2.25.09

Dear Amadou,

I understand that you have an awful addiction to attaya, but seriously, you DON'T need to drink it every night! And you don't need ME to buy it for you every night! It's really starting to bug me when you ask me to buy you Warga and Sucre, and THEN, use my gas, cups, and kettle. You always manage to fill my room with your awful music when I just want quiet. Also, if you ask to cut my mint and I say "No, leave it alone" - LEAVE IT ALONE! You cut it every night! It needs time to grow back! I can't tell you how frustrated I was when you did that RIGHT AFTER I said to leave it. That's why I planted you your own mint outside. Learn to take care of it! Also, if you ask me one more time if you can use my phone, I might kick you in the throat.

peace&love,

Matar

p.s. close the door, it's cold!

*note - the names in this letter have not been changed. That's how frustrated I am.

2.20.09
I'm an Uncle........ again! The difference this time is that it didn't happen in Senegal. My sister Mackenzie had her first baby and that makes me an Uncle for reals.  Everyone, meet Adam Joseph Garcia, perhaps the cutest newborn EVER!

 

I can't wait to go home in June and finally meet him. 

2.4.2009

This past weekend I took a trip out to Thieneba to visit my family and FINALLY meet my new nephew who was born shortly after Tabaski. I can't tell you how much I enjoy being with my family in Thieneba. Life takes on a whole different kind of pace. I awake in the morning to the sounds of animals and children playing. I step out and enjoy some cafe touba with bread and butter while squatting on the ground. I help my little brother take the sheep out to graze checking on the baby sheep just born the previous night. I sit with a giant calabash in my lap sorting rice for lunch. I visit the neighbors and offer advice on their garden. I lay on a mat in the courtyard drinking attaya and talking to my family for hours. It's a culmination of the little things that makes life so wonderful. 

All the small things aside, getting to finally see my new nephew was quite exciting. I've been here for the whole pregnancy which has actually helped a lot when I realize how sad I am that I have been missing Mackenzie's pregnancy. Being all the way across the world when my first nephew/niece is going to be born has been a little difficult. I've wanted to see what Mackenzie looks like pregnant. I want to be there to see the baby right when it's born! Having a sister here who has been close to the same stage of pregnancy as Mackenzie, in a way, makes me feel like I'm not missing anything. I guess I can consider it practice at being an uncle. 

Seeing Fatou so happy with her new baby was beautiful. They named him Seydina Aliou Diop, Aliou being the name of my host-father who passed away several months ago. The name couldn't be more perfect. Seydina entered the world at the perfect time because it was so nice to see a smile on my host-mother's face again. She has been in mourning for months. 

Here are a few pics from the weekend:

Fatou, Seydina and Me

From My new nephew

Fatou and Seydina

From My new nephew

Sorting Rice

From My new nephew

Binta and I with her "Doll" she made

From My new nephew