LONG DAYS IN SENEGAL

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SORTA TEACHING
My days are pretty leisurely now. I continue to do 3 sets of English conversation classes, but sporadically. The heat was taking a toll and I could not walk to class at 3PM anymore. The sand (which covers sidewalks and unpaved streets) burned my feet. I arrived sweaty (but not too smelly) and worn out. The group agreed to 10AM but it is often busy for them in other activities. For class at a UN office, the people travel a lot, so there were only 2 or 3 in town some days. At the court of appeals class is scheduled when official duties are supposed to be over, but those frequently run late. My literacy class in French is the most regular, but least liked by me.

The heat may have chased some mosquitoes away. They did not disappear altogether but there are fewer of them in most places. Until rains come it is nice to enjoy some relief.

Once a week I work with students on a malaria project. Each year malaria kills as many people as AIDS has in 15 years, and 90% of them are in Africa. The students want to publish a comic book type of document and / or hold a day to sensitize people about prevention and treatment. Working with them is great. Like any group of teenagers, when I ask an individual a question, some clam up, some want to answer all the time, some hold whispered conversations among themselves. The eager ones raise their hands, snap their fingers, and call out (all normal ways here, but irritating when unfamiliar). Since there are 63 of them (when none are absent) it gets rowdy. But their interest and energy is exciting.

HOME LIFE
The apartment I am in is on a major street. Stores, vendors, and basic goods are nearby. It is sort of noisy. My unfavoritest sounds are pre-dawn calls to prayer from the mosque speaker system less than a block away. Getting a "taxi" is easy. Those are cars that go fixed routes, taking up to 6 passengers (last one sits on stick shift). For about 30 cents to downtown, a 10 minute ride.

LEISURE
Weekends are either great with travel plans or dull, staying locally. The next good one is Easter weekend in Dakar. The organization I'm with, International Foundation for Education and Self-Help, holds a meeting of the 6 volunteers in Senegal. We have met in 2s and 3s informally and now we will be together to discuss how things are going and what is to come. There are a few other people I want to see and maybe do some sightseeing.

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Photos

Alliance Franco-senegalaise de Kaolack
Where French literacy classes are held. Building won prizes in architecture and decor. Painting is ongoing, constant.