"The Life"

Come this Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, Im officially done with training. I can now tell you how to say useful phrases in Seereer like, "this Coke is as warm as piss, go get me another one you evil woman." Can you believe I actally learned that phrase today? Though Im glad training is over. The only downfall is that for the next three months Im going to be living in my village. I wont really be doing anything in my village except for talking with people and getting myself established. I wont be working or travelling, and i wont be going to class. Instead, I have three months of downtime to just meet everyone and to learn my environment. Its going to be very boring!! This is important because I made a promise to stay in my village for the whole three months. I have the option to visit anyone in my region, and my region is huge. Though I'm excited to meet my new Senegalese family and friends. Ill be spending the next two years with them and I want them to respect me. So what Im trying to say is that I wont have internet connection for three months. You can still email me, though i wont get them for a while. Instead I urge you to call me or write letters. Once I get my new address in SOKONE, I will find a way to post it on my blog. Please send letters, it will give me something to do in the next few months, and years. Theres a lot of down time here and things get boring really fast. I still have a cell phone too, and I keep it on at all times. Well, if I dont here from anyone in three months than good luck and bon voyage.

"Dilooxaam mbind es na Amerik, ndaa cinj estass, Kaam nomtoox kaa mbind es ga' Basil es na Amerik. Bugaam nuun fop. Kaa i njeetaay kaa na ongool onge taduk. " -Pape Ngom

"I miss my home in America, but after my service, I will return to my home and family in America. I love you all. We will talk in three months." Paul Powers

Thanksgiving

Ok folks. Its about that time of year that we would all get together for a huge feast and celebrate friends and family. I'm sorry I cannot be there in person, but believe me when I say that I'm there in spirit. Before I left for Africa we had Thanksgiving at my house. It was a bit early, but it was nice. Matt and Dawn came from Wisconsin. Kristen came from Indiana. It was a nice early Thanksgiving. We actually organized a little get together here for all 40 of us plus all of our trainers and staff. Me ane my good friend Peter, the "Grill Master", ended up grilling 15 chickens for the feast. They have turkey here and the two of us looked for over three hours for one, but turkey is expensive. My neighbor was willing to seel us theirs for only 15,000 FCFA, which turns out to be about 30 bucks. So we ate chicken instead. It was equally amazing. I wish I could celebrate with you all stateside, but its my own decision not to be there. I promise we'll all sit down together soon. Maybe in a few years. HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!!!!