Why Getting WAISTED was Awesome

Every year the American Embassy in Dakar and Peace Corps Senegal hosts the West African International Softball Tournament in Dakar, hypothetically drawing participants from all over the region but in reality mostly ex-pats and volunteers from Senegal.  I was fortunate enough to be able to participate this year.

We take our softball very seriously.

The highlight of the weekend, without a doubt, was our homestay.  Courtney, Anna, and I were placed with the wonderful, generous, cuisine-inclined Ogg family for the weekend.  Not only did we get to stuff our faces until our pants were too tight, but we got to hear all about their lives globe trotting around the world with the State Department.  Eight different countries in twenty years is really amazing, and to have such a smart, down to Earth family was super cool.  We had some great, stimulating conversations over grilled meats, salads, and Senegal's finest imported wines.

Kolda!

But Kim, you must be saying. What about softball? Wasn't that fun?  Well, dear friends, the reason softball was so fun is because Peace Corps doesn't actually participate in the softball part of WAIST.  We are really there just to have a good time and meet some cool ex-pats.  So yes, we still technically play softball, but we're in our own league.

The best part about the softball, actually, are the themes.  Each region picks a theme, dresses to the nines, buys a beer or ten, and goes to the field to mingle with old friends and make new ones.  This year Kolda was Where's Waldo? Can you find him?

Aside from softball we had a BBQ and talent show (of course featuring a choreographed Kolda region dance to KPop), a masquerade ball hosted by the Marines, and, just to make it all the more American, bowling.

So, in summary, my Pulaar has degressed, my English has improved, and my pants don't fit anymore, but it's ok because who wears those in village anyway? Can't wait for WAIST 2015!