Kedougou
Hmmm...there is so much I could say I don't even know where to start. The trip to Kedougou was awesome. It is definitly by far my favorite place in Senegal. It is very green there with lots of trees with MONKEYS and lots of pretty butterflies and birds that were the coolest colors. There are also "mounains" in Kedougou. We went on a couple hikes up some of the big hills and could see all around. I loved it. It was so nice to be in nature and away from the city. Dakar can get overwhelming after a while.
One day we went on a hike to a waterfall that was amazing. The ride there was not so fun. It was about 18 miles there but it took us 2 hours to get there. 2 HOURS!!! Yeah. Bumpiest bus ride I have ever been on. The road is just dirt with tons and tons of pot holes so our bus was swerving all over the place trying to avoid them, though that is impossible. So we were getting thrown from side to side and up and down for 2 hours in a crammed and hot bus. On the way there I was sitting by a window and it was so dusty that by the time we got there everone thought I had dyed my face red (the dirt is a rusty color here). I looked ridiculous but it was ok cause we got to go under the waterfall and it all got washed off.
I stayed in a village for 4 days. It was pretty uneventful and there really isn't much to tell from it. I basically just sat around for 4 days with Willie and Catherine, 2 other students. We lived in a hut and did nothing. The men worked in the fields all day and the women stayed in the village and did lots of stuff with corn and took care of the kids. Whenever we asked to do something or go somewhere, although there isn't really anywhere to go, they would tell us we couldn't go by ourselves and that it was too hot to go anywhere at the moment. Most of the people were fasting so they did a lot of sitting and not working.
My favorite part of the village was at night. It got cool enough so that you didn't start sweating if you moved and we got to eat dinner which tasted ok. It was couscous made from corn with a leaf sauce. The other meals were not the greatest...it was really hard to eat them. But at night the food was good and we just sat outside and drank attaya (tea) and watched the stars. Just after the sun sets and before the moon rises there are sooooo many stars. I don't think I have ever seen so many. Oh we also got to eat roasted peanuts which were really yummy. And I saw fireflies!!! This was very exciting for me cause I had never seen them before. Everytime I saw one I would yell "firefly!" The people in my village probably thought I was crazy.
On Halloween we found 4 big frogs and a bat in our hut at night. How appropriate.
Although the village was pretty boring, seriously, it was a good experience because I don't think there is any other way to understand their lives. Life for them is about daily routines of living. Everything they do is completely necessary for their survival. I cannot believe how much time it takes to live. Once again for the gazillionth time I am reminded of how many things are available to me all the time that I totally take for granted.
OK, enough for today but I have lots more to say and more pics are coming soon. Willie has a website of pics you guys can look at. I put a link to it on my blog under cool stuff. Ciao ciao.
posted by Jamie Paxton @ 10:33 AM
4 Comments:
Jamie, we all went out for some great mexican dinner this weekend and thought of you as we savored the dark olives, excellent cheese, spicy salsa, yummy warm chips, crisp lettuce, sour cream and of course guacamole. After a few Dr. Peppers, JP3 politely belched & then ordered up a giant serving of deep fried ice cream while JP2 went for the Platenos desert. Let us know if you ever do find a great Mexican restaurant in Dakar! Taco Time drive thru maybe?
Daddyo
Actually Dad... when I was in Kedougou I went to visit an American family who has been living there for 5 years doing linguistic work. They invited me over for dinner and were really cool. They thought I probably wouldn't want to eat any more rice, bread, or fish since that is what I eat for EVERY MEAL so they made mexican food! It was great. Everyone else was jealous that I got to eat that. And I went over another day just for the afternoon and they fed me popcorn. ;)I really want a Dr. Pepper though. That and a carmel frapaccino. I can't wait. They have a Starbucks at JFK. I'm getting one when I get off the plane.
Hey Jamie,
I was sitting right next to Jess when you IM'd her yesterday! We were down for Parents' Weekend, had a great time...surely do miss that girl! Miss you, too!
Yep, the Industrial Revolution changed the course of every day life. But is what we're doing here really "living"? Or are we just slaves to the "tyranny of the urgent" and the machines we've created to give us more free time. I seem to have less and less time as the years roll by. Our insatiable need for more and more stuff and the capitalist economic machine that provides it seem to have a life of their own, and we seem to only be along for the ride...not really directing the course! It's a conundrum, eh? When do you come home? Love, Ridge
Hi Ridgely,
Thanks for the letters. They just make my day. I hear Jess is sending me one with fall leaves in it. I am sad I am missing all the beautiful leaves as they change colors. Hope you guys had a good weekend. I come home Dec. 15...or at least that is when I leave Dakar. I think I have a 12 hour lay over in New York. But it's OK cause I have some friends from NY who say they might show me around a bit. :)
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