricket the size of my foot came into my hut, I trapped it under a tupperware container and kept it their until my friend came to visit and I made him get rid of it. All the while hiding myself under the mosquito net and eating starburst as consolation. Sometimes Im so strange! but the thing was nasty, so i guess its okay.
I really missed just hanging out with the family and am still feeling a little down :( And after seeing some of the events of the evening, Im not really looking that forward to Christmas or New Years. Christmas especially though. There are some holidays that I think are just inappropriate to be out of control drunk. Christmas being one of them, thanksgiving too which is probably why I was feeling down last night. Its just not me, and its frustrating to constantly be in that environment. So, hopefully I can find something to do on Christmas that doesnt involve massive consumption of alcoholic beverages. I hope.
PS--- who are we kidding mom, ill always want a sloth :) Although I fear Im becoming more and more like them each day that passes. Awesome!
HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!!!!
And while I am a bit disappointed, but slightly relieved, that we did not kill the turkey ourselves I was there for the head chopping (with a dull knife--ick). But explain to me how I can watch this going on with nothing more than an "eww dude, thats pretty nasty" and continue to drink my wine, but when a cricket the size of my foot came into my hut, I trapped it under a tupperware container and kept it their until my friend came to visit and I made him get rid of it. All the while hiding myself under the mosquito net and eating starburst as consolation. Sometimes Im so strange! but the thing was nasty, so i guess its okay.
I really missed just hanging out with the family and am still feeling a little down :( And after seeing some of the events of the evening, Im not really looking that forward to Christmas or New Years. Christmas especially though. There are some holidays that I think are just inappropriate to be out of control drunk. Christmas being one of them, thanksgiving too which is probably why I was feeling down last night. Its just not me, and its frustrating to constantly be in that environment. So, hopefully I can find something to do on Christmas that doesnt involve massive consumption of alcoholic beverages. I hope.
PS--- who are we kidding mom, ill always want a sloth :) Although I fear Im becoming more and more like them each day that passes. Awesome!
HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!!!!
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
The infamous christmas list
ok guys here it goes. So, its that time of year again for the ridiculous christmas lists created by yours truly. This year though, I have a feeling it is a bit more random.
Make up: anything bare essentials, I love their eye shadow and thats what I need the most (pinks, purples, browns and nudes are usually what i wear), I need some eyeliner (brown or black) and of course lip gloss
Cute shirts (plain colored fitted tees XS or S and some cute tank tops too)
flip flops because mine broke and the plastic african ones just dont cut it for me
fun fashion jewelry
Nail polish and remover, pummus stone, nail file etc.
Itunes cards would also be ideal
A reeses peanut butter cup :) please please!!
And the completely outrageous, typical weirdo sarah animal I want for christmas this year is a baby fainting goat, the regular ones here just arent as fun!
Just got back from Dakar though, and had a blast!! Im really excited about maybe getting a bissap juice/jam project started in my village sometime this year. Even though the trip was work related, I still managed to be my rowdy self, swim in a pool, eat too much ice cream and drink too much delicious red wine :) at the moment, im sweating in Kaolack and wasting time before I make some pumkin pie. No spinach dip though sad. Unfortunately I dont have time to write more though. I do have my old phone back so give me a call if you miss me!!! Love you all!
Make up: anything bare essentials, I love their eye shadow and thats what I need the most (pinks, purples, browns and nudes are usually what i wear), I need some eyeliner (brown or black) and of course lip gloss
Cute shirts (plain colored fitted tees XS or S and some cute tank tops too)
flip flops because mine broke and the plastic african ones just dont cut it for me
fun fashion jewelry
Nail polish and remover, pummus stone, nail file etc.
Itunes cards would also be ideal
A reeses peanut butter cup :) please please!!
And the completely outrageous, typical weirdo sarah animal I want for christmas this year is a baby fainting goat, the regular ones here just arent as fun!
Just got back from Dakar though, and had a blast!! Im really excited about maybe getting a bissap juice/jam project started in my village sometime this year. Even though the trip was work related, I still managed to be my rowdy self, swim in a pool, eat too much ice cream and drink too much delicious red wine :) at the moment, im sweating in Kaolack and wasting time before I make some pumkin pie. No spinach dip though sad. Unfortunately I dont have time to write more though. I do have my old phone back so give me a call if you miss me!!! Love you all!
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