Hello glorious internet world! I just got back from my “demist” experience in a town called Sokone. Demist is basically ten days in another village with another host family. The purpose is to continue language practice but also to “job shadow” an established volunteer in your sector. We visited a volunteer named Erika whose two-year service is coming to a close. Most of her work consisted of working with local farmers and developing a demo garden. She did a lot of trainings on improved farming techniques and helped struggling farmers develop alternate sources of income. After hanging out with her, I am extremely excited to start my own work in Dakar. While in Sokone, we did a few trainings as well. We did one training at a school where we taught high school kids how to start a tree peppinere (nursery), another training with a women’s group where we taught how to make Niim Lotion to protect from mosquitoes and also how to dip mosquito nets. Here’s the clencher, they were completely in Wolof! I was pretty nervous about it, but they all went really well.
Another thing about Sokone that I love, is the mangroves. Sokone is located on the delta so we went swimming in the mangroves pretty often. One evening in particular, we went swimming while watching the sunset. It was defiantly one of those moments where the fact that I’m living in Africa settled in. Another thing that I really enjoyed was just experiencing another village. The people were so nice and before I left, I already had some friends I would greet every day.
There is so much more I want to write about, but I need to get going. It will be nice when I have a set schedule of when I can write blogs etc so these will come more frequently. I miss you all and hope life is challenging you.

Lastly, I started a flickr site where I’m posting my pictures. So, for any of you interested, the website is:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jmtharp

I just uploaded my pics from Sokone, so enjoy!

Dinner with my host family is always an exciting time. Trying to fit ten or so people around one bowl to eat can definitely test your flexibility. Especially when a few of them are little brothers who just got back from playing soccer. I always feel like I eat a lot, but no matter how much I eat, I hear, “Matar! Lekkal bu baax!” (Matar, eat well!). I always respond with a polite, “Jarajeff, suurnaa.” (Thanks, I’m full) and that’s when the tug of war begins, “Lekkal!” “Suurnaa” “Lekkal!” “Suurnaa”. Every now and then I manage to win and walk away knowing that my full stomach can rest at least for 20 minutes until they try and get me to eat something else; However, the majority of the time I lose and push my stomach to limits unknown.
It is my family’s goal to make me fat because it will bring honor to them. The problem is that I, as most male volunteers do, have lost weight due to no protein in the diet. This story is going somewhere I promise…. So, one night I manage to win the battle and walk away with a stomach not bursting at the seams. I go and sit down to watch some Senegalese Theatre on TV as the “Lekkall”s are winding down. As 10:30p comes around I decide that I need to head to bed so I say goodnight to every one and walk into my room. Being almost 100 degrees, I strip down to my underwear and lay down on my bed. I can hear my family talking and watching TV outside as I tuck my mosquito net in. Exhausted, I put my arms under my head and close my eyes letting the darkness swallow me. Then it happens. I feel my bed shift under me while the loudest cracking noise shoots through the night. My bed collapses to the ground with a thump and the chatter of my family stops completely. Slightly shocked, I jump up tangled in the mosquito net and frantically try to locate clothes because I know my family is about to run in and see if I’m ok. I somehow manage to find some clothes and dress in the dark before I hear a knock on my door, “Mattar?!”. I open the door with a big smile on my face, point to my bed and say, “Giisal! Dafay lekk bu baax bes bu nekk!” (See! I eat well every day!). A roaring of laughter commenced as they helped me MacGuyver my bed. Needless to say, I don’t hear “Lekkal bu baax” near as often.

It's been a bit since I've updated! Massa! Anyway, things have been going great (big surprise). I'll try and get my biggest news out of the way first. Last friday, we all got our site placements! We finally know where we will be spending the next two years of our lives after we swear in! I will be living and working in.....drumroll please........DAKAR!!! The capitol of Senegal! I was a little surprised, but I'm really excited. I guess I won't have to live the "rough" life after all. The moment I found out, I was excited but a small part of me was sad I wouldn't have the "village" experience. Living in Dakar, however, will be quite an experience.

Other updates. Last weekend all of us trainees decided we needed a break from shoving so much information into our brains, so we decided to go to the beach. We rented 3 beach housed in a small village called Popenguine and left the second our classes were over saturday afternoon. I had no idea what to expect, but when we arrived I was amazed. The houses were beautiful and right on the water of a fantastic beach. I can't tell you how great it was to just sit on the beach and let my brain rest! Though I did practice my wolof a bit when I sat with these two old men playing a game in the sand. Another highlight of the trip was hiking up to the top of this cliff over looking the ocean. Up at the top, we found some old, abandoned forts that dated back to french colonial time. Sunday morning supplies were bought in the market for an amazing breakfast of eggs and vegetables. It was nice to have a change in diet and to actually eat some vegetables.

There is so much to say, and every time I sit down to blog I feel completely inarticulate. I'm gonna try and upload some photos on here too. Maybe that will help.

This is my defandekko (neighbor). He has one of the only camels around and was insisting that I ride it. Yea right.


The two on the right are two of my many siblings, Babacar and Rokhoya, I love them to death.


Nols, Sundance, Cobalt......this one is for you! Sometimes on the weekends, I walk to the market area of my village and play foosball.


My other favorite thing to do on the weekend is go out to the cashew orchards and climb the trees to pick the fruit for my family. This is me, my nephew Baybas, and my brother Matar. (Yes, we have the same name)


This is me and Patrick waiting apprehensively to hear our site placements!


Some friends walking in Popenguine. Beautiful.