Blogs from Kaolack Region, Senegal, Africa - page 2

EARTHQUAKE & TOUGH SITUATIONS Reporters flocked to Haïti to report on the earthquake and I wanted to feel grateful for their work in making millions (billions?) around the world aware of the devastation so that help could come. After a while the scramble for stories had a freak show atmosphere. I saw journalists alternatively as angels and vultures. They were messengers, kepping alive accounts of survivors so stories prodded governmental and charitable organizations to find ways to get help to those who are waiting. Then they were scavenging for sensationalist, grisly pictures of the suffering. As the news of Haiti continued, I began visiting more schools. One school (Ngane Alassane, a middle school but there are students up to 20 years old, pictures enclosed) showed me that conditions do not determine what happens, people do. These ... read more

Before coming to Africa I bought a camera and spent time to get to know how to operate it. Before landing my camera was taken from a bag. (Long story, not as dumb as it sounds). I filed a claim with Delta airlines, and, MUCH to my amazement, they sent a check (so they did not see it as totally my fault). So I now have a new camera, which I am learning to use. Because of my end of year trip I had cancelled a class with "my" United Nations people. The day we resumed they told me of a surprise they had planned as an expression of appreciation. We all went to dinner and after eating they gave me a beautiful outfit. Pictures enclosed on the blog. Last Friday I also got some pictures ... read more

CHRISTMAS? If I had expected to notice any signs of Christmas here, I would have been very disappointed. I counted exactly two clues of the symbols that blanket the stores, neighborhoods, and homes of my past Christmases. There was one stall in the market with a 3-foot high inflatable Santa and one Christmas tree about the same size, with few decorations, in one store. There was a festive atmosphere, but it is pretty much what happens when people have time off because schools and businesses close a couple of days. On the 25th the lady who does my laundry (by hand) who had not come earlier in the week as I expected came and washed. I could also hear work on various construction sites in the area. Perhaps because of the lack of reminders, I felt ... read more

MY MOSQUE; YOUR MOSQUE The mosques near my apartment resound with prayers over loudspeakers five times a day (and some extra episodes that I am not sure about). Since I find them less than pleasant, a contradictory set of issues has come up for me to ponder. I heard the news that the Swiss people voted in November to ban minarets (the spiral towers that top mosques). That rankled me. There was no question of noise because the four (only 4!) in the whole country and they do not broadcast prayers. The vote was surprisingly strong (57%) when it had not seemed to be a major issue. The results have been widely condemned as anti-foreigner fear-mongering. So where is my irritation about my mosque neighbors figure into the picture? Isn't my attitude pretty hypocritical? Another lesson ... read more

END OF LIFE CEREMONY Feeling that it was an opportunity to be thoughtful and for me to experience another cultural event, I went to services for the husband of a teacher who passed away. He grew up in Kaolack where his family and friends remain. First we went to a mosque, but looked it like an ordinary house. Men were outside (street, sidewalk) at a prayer service. Women were in the yard sitting around. I wore the most appropriate dress I had and saw that color does not matter. But a head covering may have been good. In one area food was cooking in large pans over charcoal fires. Kids (not human), lambs, and goats roamed around. After a while a man came to pray, chant, and preach for maybe 30 minutes; sounded like it might ... read more