Back to the Village, 11 months later

[Note: this post was originally started in early April...]

The back porch I worked so hard to
make sure my replacement had to enjoy!

So when I wrote that emotional blog post 10 months ago about leaving Ndiomdy, I knew I would be back to visit, I just didn't think it would be within a year.   Maybe a few years: enough time for the children to have forgotten me as a specific person, someone other than the train of foreigners continually living at the house (what? white people aren't all the same?).  But to be able be back in time for the kids to be slightly confused about my name but still remember the fish faces and Macarena dance moves I taught them and too see mothers still breastfeeding and carrying the same babies on their backs that they were before I left, was INCROYABLE.

Ndeye, Baby Ibou's mom, at the school well in Ndiomdy.
It should be noted that Ibou DID remember me!

I left Thies for Kaolack Friday late afternoon and I practically ran from the Plan office to the garage (in part because I waited all day to leave but could have left early in the morning and gone the entire way).  I arrived in Kaolack just before dark, in time for an evening bean sandwich with old and new friends, and to be able to enjoy the newly cleaned regional house.  I left the house at 7:30 Saturday morning to get to the garage and hop on a car to Djilor as soon as possible.  Since it was Passi market day (and thus cars to Djilor are few), I was mentally prepared to ride to Passi and walk the 12km to Djilor and then on to Ndiomdy.  Fortunately, I got the first car to Foundiougne AND we took the bush road, completely bypassing Passi and arriving in Djilor within 45min (as opposed to the 1.5hours it usually takes).  I was in Djilor by 9, in time for breakfast at Farba's and lunch with my family in the village.  I'll be honest, I nearly had tears of excitement as we approached Djilor...


I'm coming home, I'm coming home!

Ibou and Seynabou hard at work on
a new project in the women's garden.

Going to Mary's wedding was special and was going home, but I hadn't made it to my village or seen everyone.  This trip was to see my family, friends, hut, existing projects, and to see how my replacement has turned the village into her own.

At the school garden

There are fewer "big kids" at the
school this year so they had to scale
back a little, but it's still be successful!

It was eye-opening, emotional, and a lot of fun to just be able to hang out with friends and family, not worrying about work projects or meetings or anything.  I was able to sit with friends I haven't spent time with in ages (even before I left) and just enjoy the conversation and laughter.  The villagers were just as happy to see me as I was them, old men and young children alike!  It was so fun and I know I saw more than a few tears of happiness and disbelief in people's eyes.  I was worried about people demanding gifts, and there were a few normal requests, but I had bought a kg of cola nuts and just passed those out and people were happy.  There were requests for my picture, so I will come armed with images of myself for the next visit.

Ibou next to a mango tree I
planted in the school garden.

I took far too few pictures, and basically none of people (fail!), which was super disappointing, but promise them when I next go back for a visit in a few weeks.

I did take some pictures of projects I was involved in that are still going (namely the gardens) and some trees (known as “Khady Diouf mangoes”) that are thriving and will hopefully be fruiting within a few years.

One of the Khady Diouf Mango
on "main street"!

People were genuinely upset that I was only there for a brief weekend visit, all expecting I had at least a few weeks and begging me to come back.  I will be back, but I have to balance my desire to go back (which I would do every other weekend if I could) with respect for my replacement's need and new authority in the village.  Ndiomdy will always be my home village, but it's not my Peace Corps site anymore and I need to let my replacement do her thing, which means I need to give her space.  The vil doesn't really understand that, but hopefully I will be able to make it back a few more times before I head out in early August!

Kids representing the Red Cross of
Senegal

I was also in town for the 51st anniversary of Senegalese independence and so watched the celebrations with Farba and family in Djilor.  Nothing big ("no money" according to the State) but lots of kids and some cool performers.

Hard to believe this is where I used to
live yet it was still home, even with a
crazed dog!

Where my bed, bookshelf,
and gas stove used to be

Her (my old) bed where I
used to keep trunks and the
bookshelf where the bed
used to be

My replacement has made her mark on my old hut, namely rearranging the furniture in a very space effective way (whoa it looks huge!), having a friend paint the inside, and adopting a cat (takes care of the little critters) and a dog (who destroyed the beautiful screen doors).  I loved the way my hut looked, but still took some pictures because I was quite impressed with what she had done with it.  My hut was my safe space, my sanctuary from the adventure that was life in a small but lovely bush village, and it appears to be the same for her as well.




More Ndiomdy pics to come in a few weeks, a fellanga Roog!