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.