It's been quite a while since my last update and I apologize for that. My tablet is not very conducive to blog posting and since the Kolda house itself hasn't had internet in nearly 4 months, it makes doing anything on the internet a real chore. (Spoiler alert for 2013: I bought an internet key to use with the laptop I am bringing back from America. Conclusion: more blogposts and pictures) But I'm in Dakar now, waiting to leave for America and Christmas (YAY!!!) so I've got the time and the right kind of computer to easily update you all on a bit of my life since I last posted.
A lot has happened in the last 2 months. It's actually cold (by which I mean it is 70 degrees at night), my kitten, Talata, is actually a BOY (woops!), rainy season is long over replaced by wind, dust and the occasional overcast day. The frogs are still invading and the mosquitoes are still biting (though thankfully not as horribly as during hot/rainy season). Thanksgiving involved the killing and eating of three chickens and I baked an apple pie.
I also fainted for the first time in my life.
Strangest experience ever.
A few days before Thanksgiving I woke up in the middle of the night when my body decided to rid itself of some unpleasant food I had eaten the day before. I figure it was just one contaminated meal too many and my stomach just said, "ENOUGH!" and for twelve hours it made sure everything was gone. This also meant that I couldn't hold anything down except water and Gatorade. So while I did my best to remain hydrated, my blood sugar plummeted. Around 2 in the afternoon my counterpart came by my hut because we were going to start the baseline survey that day. (The sibling I had sent to tell her I was sick apparently decided not to go) As we talked about starting the next day and and when, I suddenly found myself seeing in black and white, fuzzy tunnel vision and my face went cold.
I've nearly passed out before, so I know the signs. I told her, "Fad am, mi walloyiima" (which means: wait for me I am going to lie down).
That's the last thing I remember before oddly waking up on the floor of my hut.
I felt pain first, in my elbow and hip before hearing my counterpart shouting my name and then opening my eyes. I don't have the slightest clue how long I was out, but I was lucky as hell that I took a step or two sideways because had I not, my head would have connected with my table and things would have been a whole lot worse. Anyway, I finally came to and the first thing I said was: "What happened?"
I know. Totally cliche. But that is what I said.
Disoriented and slightly nauseous I kind of rolled over and got myself to my knees while my host mother, a neighbor and my counterpart were all in my hut telling me I needed to go to the health post. There was also a crowd of my host siblings at my door.
So we can add serious embarrassment to the list of feelings.
After repeatedly refusing to go to the health post I appeased my host mom by agreeing to see my other counterpart, Aliou, who is a health worker. A sibling was dispatched and I (with the assistance of my lovely counterpart, Penda) crawled onto my bed. My whole body was shaking as Penda fanned me with my hand fan and asked if I was okay or if I needed anything. I really needed to eat something, but that just wasn't possible. My stomach didn't accept solid food.
Waiting for Aliou, I suddenly remembered I needed to report this to the Peace Corps med office, so I called up the doctor and told them what happened. "Drink rice water or eat some bread if you can," I was told. "And keep drinking gatorade or just eat a handful of sugar. You also need to take Cipro for the next 6 days." Rice water is disgusting and I needed to save my gatorade so I chose the sugar. Aliou arrived, took my blood pressure. I found the supply of Cipro that I was given way back during training. Only three days worth. So I asked Aliou to take me to Mampatime the next morning so I could go into Kolda where I could get the extra days worth.
Long story short (too late) I got into Kolda two days before I had intended for Thanksgiving and had the fun experience of everyone in my village knowing that I was super sick and that I fainted. The concept of 'small towns' has a whole new meaning when within just a few hours, literally every single person in your village knows you were sick, or that your cat hurt her leg or that you bought *fill in the blank* or that you are going to America for vacation.
But on the flip side, the people in my village were genuinely concerned about me when I did faint and they all wished me a trip of 'peace only' and to make sure I showed all my pictures to my family when I got there. I have also been instructed to teach Pulaar to my family. One of my brother's friends said it would be funny if all I did one day was speak Pulaar. "Alaa anglais. Pulaar tan." (No English. Pulaar only). I told him maybe.
No worries family. That won't be happening.
Movie night started in my compound nearly by accident. I showed a couple siblings Pixar's 'Presto' and they were so fascinated by my iPod they asked what other things were on it. Ended up watching 'Prince of Persia'. One thing led to another and more siblings heard about it so on another night I pulled out my tablet and we watched Prince of Persia again (not my choice) on the larger screen.
So now once a week we sit outside my hut and watch a movie.
I don't have karate movies - which is what they love and begged me for - but they've enjoyed the action movies that include people with special powers (The Mummy, Clash of the Titans, Wrath of the Titans, etc) and the younger kids enjoyed Shrek. It's all in English of course, but visual humor and lots of fighting action keep them entertained.
Love it this development.
My 'kitten' Talata (who I recently discovered is a boy - not my fault as all the other people in my village though he was a she) is now 2 1/2 months old and had quite the amusing delema when my other cat, Tennan, went into heat for the first time. Hormonal instinct has only barely begun to influence him and his attention was split between playing with Tennan's tail (which he thinks is a toy) and attempting to make a man of himself. I'll just say he failed at being a man and regret the fact that by the next time she's in heat it won't be so amusing.
On the work end: My baseline survey did get done and I went to two other volunteers' villages to help with a Moringa planting demonstration and health talk. I hope to be able to do the same thing in my own village in January. Finally got to meet the new middle school principle and we talked about a possible well at the school. He is very excited at the possibility and promised to try and find a well digger and get the price for all the materials and such. The president of the teacher's association (who is also a friend of mine) said he would help and when I call to greet him while I am in America he will keep me updated. If they can get everything together while I am gone I will go ahead and write for the grant. That way we can start work as soon as possible.
So that is a great bit of news for me.
Also talked to the English teacher at the middle school and he is excited about the prospect of perhaps doing a movie for the club once a month. He also asked if I could talk to some of the schools in my home town about some kind of cultural exchange like letters or even video letters. Get to know American schools, hear English spoken by native speakers and just break down some barriers. I personally think it is a great idea and so I took pictures of all the classes and the school itself to share with some teachers if I can meet them while I am at home.
Of course, later, he did ask for a more financial partnership between schools, to which I said - 'Possibly' - but the reality of schools in America, especially my own town's schools, and my own position as a Peace Corps volunteer makes all of that a bit difficult and slightly unrealistic. But a cultural partnership is totally possible and I'm really going to pursue that.
One last note on the title: Yes, I really did see my breath in the morning. Two mornings, to be exact. It feels so cold at night right now. Bucket baths are agony in the morning and I've started boiling water in the morning to try and warm things up. I've been sleeping in my sleeping bag and sweatshirt every night and welcoming my two cats into bed with me as two living hot water bottles. I fully admit that I didn't believe a word all the other volunteers said when they talked about cold season and being freezing at night.
I gladly eat my words.
It is cold.
Well, relatively speaking.
75 degrees may not seem cold to my fellow Washingtonians, but after 125 degrees, it's downright freezing.
I LOVE IT.
Cheers!
Christine
