TOUBA... BU BAAX

Well, I have now successfully experienced my first pilgrimmage. Although I am not actually sure if it is technically called a pilgrimmage, I am dubbing it as such, because I travelled to Touba for a religious reason. Thus a pilgrimmage, n'est pas?

The trip started late. 11pm. I walked out the door, to the gate of the University to sit and wait at least an hour to get into a car. Car obtained a little after 12am. We were taxied over to the gare routiere, where all 7 places leave from. 7 place is a station wagon-like car with 8 seats, so there are 7 places to fill and the driver. The men were mean and were trying to charge us 2000cfa more than usual, which no one wanted to pay. After trying to barter and bargain for 45 minutes, we decided that it wasn't going to work. And then we found out that he was doing that for everyone, including Senegalese. We paid, and were off... around 2am.
Arrival to Touba around 5am. We set our stuff inside, covered our hairs and went to the mosque. Now, if I had a computer, I would put my pictures up righhhhhhhht now, but I don't. I'll steal some from google, or give you a link at the end.

The mosque is quite possibly the most beautiful thing I've seen. ever. It was constructed by a marabout (the religious leaders of Islam), and looks way better than anything built by an architect.

Anyway, after that, we hopped back on our horse cart and went to Modou Fall's aunt's house to sleep. The girls spent the next two days peeling potatos, cutting onions and doing general "woman things" while the boys were treated like kings. RIDICULOUS. :)

It was a lot of fun although there have been some intestinal issues that have followed (not for me, alxamdulilah!) but those will clear up, inch'allah (happy Justin?) soon.

http://www.google.sn/images?hl=fr&q=Touba&um=1&ie=UTF-8&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&biw=1024&bih=490

There are the search results. I think, personally, that my pictures are better. :)

Good day!

Kate

Send me mail. :D

electronics assassin. 'nuff said.

Life after the most stupid strike ever.

let's start off by saying I have a ton of work for the next two weeks. Two, possibly three papers, a presentation and work on my research project. Now, compared to the US, I guess not bad, but due to the fact that they are all on books in French that I have barely read or haven't started or didn't understand, this is much more difficult than b-s ing a paper at home. So at the time where I need most my precious computer, what does it decide to do?

COMMIT SUICIDE and jumped off my bed, figuratively speaking, of course... but it is no longer working.

And, on the same day, my phone decided not to work (which is now working again)

BUT then I also had a nightmare that one of my friends was a serial killer who I found burning someone alive (but don't worry, the girl was just skin and bones, literally, so I don't think she felt it). Naturally, in my dreamland, I ran. Quickly, which was when I knew it was a dream, right? I dropped my backpack and went in some house which appeared to be from the seventies, just like the people who were there with George Clooney moustaches and ugly old clothes. So, they also must have been high because they came up with the idea that if we (somehow Joleen was there with me) changed clothes, we wouldn't be found. So they brought us to the basement where all the clothes were size XS and wouldn't fit. But Joleen was sassy and told me in length how the fit her. Upsetting, right? well, for some reason, I had my camera, and as Joleen was getting up in my face, I dropped it. The lens went all the way into the camera and when I finally turned the camera on, the lens was curvy. I was devastated, but then thought... "OH BOY! I have my other lens in my backpack! But it is outside by the serial killer..." then I woke up.

Depressing, right? That's what I thought.

Well, that's my life. Please don't send me your electronics, unless you want me to kil them, then please do. I am now officially an electronics assassin.


How many of you can put that on your resume?

(which thankfully I retrieved from my hard drive and is now safely stored on my external!!!)

Have a great afternoon!

Chicken chandwiches and peanut butter

Hello friends, family, loved ones, and beloved followers.

Life is still the same. Nothing too much going on. I have effectively changed rooms, due to an increasing uncomfortability in my previous room. My new roommate, so far lovely after 2 days, is Fatoukine.

My last roommate decided to make it obvious that I was not wanted in the room through various techniques. My favorite and most hated one was back-handedly telling me I was sleeping with someone and was whoring myself out. Not true, but well used to make me feel extremely uncomfortable. Instead of trying to deal with it and iron things out, I decided to leave. Having six months left made the decision much easier. And seeing as after a while, I completely avoided my room and at the end successfully spent a mere 20 minutes there in 5 days, I thought it was a pretty necessary move.

Yesterday, we decided to find a tailor that someone in an important person's office (if anyone knows what a rector is, please tell me) told us about. After going to another tailor the day before and having a woman who was completely unreasonable and a rather large snoB, we decided to go with solidarity and not leave any of our clothing there. So, we headed into town and found the tailor... rather he found us. His locale is in the middle of a market filled with tailors, so we needed to be found to find it. After 2 hours of describing and drawing and having someone translate for us, we finally left. I left 2 skirts, 2 dresses, 1 pair of pants and a tunic (which is going to be amazing). They are supposed to be done by next Saturday, enchallah (which is correctly spelled in the wolof tradition, thank you though brother). I'll let you know how they turn out.

I'll take some pictures of school and try and get them up here for you all, since you've been begging. It's just that, honestly, NOTHING is really happening. This is the middle of the semester.... no parties, no fun. :( Just kidding, we always have fuN!

Except when I'm trying to figure out the new site for GV and plan classes for next year! No fun. But otherwise... delicious chicken chandwiches and nems (egg rolls, kind of)... and peanut butter.
Not together.

And dad... bring lots of peanut butter.


LOVE YOU ALL

naman naa leen.
bisous.
embrasses (which is used as hug here... Carol and Nick)

KATE

LIFE

Not dead. I promise. I just don't want to bore you with my life. Presently there is nothing going on besides some small drama issues, which will be posted about once taken care of. Unless an assassin is involved, then the unknown would be for your own good. Trust me, the less you know, the better.
Anyway. Our professor from Madison was here this past weekend, which was fun. We talked about a lot of things, ate and figured out my research project which I need to go do and finish before leaving this country, enchallah.

Other than that, classes have successfully started, although some professors feel no need to teach because students won't be there anyway. That happened to two of my classes last week. But all-in-all, I'm pleased with today. I figured out what I will have to do for my literature class. Read a whole novel and give a presentation by the 29th. Therefore it's time to get serious and start working. And the novel, as of right now, is pretty confusing. YIPPEE! Oh well, last time I was complaining there was nothing to do... and now I'm innundated. I'm glad. I should be. I just wish we didn't have to mush an entire semester into four weeks!!!

Off to lunch and then to class...

This school thing is a little too much for me! ;)

Kate