I’m living in a Wolof family in the city of Mboro. It’s about 40min North of Thies and 5k from the ocean. I still haven’t figured out how many people actually live in my family compound. I am part of a polygamous Muslim family; I have two moms. I also have a bunch of brothers and sisters; I’ve asked how many there were and have gotten different numbers from everyone. Everyone is pretty friendly, I’m really loving getting to know so many different people. I can’t wait until I get over this language hump and can actually chat with people. I meet about a dozen new people everyday since my mom takes me around to friends and relatives’ homes constantly. I’m the new hood ornament of the family. It’s been pretty great so far.
It is tradition to be given a Senegalese name when you move in with your host family. My name is now Daba Diop, and that is the only name ANYONE will call me. The first day it took about five minutes of yelling before I realized that someone was talking to me. It’s amazing how quickly our names and faces spread through our neighborhood. I walk down the street and here kids screaming Daba!! Daba!! all the time. Daba actually means hoe in Wolof, and yes I mean the gardening tool, which is pretty ironic and since I am an Agriculture volunteer.
My life is pretty hysterical at the moment. The first day was extremely uncomfortable; actually most of the time is uncomfortable, but it’s mixed in with wonderful and entertaining moments. I first went in to my room to find some sort of poo on my bed and floor. I later realized that it’s from the mice that live in my room and sometimes eat my food. But the house is clean and very open. The only time that anyone really spends inside is when it’s raining or we’re sleeping. Other than that, the cooking and socializing is done outside, preferably under a shady tree.
My family doesn’t really speak French so I’m relying on my five days of Wolof training to get by, but I’m getting pretty good at charades. My moms crack me up because I’m constantly reminding them to speak slowly since I’m learning. Instead of slowing down, they just repeat what they’re saying over and over again, but faster. But my brothers and sisters are very helpful; we practice my vocab at night in between break fast and dinner.
Oh yes, It’s Ramadan right now. For anyone who isn’t aware, Ramadan is one of the 5 pillars of Islam where people fast from sun up to sun down for an entire month. And when I say fast, they don’t even drink water. No food or liquid. It’s pretty intense, but I am not fasting because I would shrivel up like a raisin. It’s a pretty cool thing people are doing, but that means that around 7:30pm everyone eats a huge loaf of bread, dates and drinks tea. THEN, about two hours later they eat actual dinner. By this time I’m falling asleep on the mat from the carb overload. But it is extremely rude not to eat, so I try to partake as much as I can.
Eating is fun, but challenging for me. Eating and most things in this culture must me done with the right hand ONLY. It’s a hygiene thing as well as a cultural superstition. Since people don’t use tp here, their left hand and a kettle of water are the main source for cleaning up after yourself. Also, it’s believed that left-handed people have the devil in them? So yes, I’m doing everything except writing with my right hand and it is challenging. I’m practically teaching myself to eat again. My family thinks it’s funny when I drop my spoon in the community bowl. Silly American.
Malaria medicine is crazy. Bubbs I don’t know if you had these issues. So right now we’re taking two different Malaria pills; kind of like a fast track way. One of the pills makes your face feel like it’s burning off in the middle of the night. Actually right now I feel like someone poured rubbing alcohol over the gaping wound that is my face (okay maybe a little dramatic, but extremely uncomfortable). The other malaria med we’re taking can make you have crazy, hallucinogenic and lucid dreams (aims I completely understand your weird sleeping things). These dreams can be absolutely amazing if you’re dreaming about snorkeling through coral reef like I did the other night. OR it can be terrifying like the other night where I had a murdering nightmare. Took me a while to snap out of it. Very odd feeling. Hopefully I have more of the good dreams and not the bad.
The city is absolutely beautiful. It is built in many different levels along rolling sand dunes. There are lots of trees and farming going on around the outskirts so it’s not completely desert-like. I plan on touring around more when we head back to Mboro on Wednesday. It’s a good-sized city, so there are lots to see. I can’t wait to explore more when we get back. There are eight of us in the city; two classes of four. Our language classes are amazing. We learn so much everyday but have an amazing time doing it. I swear I learn better under a shady tree with a mini chalk board than in the most advanced classroom. Wolof is interesting. Very different than English, but we’ve learned to stop making comparisons between the two languages because it just makes your head hurt.
We haven’t been to the beach yet, but are definitely planning on going. I’m hoping that it turns out to be clean. Apparently, much of the raw sewage is piped out into the ocean; yum. I forgot my camera cord in the states, so I can’t put pictures up yet, but I will as soon as I can.
BTW: My friend’s family dog just had puppies; I think I’m going to adopt one…
Hi Abby/Daba. This brings back so many memories. You are doing great! Yes, it is such a culture shock and being left-handed will give you its challenges. Isn't it amazing how adaptable we are? I was also in Cameroun during Ramadan and I can completely relate to your thoughts about this. I felt it was an honor to break the fast at the end of the month; I still remember the feast and the ceremony out in a field. It was a powerful spiritual time. Your body will adapt to the malaria meds...I had forgotten what they did to one's body (kind of like a hot flash!). You are amazing to be doing this now and make a good ambassador from our country. Immersion is the absolutely best way to learn; you have fewer distractions and your desire to learn is high so you can communicate. You have always been a quick study; I think this will be the case as you continue there. Tim and I send our love and look forward to your next post. Love, Ms. Haag (Sue) and Tim
ReplyDeleteHi Abby (Daba) - John and I were checking to see if you posted anything new. Hope all is going well. I think you should be a writer!!!!! Miss and love you - Becky
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