Exercise and Birthday Shenanigans... et plus.

After the last post, I left the computer room, an air-conditioned bit of heaven, to head back to my room to unpack a bit and organize my room. The campus is not too spread out, so it was a short walk back to Village G, where I reside. Let me paint a picture: To get from the computer room to my dorm room, I walked down the stairs, turned left, walking on sand mixed with shells, which I find to be a pleasant reminder that we are only miles from the beach. Avoiding the thorny branches which unpleasantly stabbed Andrew in the foot previously, maneuvering around the piles of poop from several different types of animals ranging from enormous piles (which what they come from, I’m not sure of yet. I’m working on verifying that) to little dots of goat poop.

Once I make my way to the concrete path towards my dorm, still trying to steer clear of fecal matter, I think that I am safe. Not the case. While I’m minding my own business, enjoying the view of baby goats munching on plastic bags and everything in sight, a soccer ball flies my way, reminding me what time it is: exercise time (6 o’clock-ish). I look up and there are thousands (which might be an exaggeration) of men playing soccer, basketball, running, walking and Lord only knows what else. It was a bizarre moment. I arrived to my dorm room, successfully avoiding being hit in the face by a flying soccer ball (although I was a bit worried), started unpacking a little when the power went out. Pitch black. I head outside, where the whole world, as it seems, has come out of their rooms to socialize and wait for the power to come back.

I noticed this phenomenon one other time when the power was out in Dakar. Normally, no one in my house would go outside, but that night it was so warm that we were forced outside. It was fantastic! I spent almost three hours sitting outside of my house in a plastic chair talking with Pap, the door man who sleeps outside of the house to keep us safe. (Which I question because I have left and/or gone back in without him noticing) Pap is a good practice for Wolof because his French is so bad that I can barely understand him. I miss him since being in Saint-Louis.

Jump to New Topic:

Birthday

I had been warned by the girls from last year that on your birthday, you will get soaked with water (it’s the tradition here). So I was prepared and wore something that would dry quickly and not be seen through (the essential element). But, much to my dismay, no one knew it was my birthday, besides the other toubabs (white people/ gringos/ Americans). Therefore, all I got during the day was a splash and a warning from one girl that I would be splashed later on (which was never fulfilled). So, after classes, I didn’t do much, but we were going to Saint-Louis for dinner. I got ready, which my roommate appreciated, along with a lot of the Senegalese (Andrew commented that us girls looked better than them, and I like to think that he wasn’t lying to me) and we left for la ville.

To get to Saint-Louis, you have to get a taxi, which is generally old and about to fall apart, and if you’re lucky it will smell like feet (like ours did), then the taxi drops you in front of the Marché of Sor (the market on the island before Saint-Louis), you have to walk through the Marché, over the bridge and finally you’re on Saint-Louis. Sounds simple, right? Well, we ran into some French high school students that we had met previously (Noël gave me my first birthday present: a book by Maupassant). All was well until one of them had their portable nicked by some passerby. After a bit of confusion, the four of us (Andrew Joleen and Hannah) continued to the restaurant. We had decided on a Vietnamese place on the river, which was an amazing choice because we were the only people in the restaurant. (The waiter actually changed into work clothing for us) We were generally ridiculous, and even entertained the waiter with our discussion of techniques for using the Turkish toilets, which included some demonstrations by Hannah. After dinner, we were walking back towards a lovely bar and ran into (not literally) a jewelry that I read about in the guide book, so we (more like I) decided to stop and get a birthday present! The owner was great. And I will spend a lot of money there…. Put your orders in now! : ) Seeing as it was late (not at all though), we decided to buy a bottle of wine to share in Joleen’s room since her roommate is gone for the month (not sure why or how she can skip a month of classes, but you know, I just don’t ask.) I changed out of my fly clothes into something a bit more danceable, grabbed my computer and headed to Joleen’s. After great times of filtering water, drinking a bottle of warm white wine, eating a cream puff which was more a chocolate syrup puff , something else delicious and dancing a bit, I decided to go to the bathroom and have a try (again) at these stupid Turkish toilets. I felt more confident thanks to Hannah’s demonstration at dinner, so I was confident. I walked out of the bathroom, ready to do some more ridiculous dancing, turned the corner towards Joleen’s room and WHAM! Out of nowhere (more like out of a bucket) I was covered in water. I screamed loudly (especially since it was one in the morning) and then we took some pictures.

Then Joleen and I (after stripping off some layers of wet clothing…) went to go buy her some cigarettes and bag water. I felt very exposed because I was wearing just a cardigan and pants, because my other clothes were soaked. We walked to the boutique near our village, and I thought we would buy and return. NOT THE CASE. We stopped to look at the stars, which are breath-taking and you can see the Milky Way! It’s incredible to say the least. Then we were approached by the Vieux Badji who wanted to light his cigarette. We hung out with the Vieux Badji (his name) and his friends Dave, Dave, and Mohammed. After walking over to the group Great Dave (as he calls himself) decided to steal my water bottle (more like I gave it to him) and he poured water on my head and then hugged me. We chatted until three in the morning and then headed home, due to the fact that I was wet and cold, yet completely content with my birthday. I think I am most happy that Joleen needed nicotine, because it was a chance to make some Senegalese friends (who are going to teach us to dance! Haha) and I got water dumped on me by the Great Dave and B-Boy (who supposedly doesn’t have a real name… chipatu [the sound you make when you suck air in through your teeth and cheeks, which means disapproval]) It was a great birthday and I still feel like an old woman. I hope all your presents are already in the mail and that I will get them soon! Enshallah (God willing) Je blague (I kid)

Je les aime… naman naa la (I miss you!) and you would say ma laa raw (I miss you more)

Kate