So, all of my Peace Corps friends and colleagues know about malaria–how to prevent it, how to treat it, how to educate about it… And those PCV friends are doing some pretty incredible work to fight malaria in their communities in Senegal (want to read about it, check out these blog posts by my sitemate here… Continue reading Why should you care about malaria?
Shortly after arriving in Tambacounda, I asked many of you to open your hearts and minds (and wallets) to donate to the Michelle Slyvester Scholarship (MSS)–a program that provides a small scholarship for nine girls of middle school-age. What comes out to be about USD$20 pays for the inscription fees, or tuition, for the girls… Continue reading MSS: Investing in OUR Girls
It’s a fair question. And for some time, I didn’t even really know the answer, but ten months in and I’m finally getting into the swing of things. The language, the work, the people–all of it seems to be coming a little bit easier now. Alhamdulillah! So, I’ve been in Senegal for ten months now—can you… Continue reading “So, what are you doing in Senegal?”
In a dark, air conditioned(!) room, bluish light emanates from two screens: one has the 2016 Presidential Debate streaming live from YouTube and another screen has Twitter on a constant refresh targeting the #DebateNight and #Debates hashtags. It’s 1:30AM in Dakar and while recovering from being hit by a motorcycle on my bike (another story for another time), I… Continue reading Obviously Live Tweeting Means We’re Extra Engaged! …Right?
Sitting in the Tambacounda Hotel de Ville, I watched my Senegalese Mom, Jeneba, speak about her abilities and readiness to join the ranks of the local legislative branch in the region of Tambacounda. She spoke to a roomful of Senegalese people, accompanied by the (male) mayors of surrounding cities, the (male) Mayor of Tambacounda, and… Continue reading My 5+ Mothers
A few months ago, I went to Lac Rose (AKA the Pink Lake) here in Senegal! It’s a smallish lake in Senegal, close-ish to Dakar, that is turned a redish pink by algea in the water. Also, notably, it’s has incredibly high salt density… So salty, in fact, that when you’re in the water, you can FLOAT!… Continue reading Lac Rose
In my brand new, floor length, bright pink and blue dress—or complet as they call them here in Senegal—I rushed down the narrow, sandy streets of Tiovaune Peul, anxious to get home with enough time to spare to spend a little time with my family. The Peace Corps car was arriving at 4PM to drive… Continue reading Farewell Prayers
So it’s happened–we finally had our permanent site announced! If you’ve spent time going over every other Peace Corps Senegal volunteer blogs in existence, like I did, you’ll know that the announcement is a little silly, but when it’s actually happening to you and you’re so excited to hear your placement that your palms are… Continue reading First Peek at Permanent Site
Alright, just as a heads up… This post is a little on the lengthy side… If you’re interested in skipping to the ‘good part’, scroll down a bit… But you should probably just read the whole thing, since you came to my blog in the first place… During my first community-based training (CBT) stay, my… Continue reading That time I wore Tevas to a wedding
So, I’m finally feeling mostly human again after two days of travel, adjusting to the heat (which mostly feels incredible), and with a million bug bites (only on my left arm…?). Our days pretty much of class from 8:30a to 6:00p with long meal breaks before, between, and after. It wouldn’t quite be my blog,… Continue reading Arrived in Thies
Not All That Glitters Is Gold 