Part II Cluephone cluephone, it's for you it is only in the taxi on the way to the wedding, bumping along the dusty, baobab-lined dirt path to the remote village of N., do i bother to ask my friend M. ... the questions 1. who is the bride, anyways? 2. how old is this groom? 3. how old is the bride? the answers 1. she comes from a village down in the southeast of the country 2. somewhere around 20 3. 12 *gulp* G. and i look at one another out of the corner of our eyes. i feel his grip tighten a bit on my side. what were we about to be part of? ...a pretty laid back (read: dragged out), run-of-the-mill Peul wedding, that's what. what all felt, somehow normal. we observe, and partake ... read more

...the fourth time round but lots of firsts! especially traveling with 2 friends, african virgins, AND vegetarians....yes! ...plus, i get to kiss one of said friends..at least when we're out of muslim public view. :) just a little foto gallery for now, more stories as they unfold and as i find better internet cafes! ... but let's say for now, in classic Kathryn style, i have discovered more connections between me and people here and there...bumping into folks in every way possible. groovy. oh, and chasing goats (and hunting peanut butter) and dreaming of camels and learning more wolof and some peulaar and getting ready to go off to a wedding in the bush. not my wedding, though. oh, and working a bit. thank you, technology. xo ky MORE FOTOS BELOW!... read more

i may have packed in my dreams of triple lutz combos, but reality has come from delusions of pulling off flying air stomping to the heartachingly brusk djembe and souku and kuku and a bagillion other west african beats. besides, i highly recommend falling on sand rather than frozen ice. not to say there's not risk factors...flailing the arms to the heavens til they beg for mercy, stomping til your kneebones seek safety in your fleshy thighs, rolling your neck in exorcism – inviting the modern day devil of migraine ...and, well, the high risk of being the laughing stock of the locals. who of course gather round...clapping and cackling i did get told by one of said onlookers that my bum looked like an african lady's. not sure if that's my new acquisition of loosened ... read more

Shocks: Here is a short glimpse into my very polarized presentation of "good" and "bad" development. Let it be known, my jaw was generally on the floor the first five days, and exasperations were often followed quickly by my barraging of locals, friends, hotelers, etc. into how certain developments happened and how they feel about them. even if it's not so polite to ask questions in Senegal...this toubab was the pesky interlocutor this time 'round. Favorite development stories: "good" 1) sidewalks! hoorah! a simple walk to the local patisserie used to mean several minutes of areligious hail Mary's while dodging swerving taxis, loose-cannon scooters, clacking metal heaps of bus, occasional kids and dogs underfoot, and hopping of rainy season mudholes. now, one plods along a cement sidewalk, complete with pedestrian dips for ease of crossing. almost ... read more

OK, oops. as i begin to gear up for my return to Sri Lanka, i realised i never posted my final blog. so, here it be - if my oh-so-insightful insights change, i'll let ya' know. enjoy the pics... ------------------------------- so, in the land of ayurvedic medicine - the land where I was hoping to spring for one more 'diagnosis' (imbalances, blockages, problems with stuck chi...etc etc) and... one more 'prognosis' (no chance, body heals itself, good friggin' luck...etc etc) and... maybe getting another energy healer (my last one threw that treatment in for free since I bought a pair of nifty genie pants from her on 6th ave just south of houston street)... well . . . yours truly walked out of western-style sri lankan hospital with her hands not full of tinctures and herbs ... read more