Schedules and First Impressions

     Today was pretty intense.  We had session after session, which is like being back in college except instead of a few classes a day we have 6.  Other PCVs compare training to a summer camp, and it does remind me of like a band camp or like a sports camp where it can be pretty intense and learn a lot.  We have breakfast every day from 7-8:15 (you don't have to be there the whole time), and after breakfast you have two sessions, a tea/coffee break, two sessions, lunch, two sessions, dinner, and we're done.  Last night we watched a documentary on Peace Corps (in French) but it was optional and we usually have our nights free.
     Right now we are focusing a lot of culture, which will be essential to integration later on.   Yesterday we had a cultural fair, where the staff taught us things like how to eat, what to eat, how to act, what to wear, etc.  One of the things we discussed was the idea of "toubab" which in Senegal essentially translates to foreigner, and this is a term that some volunteers have trouble with.  In the States it's generally taboo to discuss difference; it's politically incorrect.  Here it's part of the culture to discuss differences and people often define their identity around their differences such as their ethic group, region, etc.  Anyone outside of that is different.  Everyone who is Westernized is called toubab.  We were warned that this does bother some volunteers, who consider it a slur or feel like outsiders because of it, but we are encouraged to realize this is just part of the culture.  I'm interested to see how I'll respond after being called toubab 3,000 times a day, but as of right now its not bothering me.

    Today we had a culture session, a Senegad section, and a bunch of security sessions.  Senegad is something I am really super looking forward to.  It's basically a women's rights group in Senegal working toward more equality, but they've started trying to get the men involved in their programs, which makes complete sense.  We got a ton of info and I took a ton of notes, but of course I don't have any on me right now.  They're coming back in April to give more details and I'm really looking forward to it!

     Senegal has a definite waste management problem in the sense that garbage is everywhere.  Afterwards I realized that I spent a lot of time looking down to see what I was stepping in rather than taking all of it in.  There are not sidewalks, so you have to walk in the streets while simultaneously trying not to get hit by a car or biker.  I do have to give credit to Senegalese drivers though because they can avoid each other an pedestrians very well; no one looks scared like I know I did the first time I stepped out.  We bought sugar and tea because tomorrow we are going to community based training!! There we will start to learn our language (there are 6 major languages in Senegal) and integrate into the culture.  We had a second year PCV with us to show us around and talk to the shopkeeper and everything, and then she took us to a French store to buy anything else we might need. I bought ice cream.

     After dinner we went to the local bar.  Most people in Senegal do not drink since they are Muslim, but we're pretty close to a Catholic community.  By bar of course I mean a building at the end of a dirt road that had beers in a refrigerator and three tables.  It was fun though and an easy way to break the ice with other PC trainees.

     To answer Mike Gattus about the TP thing, here they go into a latrine, pour water into the area, and wipe with their hand.  Afterwards they wash their hands, but this is why it is taboo to use the left hand in anything that one does.

Until Next Time!