Update

Headed back to the village tomorrow...been busy-ish, though a part of me still feels like I havenot yet gotten to the health-related aspect of my work. Ondang ondang (little by little)

Just spent another week in Thies, once again helping with training (this time Emotional Health and Cross Culture). It was once again nice to be back, though I missed my training buddy Jenn. It was also really interesting to talk with the Trainees again bc now they all know their future sites and you can kind of almost see glimpses into what they will be like as future Volunteers. While they are all clean and healthy looking still, there is as significant increase in Senegalese clothing and understanding about life here. It will be cool to see what they are like just a month down the road when Swear In happens, and if all 40 of them will still be around. Cool people though and I am very excited about many of the new ones who will be coming to the Kaolack house who seem really cool.

Before leaving the village, I finished the world, Africa, and Senegal maps in Madame Evelyn's classroom. I worked really hard in the excruciating heat and humidity (and without adequate meals) to get them done before school started this past Monday. Well, that was when school was supposed to start Monday. However, teachers in Senegal have not yet been paid, so school in many parts of the country has not yet started. It started here in Kaolack, but according to my nearest neighbor, not in our area. I am not even sure if the teachers have arrived from their homes in various parts of the country, because it sounds like not many have. I will officially find out when I get back tomorrow and if school indeed hasnt started, I will try and get the maps done in the second classroom as soon as possible as well. Otherwise it may be a slow process based on when kids are NOT in school, or wait until the next teacher strike (happens a lot here...).

Before I left for Thies again, I had finally tracked down my community health relai (health educator), who I think had been out of town since late June, maybe? At first he was surprised I even knew he's a relai ("who told you that? the nurse?"), and while he wouldnt directly say he doesnt run causeries (which are educational programs in the village), he expressed his willingness to help me run causeries in the village. We had a long chat where I reminded him doing these educational sessions are his job and are very important and he seems to know his stuff, now we just need to plan them. I fully intend this next week on stopping by his compound and looking at the relai materials he told me about and planning a village causerie with him about either malaria or handwashing for within the next 2 weeks. Causeries are a big and important aspect of a Health PCVs work, and since he has been trained in doing these, I just need to "encourage" him a little. I also do not feel comfortable enough running one by myself only mainly because I want EVERYONE to understand whats going on easily and my language skills (while they are functional) are still sometimes difficult for others to follow, if they arent used to me or my accent). I think it will be best to start with either Malaria or Handwashing (diarrhea prevention). He was not there in July for the Neem Lotion causerie, so I will probably teach him that as well. We need to come up with a program lesson and then set up a date with the women's group. Should be good, God willing.

Also, in other news, my sister Ndeye's tiny and malnourished 2 month old baby is slowly gaining weight. We took him to a clinic in Foundiougne almost a month ago where he weighed in at just 2kg (4.4 lbs) and after a lot of breast-feeding coaching (bc I alone dont pull enough credibility just saying "keep breastfeeding, all of the time," even if thats what they said at the clinic, and powdered milk as well, he weighed in at 2.5kg when we took him back 2 weeks later. The ladies (nurse/nuns since it is a Catholic clinic) were very excited and I hope that when I see him tomorrow, he will have put on even more weight!

Until later...