I have been busy busy busy. Many volunteers have left and I have been entrapped in my work with the girls in helping them set up their very own blog. They blog in French but I challenge them to write 2 or 3 sentences in English each post. Please check out their blog, as I am so very proud of each of my 5 girls. If you have a blogger account, feel free to comment on their posts (even if you do not understand the French it is fine). They all are anxious to see comments, which lets them know others are viewing their posts and care. Here is their site:

http://10000filles.blogspot.com/

Voice and action. Voice and action.  To have one but not the other often leads to fights, confusion, and the stagnancy of a people if others are not willing to pick up the slack, help, or just take the time to TRY and understand.  I was moved to write this blog for some time now, and had started a couple of drafts previously, but it felt too contrived.  My closest friend here, Shamora (pictured below avec moi regarder la plaige), told me to just wait until I could just be by myself and reflect.  Anyone who knows me knows that I couldn’t pass up giving her my sarcastic reply of , “thanks captain obvious,” (for laughs of course), but those were just the words I needed to hear at the time.  She preceded to lend me her tiny Toshiba laptop to use if I were so called to write before arriving at work tomorrow, and as I sit here typing in my host family’s living room, I cannot help but think about how quick new friendships can grow by relying upon one’s voice and actions.

“Relationships, who really needs ‘em!” are words taken from one of my favorite Jamie Foxx stand-up performances, but is this statement really true?  Of course not, because as presented to me here everyday in Senegal, there are many kinds.  Our first instinctive thought after reading the word ‘relationship’ is more than likely that of a man and woman holding hands, skipping down the sidewalk that leads to their home of love, right?!  But here in Senegal, I realize the word means so much more; it brings about cultural roles, duties, responsibility, family ties, communal gatherings for fellowship and prayer, and long-lasting friendships.  From a child to the old, it seems as if everybody is tied to someone in effort to maintain a progressive state for the people of Senegal.  For instance, my host family is pretty well off.  They have maids, a guard, a cook, a driver, and a gated home equipped with a snazzy doorbell.  They dress well, and look as if they could have the care in the world of how the Taliban children, who fight for shelter amongst the crevices of Kaolack, were doing on a daily basis.  I say this not because they are wealthy people, but because my little American mind could not fathom the relationships that my family has with community friends and leaders of ever crossing paths with these desperate and needy children.  But I was proven wrong as my family faithfully feeds the neighborhood children everyday with whatever leftovers there might be.  And this is not just my family, but our neighbors, the farmers, the shop owners, and even the families struggling to feed their own; they all give.

The communal relationship has lost its lack-luster in America.  I will not say that it has become completely extinct, but I will definitely admit to it not being one of my major priorities when I wake up in the morning.  Being here in Kaolack lets me realize where my actions and voice fall less than par, and it shows me how I can get that balance back.  Families here eat 3 meals a day, TOGETHER, with dinner usually being served around 10pm.  People greet each other with at least 3 different sayings before continuing their walk to work, market, friend’s house, or school.  Even the most shunned upon street animals (cats and dogs: American’s favorites) are seen munching upon leftovers placed outside of family’s residences more frequent then we are to adopt an American child in foster care, resolve our issues with childhood friends gone astray, or even spare a ‘hello’ to a complete stranger.

In closing, I did not post this particular post to get you to psychoanalyze your life and the people in/out of it, but only to share my thoughts and hope that maybe you too will begin to think about what the true meaning of a relationship really is.  Whether lovers, friends, or foes, there is always a meaning behind why we meet certain people, and let some go.  But if your voice and actions can be used to strengthen those failing relationships or even begin new ones with those in need, use them and see where it gets you.  I feel the Senegalese use their voices and act accordingly, and have a better grasp of what a relationship between 2 really is.  Let us as Americans learn from others for once.

moi avec the queen of a neighboring town

je joiue avec mon filles

The Democracy and Environmental Camp was a first for 10,000 Girls in discussing topics that many Senegalese pay no attention to. It was a pretty big deal to address the polution problems in Senegal and the roles of women and man amongst teenage girls in a society dominated by traditional Muslim culture where a man can have 4 wives or the site of a trashcan is beyond rare. Let’s just say that in a developing country as Senegal, these topics are extremely touchy, even for some of the girls, and 10,000 Girls as an organization was proud of all who participated.

The camp for girls was divided into 2 parts over a course of 15 days in a rural, yet tourist farming town known as Toubacounta. Approximately 100 girls from the organization showed up, and they were all housed around town in traditional Senegalese style hotels. Some volunteers were lucky to have hotel rooms with A/C units, but many, including me, had to bare the heat during the day and throughout the night, while trying to escape from the ‘moto-motos’ (mosquitos).

The daily schedule was rise before 7am, walk into town (about 1.5mile), eat breakfast (baguette and coffee), do activities and discussions until 3pm when we broke for lunch (traditional Senegalese rice dishes with fish), walk back to hotels, as a camp watch a film at one of the hotels at 7pm, depart for dinner at 10pm, then dancing/tea/or just bed.

There is a volunteer here that has created 2 short films of the camp and even the national TV station came and did a story on our camp which has yet to be aired. Once I can get a copy of both, I will post links for viewing. Please enjoy the pictures below of some of the girls et moi!

Wow. So I believe I’ve been in Senegal for over 2 weeks now but the days blend so much that to keep track of time would be a waste. There is sooo much here to see, learn, experience and the only thing hindering me from doing it all are the mosquito bites (well not really, its time). Since this is my first post since I have arrived, it may be a bit long, but I plan to update once a day now that I am back in Kaolack and have access to the Internet.

For 15 days, I was working at a camp in a rural town called Tambacounda (Tuba-Coo-Ta), Senegal. The camp was composed of about 100 girls and 15 volunteers and it was hosted at the village’s primary school. We presented the girls with topics to discuss on democracy and environment. It was all in French, which challenged me to remember all of the verbs I forgot.  Even then, I’m more comprehensive of French than I am able to speak it in a fluent manner.  If I must say though, the camp was a major success and had everyone in tears (even our two manly male volunteers) near its end.

Now I am back in Kaolack working at the main site for 10,000 Girls. My project has changed a bit due to security issues concerning the girls and the Senegalese government, but the ultimate goal will still be accomplished, which is allowing for the girls to be able to utilize the Internet to voice their thoughts and concerns on topics that affect them, while still allowing American volunteers to post and comment on the blog site to be created by the Senegalese girls here. The webcams will be used for personal movies on another volunteer’s movie project which I hope to be able to link this blog site to so that you all may experience how wonderful these girls really are.

In the next couple of blogs I plan to talk about the juicy stuff; such as, food, weather, troubles, joys, volunteer fun, and most importantly the life lessons I am continuing to learn by being here. I am truly having a wonderful time here though and I would recommend anyone to come visit Senegal or any African and/or developing nation for that matter.

Once I figure out Linux or Linex??? and how I can upload the images from my Nikon in French to the computers, we will have photos on this blog!!!

All smiles over here and I hope the same is wherever you are at too. Stay blessed.