Rainy Season: Trees and Parties

Things are really looking up as Ramadan gracefully takes its exit and we remember how much more personable we are when eating breakfast and lunch and drinking water as we please.

About the same time we welcome food and water back into our lives rainy season arrives with force, as if the congratulate us for our hard work.

Rainy Season means it is time to start outplanting the trees in our nurseries and is the busiest and most exciting time for us Agroforestry Volunteers.

Even though Rainy Season is notorious for its hellish skin infections and moldy huts and clothing, it is my favorite season here in Senegal.

It is still over 100 degrees, but when the humidity becomes unbearable and the sky turns an ominous dark purple, you know a storm is brewing. I have never seen such awe-inspiring lightning shows, Back to back to back to back, the lightning dances and ignites the sky from all angles.

Rain brings life and action to Senegal. The wells fill back up and the fields are full. It cuts the heat and reminds us that there is respite from the oppressive sun. The simple pleasure of showering in the cool rain ALMOST makes me forget to torture of hot season.

Korite: Celebrating the end of our 30 day fast and symbolizing clean beginnings and pure faith.

Fresh Blood and Baking Bread: The first things I smell as my host mother wakes me up screaming, Mariatou, come watch the sacrifice!

The Celebration, In Brief

Inharmonious clash of flashy fabrics

Fresh braids and aching scalps

Joy,

In the rare treat of red meat

In the graceful prayers

In the vivacious dance circles

Endless feasting

Family

TRANSPLANT v. [trans.] move or transfer (something) to another place, typically with some effort or upheaval

Yeah, TREES!

Transplanting Acacia Mellifera for a live fence

Plantin' trees with a baby on my back

My namesake Mariatou

Mango Trees.

Mom and Dad in Senegal

At first I was a little worried about my parents visiting so early in my two years of service. My language skills and the projects I am working on are not as solid and impressive as they will be a year from now. BUT it turned out to be an incredible 10 days and I am so happy that now when I mention my crazy host mom, or doing laundry in front of my hut, or the painfully hot 9 hour drive from Dakar to my village, they will REALLY understand what I am talking about!

They were real troopers and slept in my hut for 3 nights in the 110 degree weather. It was really special for them to meet the people that have become my family here in Senegal and will be taking care of me for the next two years. We through a big party for the village on their last night (complete with a generator and dj blasting scratchy Senegalese music into our hut all night)! They also did a major spring cleaning in my hut and removed all the hanging branches and cobwebs and built me a shelf for my outdoor bucket shower (thanks guys!!).

They visited my regional house and met a bunch of my Peace Corps friends. We took everyone out to Warthog and beer, which was a great time, until both Mom and Dad got epically sick a couple hours later. After throwing up all night they rallied for another 9 hour public transportation ride without air conditioning (hey- welcome to my life!).

We staying at an incredibly beautiful resort in the beach town of Saly. It was SUCH a nice break for me to be able to relax and hang by the pool (and in our ice-cold room) with my parents. Below is a photo from "Obama Beach" in Saly.

I LOVED having visitors and my hut is open to all if you feel the inclination to come explore Senegal!

Lots of Love, Lolo

Typical Senegalese Party: Video

It has been a wild ride so far and everyday really is like a roller-coaster. I will be sitting around the kitchen campfire with all my siblings looking up at the incredible stars with my adorable sister sleeping on my lap and my heart will swell with joy.
Then my host grandfather will tell me that I am a woman and no one will ever love me because I am not a good cook, and my sister will kick the puppy that wanders into our compound, and I will feel like I am in this cruel foreign place where no one understands me.
It really goes up and down like that in at least a dozen cycles everyday! Its nothing if not constantly interesting, but I don't know if my body can handle these crazy emotion changes for much more than two years.
I like to think I have been at a pretty constant happy for most of my life. Here my range of emotions varies drastically from satisfaction to frustration, empathy to anger, and deep joy to deep discomfort.
Everyone here in the Peace Corps says, "living in a vastly different culture builds character", "living in one of the hottest places on earth builds character", "living with the crazy health challenges builds character", "living in a hut with no electricity, running water, or people that speak your language builds character"... so... I'm planning on returning home with a lot of character :)

Lots of love and hugs and kisses to ya'll. Lo