Uwargida - Chekaraou Family

Hello Friends,
I decided to start a blog to facilitate the delivery of news from our new home in Dakar, Senegal, West Africa. After about five years of trying to secure a job and get back to Africa, we were finally successful! I left seven years of working for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and took a position with World Vision, a Christian, not-for-profit organization. I am the West Africa Regional Technical Advisor for the Health & HIV / AIDS program. I am also taking on the coordination of all training for the Africa Region. Even though my husband is from Niger and I have had many exciting experiences all over Africa, this is the first time in Africa for three of our four children; it is fun trying to understand Africa through their eyes...

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Joined on: April 16th 2007
Last Login: June 23rd 2008

Blog Entries: 39
Photos: 232

TB Code: [blogger=36406]
Status: BLOGGER

Blogs & Travel Journals

by Uwargida, order by Date newest first.

By Uwargida
June 23rd 2008

Feeling Rather Peace Corps

Africa » Senegal

Well, I'm feeling a lot like a Peace Corps volunteer these days. Our water was cut off for five straight days and we had to take bucket baths. We had to go get water from boreholes in the neighborhood. We have a pump in our yard, but it has never worked; we thought it best to suck it up and get it fixed because we didn't know how long the water problem would last. We heard that disgruntled citizens tend to break the pipes that carry water from St. Louis to Dakar when they want to make political statements. I have [View Full Entry]

By Uwargida
June 22nd 2008

Father's Day

Africa » Senegal » Diourbel Region

Man Bouquet
What could make a man happier than Coke and Corona?

Happy Belated Father's Day to all the dads out there. It is pretty slim pickings for gifts for dad in Senegal. Kaijah said we should get him flowers. I told her flowers probably would not excite him, but we could make him a "Man Bouquet"....so here it is...Coca-Cola and Coronas! Quite the bouquet; he was very happy! [View Full Entry]

By Uwargida
June 22nd 2008

Around the House

Africa » Senegal

Super Spy

Just around the house.... [View Full Entry]

By Uwargida
June 19th 2008

Jazz Star

Africa » Senegal

First Mustache Removal
Getting ready for the big event. Kaijah decided she would brave depilatory for the first time! She was a champ - although when we did her legs and painted toes and fingernails, she kept screaming, "O... [more]

Here are some photos from Kaijah's Jazz Recital. The show was called 'Traffic Designer"...no idea why but artsy folks can be bizarre....The first half of the show was essentially a recital and the second half was a professional dance troupe. It was kind of a nice way of doing things. Kaijah looked amazing and did an incredible job! I think she is a natural on stage! She was the only one with "Toubab" enough parents I guess because she was the only one who got flowers. Her dance mates were blown away by her hair. Her dance was second so she [View Full Entry]

By Uwargida
June 6th 2008

Dakar Academy Awards Ceremony

Africa » Senegal

On Stage

Well, aren't we the proud parents! Kaijah won an award at Dakar Academy. This is certainly a big deal since each class only offers 3 for the entire school year! She won the second grade class award for "Most Improved". You know, by nature, Kaijah runs on "Africa Time". We call her "Pole, pole" (Swahili) or "Sannu, sannu" (Hausa); both meaning, "Slowly, slowly." Her personality made it a challenge for her to finish school work in class. For the first part of the year she often came home with homework and had difficulty finishing timed tests in school. I don't know [View Full Entry]

By Uwargida
May 30th 2008

Africa Moment #14

Africa » Ghana

The Recharger
Outside a pharmacy in Accra, Ghana

Saw this outside a pharmacy in Accra...in case you men out there need to be 'recharged'...and since I work in public health, I was thrilled with the public health announcement at the bottom! [View Full Entry]

By Uwargida
May 17th 2008

Kung Fu Fighters

Africa » Senegal

My little ninjas! [View Full Entry]

By Uwargida
May 12th 2008

Mother's Day

Africa » Senegal

My Mother's Day Surprise
Breakfast in bed and lovely cards!

Here are just a few shots of my Mother's Day Breakfast in Bed. I look like death, I know, but wanted to share my 'sweet kids' story...Djibril is in Benin and early Sunday morning I heard Keagan whisper to Mohamed, "Oh, it's Mother's Day, we have to give Mama breakfast in bed!" I thought, "Oh how sweet, but I wish he would wait an hour or two!" I was so tired; stayed up until after 2:00 preparing the lesson for youth group...you can tell by the bags under my eyes! But, what a nice surprise that they remembered....they came in and [View Full Entry]

By Uwargida
May 12th 2008

Little Princesses

Africa » Senegal

Little Princesses
At the theatre (school play is about as fancy as we get with 'the arts' in Dakar!)

Just thought I'd put up a few photos of my beautiful girl babies! We don't get many chances to dress up here, but the school put on a production of Bye Bye Birdie and the girls thought it a good opportunity to Frou-frou up! I made the dress that Kaijah is wearing. They seem to have gotten so much darker. I remember all over Atlanta people would see me with my babies and ask me, "Where did you get them?" I suppose hoping to get insight on a good adoption agency....."No, no, they are mine; I traded in my size eight [View Full Entry]