The end...and the beginning

We have almost arrived at the end of PST; however, my service is really just beginning. In a little over a week, I will be dropped off by a Peace Corp car in my non-english speaking village of approximately 500 people. There is a rumor that some volunteers actually run after the car. I just hope that I'm not that volunteer. It will be exciting to have my own space and designate my schedule as I please, but I'm also worried about being productive and dealing with loneliness. I've gotten to know my 45 fellow PCVs very well over the past 9 weeks and not being around them all the time will be a little sad. 

Omar, Fatou, Me, Aggi and Fati

I'll apologize in advance for the scattered nature of this blog entry. It's been such a long time since I've been able to post anything, I just want to make sure that I don't leave anything out. 


Last Saturday, after the awkwardness of counterpart workshop, all 46 of us piled into 2 Alhums (large, falling apart vans that are used for public transportation) and headed to the beach. The house that we stayed in has affectionately been dubbed the "MTV house," and which good reason. I see no reason that the next season of "The Real World" shouldn't be filled in Popenguine. The house is there and waiting. We had a huge patio that overlooked the water and was right on the beach. All you had to do was walk down some stairs and you were on the sand. 

Popenguine, the view from our house

Sunset over the water in Popenguine

Still more Popenguine

We did some awesome dancing, watched a beautiful sunset over the water and feasted on pasta with tomato sauce. The weather was wonderful and the fataya (the Senegalese version of a fried dumpling stuffed with fish) were plentiful. We also kept the drinks flowing through most of the night.


The only downside was the number of beds, as there was definitely not room for 46 of us. I think I wound up sharing a twin size mattress with 2 other people. But that's fine. We're all very close here in PC Senegal. There were some older PCVs with us in Popenguine, I'm not totally sure why. But I do have to say that on Sunday morning when I climbed out of my sleeping bag to use the facilities, I came back to my room and found one of them sleeping in my sleeping bag. Not just on the mattress, but actually in my sleeping bag. The volunteer was even using my pile of clothes as a pillow. I'm not sure how I feel about that. Actually, I know exactly how I feel, not good. I wonder if this, "what's mine is yours" attitude just comes with time.  


We drove back to Thies from Popenguine and had exactly 45 minutes to pack our stuff for our homestay villages. I was happy to be back. I feel really comfortable with my family, it only took the whole of PST. A highlight from the week was when the power went out on Tuesday. I broke out my ipod and speakers and introduced everyone to Bon Jovi, New Jersey's finest. My Neene started dancing and we all got up and joined her. For the first time, I was actually able to understand a good amount of what my family was saying to me. Granted, everyone had to speak slowly, clearly and directly to me, but it was still nice to be understood and understand. 


I am back from my last stay with my homestay family. Parting was bittersweet. I love my homestay family and am sad to be leaving them; however, I am excited at the prospect of starting out on my own, in a new village as a real live Peace Corps Volunteer. Saturday night they made my favorite dinner for me (lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, french fries and fish with a marinated onion sauce) and posed for pictures. I was very touched. My Neene is coming to our host family reception on Thursday so I will see her in the near future. As for everyone else, I'm not sure when our paths will next cross. We have In-Service Training in July so I'll see if I can coordinate a visit with them then. 


Today was filled with a lot of language training, our final language exam is tomorrow morning. My time-slot is bright and early at 8:15am. I'm the first of the Pulaars to go and honestly, I'm just happy that I'll be getting it over with. I actually switched with someone so that I could have the first slot. I really do feel like my language has improved drastically over the last week or so, I just hope it will be enough. 


I was able to get the to the tailor today to have some pretty awesome, if I do say so myself, clothes made. My swear-in "complet" (Senegalese dress attire) is finished (and beautiful if I so say so myself. Picture bright pink with silver embroidery. Pictures to follow), I picked it up at my homestay village on Saturday, but I did want some more everyday clothes. Hopefully on Thursday I will have 2 skirts, a shirt and a pair of pink elephant pants to my name. I want to make the pants my PC trademark. 


Wish me luck for my exam tomorrow, tonight, I will try to dream exclusively in Pulaar. Hannde jamma, mi ekkoto hoydude e pulaar tan. 

Emma, Me and Cady at the beach

Asalaa maalekum,
Rachel