Most Focussed Period
January through the end of April, my last few months in the village and last chance to accomplish things before COS. I hosted a few HIV/AIDS education classes, a weekend-long peer educator training, fenced in the women’s garden, attempted to protect the trees around the school (for the 3rd and final time), formed a village hygiene committee, worked with students in the school garden, COS Conference and WAIST, continued my PST work, traveled to a few different places, enjoyed time in the village with Baby James and friends, hosted my replacement, finally published the Serere-English Dictionary, and realized that 2 years was not nearly enough time.Most "No way! Is That Real?" Moment
Packing up my hut and leaving the village.
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| Sunset in Dogon Country, Mali |
And also the time I had to lecture a guy in Serere, on Easter night, for taking us on a hoax of hyenna search, lying, being incredibly rude, and trying to take our money. I had never expressed myself so strongly before, in any language, and my friends could do nothing but stare on (because they didn’t speak Serere). I was incredibly angry and also really impressed with my language skills :)
Lowest Point
The morning of April 22, when I was loaded onto a charret with about 25kg of peanuts and a few possessions and driven out of the village, my family members and I all crying. It was so much more difficult than arriving in my little Senegalese village two years before. I was proud of my work and felt very loved but wasn't ready to close that chapter in my life. Fortunately I was able to spend the entire afternoon in Kaolack watching Glee and then headed to Mali the next day.Best Feeling
My last days and weeks in the village, the prayers, gifts, and well wishes people sent me off with. Knowing that my village and my boss considered my service a success and that people actually cared about me. The songs, dances, and prayers the Ndiomdy women did for me was overwhelming.
Also awesome: Easter Vigil mass in Palmarin, where I heard the Word of God proclaimed in Serere. The entire mass was in Serere, though as the only visitors, we were greeted in French. However, I understood the priest's Serere words more than any mass I had ever attended in French or Wolof. The music was incredible and I even recorded part of it, plus the holiday was spent with a good friend and a new friend.Most Pivotal Moment
Getting on the plane in Dakar to return to the US, knowing that I wanted to extend but feeling like I was already too obliged to things in the US. Attempting to accept that a new chapter in my life was being written and realizing that things would never be the same, while also planning my return, hopefully in the next few years.
Most Humbling Experience
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| My village sisters trying my Kraft Mac&Cheese |
Favorite Weekend
Either COS conference/WAIST in Senegal, which was more than just a weekend. It was my last time to hang out with my stage (the group of PCVs who arrived with me in March 2008) and many people from the region. The week included good food and great friends, a choreographed Bollywood dance routine (dream come true!), lots of dance parties, and memories without words. |
| With Leslie and Zane |
Toughest Day At Work
The day after my 25th birthday, going into Kaolack to purchase fencing supplies for the Ndiomdy women’s garden. After a day spent purchasing and haggling over prices, the terrible car we had to rent (since the community truck was in a terrible accident the week before) broke down on the outskirts of Kaolack, I had to pay the repairs and for several cars just to get us back to the village, WITHOUT the supplies. I didn’t get home until midnight, angry at the world, and the supplies didn’t arrive until more than 24 hours later, in the dark. It then took the men of the village three months to (improperly) install the new fencing. A lot of angry words and protesting got them to mostly fix it in my last week, but there were still a few things not totally completed when I left the village. The women told me it wasn’t my fault, but the men’s, and that they were happy to be able to garden again because they never thought it would happen, but I was disappointed in the way things turned out. I would really LOVE to see the state of the garden now, and what tasks were completed. I did it for the women however and not myself.
Most Satisfying Day At Work
Realizing that my peer educator training weekend was a success (though stressful and exhausting in the planning and implementation) when the 42 trained high school students started leading their own health sessions at their schools without and prodding from me, and really took leadership roles in their communities. Knowing that I started something that will hopefully continue and spread, making an impact across a generation in the Djilor area. One can hope. It also helped me realize that my future is in public health training, specifically in health educator training.Longest Wait
4 Months: the time between returning from Senegal and heading to France, killing time working at the coffeehouse and going to the gym.
Most I-Can't-Believe-I-Just-Got-Away-With-That Moment
Getting back into France after Emily and Brian’s wedding, without the immigration guy caring that I didn’t yet have a “titre de sejour.” In fact, he didn’t even look at my visa, just studied my 10-year old passport picture. I had spent the first three weeks in France panicking and obsessing about not being allowed back in the country, talking to different government offices, and email harassing people, being told I probably wouldn’t get back in. In the end, the immigration guy didn’t even care. What a waste of time. I then had to fight my way through a country of striking train workers, teachers, and oil refineries to make it back to my little Burgundy town. I spent less than 4 days out of France.
Highest Point
Knowing that going to Senegal was the right decision, that I did a good job, and that I will always have the love of my village.
Also, giving the Maid of Honor speech at my best friend’s wedding, knowing that the French bureaucracy trouble and expenses was worth it to be able to celebrate with Em and Brian.
2010 was definitely a rollercoaster year, so what will 2011 hold? Roog soom a andu, Only God knows, but hopefully it will be on the up and up. It will definitely be yet another year of new adventures, of that I'm sure!
