Greetings from Detroit

I mean, Kaolack, the Detroit of Senegal.

I dont really have much to say, except that I am back in Kaolack for a regional meeting. The Kaolack group is creating a regional strategy to work across sectors on projects and hopefully increase our ability to bring about real results and change in our corner of Senegal. Its a cool idea and I really hope we can get it off the ground.

As for me, I think I am headed back to site tomorrow; though I am not positive, for about 3 weeks before we meet again. I am definitely finding it hard to not have specific assigned tasks right now except for meeting people and learning the language. It is already driving me crazy and I can only sit around not doing anything with my family for so long before I retreat into my hut for several hours in the afternoon. Yes, people really do just sit around for hours on end, esp in the afternoon when it is too hot to do anything else, sometimes talking, sometimes not. Usually if I am around and trying to review Serere, the convos only revolve around me and my husband (or lackthereof), animal names, body part names, family member names, and how I generally cannot remember any of the names. Yep, oh cultural integration!

Heard heyennas at site a few nights ago...scariest sounds ever! Oh Africa!

This may be my last post for a few weeks. Until then, I love and miss you all a lot!