This is going to be short, because it's 6am and I'm exhausted, but wanted to update really fast before I head out to site again. So what's new...hmmm...Well, I survived the first 10 days at site! Sassolo is pretty great so far. The people are incredibly warm and welcoming, and I'm getting settled in. My job for these first three months at site is to integrate and to learn about my village. Most of my days I spend greeting...now what exactly is greeting, an American might ask? Greeting is incredibly important in Mali, and a good way to integrate into the community. Basically, for 2 hours every morning and 2 hours every afternoon I go around my village and greet people. Kind of like trick-or-treating, only in a foreign language and there's no candy involved. Other than just going around, greeting, talking, and asking questions, I spend a lot of time reading. I've read the last Harry Potter book again, but also the Foreign Policy journals you sent me, Mom, so I've been somewhat productive, right? Haha
My language is okay, I can communicate but just barely. The women are so funny when I talk to them - every new woman I meet asks the same questions: Can you draw water from the well? Can you speak Fulfulde? Can you wash your own clothes? Can you cook lunch? Most of them have never spent any time with an American before, let alone live with one, so their curiosity is understandable. It's just funny that they are so amazed when I tell them that I can, in fact, cook macaroni for lunch. I'm the first volunteer at my site ever, so I think a lot of my work will be in just sensitizing people to American culture, and vice versa. Answering a lot of questions. And asking a lot of questions too.
I'm in Sevare right now, headed back to site in 20 minutes for the day, and then I'm headed back into Sevare on Sunday-Tuesday. We're doing a regional project for Global Handwashing (with soap!) Day in October, and are planning stuff for that at the PC Bureau. So hooray!
I just want to thank all of you who read this, comment, or send emails...the support has been incredible, and means so much more than you know. Thanks for being there, sending your kind words, and being so generous in your time. The past couple days it's been rough being away from home, even as I feel like I'm really making a new home here. So thank you for the letters, emails, packages, blog comments, everything...they keep me going :)
7 comments:
Hi Jenny,
Its so nice to read about your experiences, about an Africa the rest of the world has no idea exists. Thanks for your vivid portrayal of your daily events, I will try to follow you as you go through this amazing journey. Hang in there ok. Anyway you're one of the few people on earth who have been privileged to have an encounter with other cultures without being an IDP (Internally Displaced Person) make the most of it. Bye my friend. Koko
Great post! Thank you for the update! You might want to mention to the ladies of the village that in addition to sweeping your house, you have been known to trip over bushes, and ride your bike into mailboxes (substitute the word trees though)! :) We love you! XO
Hi jenny, love you, and so proud of what you are doing. so interesting your blogs, can hardly wait for the next one.
rain here so not harvesting, it will be a late harvest this year.
we are headed to Pekin, IN for a surprise birthday party today. that is down by Louisville.
take care. have you been watching the stars. it has b een so cloudy here. not sure what the moon looks like this week. love gram
i'm so glad to hear that you're sharing your clumsiness with the world :) LOVE AND MISS YOU! to the moon and back i tell ya ;)
Clumsiness is fine, just so long as you don't burn down the village--might be counterproductive to integration :)
Keep postin, jenniquah, we are all thinking of you
Yay for you Jenny. I enjoy getting on the blog from time to time and seeing what you are up to. I think Koko is right - you are getting an experience very very few ever will. I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers and who knows, I might be motivated enough to send a package out someday....just don't hold your breath! :)
HGS Love!
It is really good to read about this and prep myself for somthing similar in Niger!
Can I borrow those foreign service papers when you are through with them?
-Mike Westendorp
Post a Comment