Reflections of a half-starved nearly-finished Peace Corps Volunteer

FOUR months left.

Four out of Twenty-Six.

Home Stretch.

15%

So close I can taste it.

I have learned I am strong.

resilient

flawed

but compassionate.

I have learned Senegal is beautiful.

violent

on the cusp

young - in it's understanding of equality and independence,

but

venerable - in it's celebration of family and unity.

Senegal,

You have opened my heart and left it exposed... The thrill and pain of this devastating lovely adventure is my forever-teacher.

My perspective is widened,

My humility is strengthened,

Thank You.

The answer to my ever-present question is, yes, it was worth it.

Happy Summer to my friends at home! It is a busy time for Agroforestry and the rains are FINALLY starting to show themselves.

Lately I've been up to:

- Mango Grafting and Tree Nursery trainings

- Finishing up my villages first library

- Painting the Tambacounda Peace Corps house

- Attempting to fast for Ramadan...

Fasting:

Seriously Delirious.

Throat dry and rapacious,

The dirt looks like tasty cereal, taunting me.

Hinges coming loose.

Until--

Glorious Break Fast

So grateful

For a taste of water

A morsel of bread.

I love sharing this simple joy with my family.

Every evening I get to meditate on the abundance I have grown up with; it bring tears to my eyes.

I am deeply fortunate.

Weeding my tree nursery: Cashew, Acacia, Jatropha, Gmelina, and Eucalyptus.

Murals with my wonderful Koumpentoum Work Zone - The 5 volunteers within a 60km radius of me. It is amazing how close I have become with these crazy people- sharing joys, heartaches, low points, and celebrations. Wouldn't trade em for the world :)

Baby Mariatou !!

Gettin' dirty filling tree sacks with a mixture of manure and sand.

Cleaning and Painting the oh-so-dusty Tambacounda Peace Corps house.

A Simple Question

A Pair of Shoes.

What a basic possession.

Have I ever felt wholly grateful to receive a pair of my own?

MANY THANKS to my amazing Aunt Jody and all of her friends and fam for sending the huge package of shoes and sneakers. I really can't express how special it was for my siblings and cousins.

See many of you next month! Peace Only, Lauren

Photo Update: 2014 Leadership Conference !

I'm feeling grateful and inspired after finishing up my biggest project so far. THANK YOU SO MUCH to friends and family who donated to the conference!

We had 22 vibrant middle-school girls and their accompanying fathers for an intensive camp-style workshop on gender equality.

The participants came from all over the region - by public transport, horse cart, or whatever means were available. For many of the more remote girls, this was their first time in a city. They stayed for 3 nights and were exposed to new ideas and thought-provoking speakers on women's rights in Senegal.

Some of the best sessions were group discussions on reproductive health, family nutrition, and educational empowerment. The fathers and their daughters had some individual sessions and some working together. It was really moving to watch the daughters create action plans with their fathers about the future. These types of conversations are rare in the typical Senegalese family.

Friendship bracelets and building a quilt for the future were favorites with the girls.

Writing action-plans helped serve the purpose of exposing the participants to all of the possibilities for a young woman in Senegal.

My girls from my village - Aminata Ndao, Awa Sall, and Deynaba Diallo. It was awesome to get much closer to them, learn more about their goals, and play sleepover games.

Kadidiatou Sow and Mariama Ba, lookin' serious. The go-to pose for photos.

We played relay races and soccer games which were both hilarious and educational!

It was cool for the girls to make new friends from different villages and different ethnic groups.

The incredible motivational speaker Awa Traore discusses taking control of your body, life, and future.

Team-building activities like pass the hula-hoop and the human knot.

The participants were encouraged to bring the new ideas fro the conference back to their villages and act as positive agents of change in the community.

Soccer is a great medium to start the discussion on gender equality. We also featured a career panel of successful working women from the region to inspire the group.

Beautiful Pulaar beads.

New friends and gorgeous smiles.

Presenting the awards and certificates

Thanks to Peace Corps Senegal, The Soul Project, and generous friends at home for the support!

Bring the Senegalese Heat

As the obtrusive heat rolls back in

tireless

and greedy

And the dirt clings to our sweaty bodies

creating an unshakable bodysuit of filth

I try to digest the why

Why has this pilgrimage left an everlasting impression on my soul?

Connections

Human

and Earth.

These People--

So distinctly different from me,

Yet they are mine.

Acceptance.

The overwhelming gratification of being included in something so beautifully foreign.

Family

Unmitigated.

This land--

Rich with ancient history.

Bold and destructive.

Alive.

Tradition.

Deep and powerful,

of which I have only brushed the surface.

Connections.

Holding my radiant mini-me.

Cool and collected despite the temperature - Baatoohooma and Mariatou

Aunt and niece - I love how relationship structures are so different here. You may be older than your uncle and raised by your cousin. But no matter what there is an easy familiarity between generations.

Isa, child number 3, holding Mane, child number 6.

#babyphat

Angelic.

Futbol with the local boys - a daily occurrence.

Eating "tangalos" or hard candies - the best!

It is pretty wild that I'be been living in Senegal now for 1.5 years. Trippy to think about. But seriously awesome. Send me a letter - -

Lauren Thomas, PCV

B.P. 320

Tambacounda, Senegal

West Africa

Portraits of my Family

Returning to my village this time felt different. Something was off. Or was it the opposite? Nothing was off. I didn't feel anxious. I didn't feel awkward. I felt like I was home.

The change was slight, but significant.

These people running to greet me and welcome me home are my family.

I am one of them.

PORTRAITS OF MY FAMILY

NENE SALIMATA DIANE (33) - THE WARRIOR

Mother of seven. Uneducated. Illiterate. Rich with knowledge beyond formal education. Opportunist. Survivalist. Will do anything to help her family, no matter how brash or embarrassing. Graceful and deliberate in the way she nurtures her family. Married and pregnant before her 16th birthday. Wants more for her children.

MANE GORY (3) - THE INDEPENDENT WOMAN

Sassy. Boisterous. Gets what she wants. Incredible Vocabulary. Everyone takes care of her, but no one watches her. Roams freely. Fetches her own water. Makes her own decisions. Violent. Adorable. Temperamental. Genius. 

DAHABA GORY (5) - THE (CRAZY) NUT

Constantly covered in dirt. Always starting brawls with the neighborhood kids. Craves the attention that the baby receives, but no longer holds that place. Wild. Uncontrollable. Fragile.

SEN BAATOOHOMA GORY (9) - THE CHAMELEON

Hasn't decided who she wants to be yet, but has made the astute observation that it is up to her. Watches. Waits. Speaks rarely around strangers. Eerie calm for a little girl. Mind always working. Wallflower. Set to bloom into a strong young woman.

ISA GORY (11) - THE ACROBAT

Stoic. Forgotten middle child. Ready to impress girls. Ready for responsibility. Loves to wrestle. Sharp-witted. Incredible break dancer.

HABBY GORY (13) - THE PRINCESS

Hungry for attention. Devastatingly gorgeous. Trying to find her place in the world. Fight starter. Fake cryer. Second mother to her siblings. Gemini-like contrast between her immature tantrums and wise beyond her years poise. Sometimes I forget that we are not the same age, then I remember that she is still a child. The attention she gets from men in their 30s and 40s makes me cringe. This sort of inappropriate behavior from older men to pre-teen girls is disgustingly common and one of the things I like least about Senegal.

PAPE GORY (17) - THE LEADER

Quiet. Strong sense of self. A man, despite his age. Protector. Adorably kind to his little sister Mane. Silently carries the expectations of the oldest child. Excels in school and a pride of his parents.

 

SOULEYMAN GORY (45) - THE PROVIDER

Monsieur le Mayor. A Pillar. Not easily shaken. Doesn't raise his voice. Almost always speaks in a near whisper. Loves his wife. One of the only Senegalese men I have ever seen show affection to his wife in public. Frustrated with the near non-existent job opportunities in Senegal. Wants more for his children.

MARIATOU GORY (1 month) 

My namesake. Don't know anything about her personality yet, but isn't she adorable?!