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Assalam maalekum samay waa ker ak samay xarit. Senegal neex na. Baal ma ngir sama neglegence ak sama blog. Xamuma naka lanuy bindee (walla waxee) neglegence ak blog ci wolof...yet! Sop naa Senegal ak nit u Senegal bu baax. Sama waa ker ci Senegal toppatoo nanu man bu baax. Geraam naa lool. Beg naa bu baax. Namm naa leen yu bare. Yaakaar naa nekk ngeen ci Jamm. Nobel naa leen!
(translation)
Peace to you all, my family and friends. Senegal is fabulous. Forgive me for my neglegence with my blog. I dont know how to write (or say) neglegence or blog in Wolof...yet. I love Senegal and Senegalese. My host family takes great cqre of me. I am very grateful. I am very happy. I miss you all very much. I hope you are all in peace. I love you all.
As you now know, I have been learning Wolof, which is one of many languages here in Senegal. Lucky for me and my pathetic French, wolof is widely spoken. It has been an exciting, frustrating, and challenging process qnd will continue to be for the next two years I imagine. Tomorrow I leave Thies for Kaolack and then to my village where accents, pronounciation, and woods will be different. I am ready...I think!
Because there is so much I could write about and not much time for me to do it now, Im just going to give some snippits into my experience so far...
It is difficult to be lonely in Senegal. I was thinking about this fact the other morning as I laid awake awaiting the sun. Mornings begin with the sound of Arabic prayers welcoming the new day and beckonning Muslims to their morning prayer. Of course, the chant-like songs are well heard thanks to the wonderful technology of loud speakers! I have actually grown quite fond of the ritualistic presence of singing five times a day.
Today for lunch, I gathered with my family around out large metal bowl fillex with rice and fish and some small pieces of squash and eggplant. Ceeb u gen is probably what Ill be eating for the next two years. Except for the numerous fish bones, I find it quite tasty. I usually use eat with a spoon but my sisters eat with their hands; tearing bits of meat and tossing them in my direction. Communal eating is at the heart of Senegalese lifestyle, just as eating habits reflect lifestyles qround the world.
I know this isnt much but I know Ill have more time to write in the coming months. I will be experiencing a drastic change of pace when I get to my village.
Peace to you!
(translation)
Peace to you all, my family and friends. Senegal is fabulous. Forgive me for my neglegence with my blog. I dont know how to write (or say) neglegence or blog in Wolof...yet. I love Senegal and Senegalese. My host family takes great cqre of me. I am very grateful. I am very happy. I miss you all very much. I hope you are all in peace. I love you all.
As you now know, I have been learning Wolof, which is one of many languages here in Senegal. Lucky for me and my pathetic French, wolof is widely spoken. It has been an exciting, frustrating, and challenging process qnd will continue to be for the next two years I imagine. Tomorrow I leave Thies for Kaolack and then to my village where accents, pronounciation, and woods will be different. I am ready...I think!
Because there is so much I could write about and not much time for me to do it now, Im just going to give some snippits into my experience so far...
It is difficult to be lonely in Senegal. I was thinking about this fact the other morning as I laid awake awaiting the sun. Mornings begin with the sound of Arabic prayers welcoming the new day and beckonning Muslims to their morning prayer. Of course, the chant-like songs are well heard thanks to the wonderful technology of loud speakers! I have actually grown quite fond of the ritualistic presence of singing five times a day.
Today for lunch, I gathered with my family around out large metal bowl fillex with rice and fish and some small pieces of squash and eggplant. Ceeb u gen is probably what Ill be eating for the next two years. Except for the numerous fish bones, I find it quite tasty. I usually use eat with a spoon but my sisters eat with their hands; tearing bits of meat and tossing them in my direction. Communal eating is at the heart of Senegalese lifestyle, just as eating habits reflect lifestyles qround the world.
I know this isnt much but I know Ill have more time to write in the coming months. I will be experiencing a drastic change of pace when I get to my village.
Peace to you!
posted by Kate at 1:04 PM
3 Comments:
Just a few of a million different experiences yet to come...sounds wonderful! We're proud of you, Kate!
Nelson
PS---Let me know what the villagers think of your Hummer. :)
I'm imagining you riding out to the village by bus or in the back of a pickup. Probably quicker than a camel ride, but no more comfortable.
As for singing five times per day, I would expect you to add to that commotion with a few hits of your own: All God's Children, Old MacDonald, I Bought Me A Rooster, ENCYCLOPEDIA, Hot Ham, etc...
Love,
Dad
Hot Ham, Hot Ham, Cheese & Balogna... I guess it wouldn't be fitting to sing during the Muslim call to prayers. We all love you Kate! P, M, DNA
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