Extension, quoi?

I’m back in Ourosogui after a nice weekend trip to Saint Louis. It was great timing for the trip, because I was just coming out of my weird awkward funk and Saint Louis just shoved me out of it even more. During my time in Saint Louis, Kate and I went to her office, which is my future office and did our meet and greet. It was such an eye opening experience of the next year of my life. I remember when I demysted with my ancienne in Aram and afterwards all I thought was “wow this is the next 2 years of my life, I love it!” during the time of my demyst the women in Aram were burning really intoxicating incense (a specific grass) . The village vibe felt like open arms embracing me. The vibe in Saint Louis didn’t necessarily feel like a warm embrace from the others, but it definitely felt like I was giving this opportunity a warm embrace. I’m really excited to start this position, and begin working with the Talibes. I know I’ve got a lot to prepare for this (oh like learn Wolof and French), thankfully the Talibes speak Pulaar so I’m already golden in that department. They might end up being the only people I end up communicating with during my time… kidding!

Also, I don’t know if this is already known to those who read this blog but I’m extending my 2 year peace corps service for another year. Meaning I’m once again changing my work here to another area (physically and work wise). I’ll be working at an NGO in Saint Louis called Clare Enfance, taking over a 3^rd year volunteer Kate. Kate is on her way out of Senegal right now, but I won’t be moving to Saint Louis until April/May – I believe I’ll be moving my stuff to Saint Louis frequently over the next few months, but I won’t actually start my work until I return from America. That way I will be in the complete swing of things.

I’m still in Ourosogui and today while riding around the town I just thought to myself how much I enjoy Ourosogui, it took me a few weeks to feel really comfortable in Ourosogui, and what I was doing here but I’m definitely over that. Towns are hard for volunteers, there isn’t a close sense of community like there was in my village. I definitely walk these streets alone, it doesn’t have to be that way – but it is, whether that’s because of me or being a town I’m not positive. In village though I never ended up walking the paths alone, children walked with me or I would just stop at every compound and greet people along the way. It’s not like that here, people are going about their own way as well, don’t get me wrong I definitely greet people along the way but I think I just won’t necessarily feel like I’m an Ourosoguian – I will consider myself an Aram-ian. I think this will definitely continue into Saint Louis. I feel for volunteers in larger towns during their whole service, it is much more difficult connecting with the town and being able to walk the streets and truly feeling like people take ownership over you, Aram protected me. Ourosogui is unsure about me, but also, Ourosogui gives me a bit more of a sense of independence, which is nice. I can go to boutiques and buy whatever I want and people don’t comment on it through the village, I can be anonymous on the streets – not much but more so. Towns are just harder for integration, this isn't true for everybody of course I'm just generalizing. Cities must be much more difficult.

I'll hopefully be returning to Aram to visit sometime this month. I'm nervous to return because I don't want people to be mean about me moving, but I'm soooo excited to see the kids again. God, I miss them so much! The kids in the household were always so good to me, I miss the people in the village, and my host mom! It's going to be a really good return, I think I just have a hard time thinking I need to meet people's expectations of my return.

Anyways, I'm going to keep this short.

Kate have a safe return to the states, and your going away party was spectacular.

Saint Louis, I think I'm ready for you.

Ourosogui, this has been an intense learning experience in such a short period.

Aram, you will always be my true love.