And now for something completely different!

So today is the opening day of Buckeye Awakening 7!  What is Buckeye Awakening 7 you ask?  Well let me tell you, Buckeye Awakening 7 is the 7th Buckeye Awakening!  Buckeye Awakening is a Catholic retreat by college students, for college students, sponsored by the St. Thomas More Newman Center on campus.  Awakening retreats like ours can be found on college campuses throughout the States, I've in fact staffed a retreat in Atlanta, Georgia!  I went on Buckeye Awakening 4 as a retreater, and on 5 and 6, I was blessed to be a staffer; first as a group leader and then, believe it or not, co-leader of the whole thing!

The Awakening retreat has certainly played a role in shaping who I am today.  The retreat was truly an "awakening" to the call of Jesus Christ in my life!  It helped me to realize that I couldn't just compartmentalize my faith, I couldn't say one thing and do another, or do one thing then turn around and do the complete opposite.  I couldn't claim to love Jesus Christ then turn around and consciously and willfully spite Him with my actions.

I've been truly blessed by God through Buckeye Awakening, especially in the fantastic people I've been able to meet and work with.  Thus follows a pictorial representation of some of my Buckeye Awakening experience, I did not take these pictures (it would be crazy if I did as I am in all of them!):

In-tents love!

I'm wearing the antlers.

BA5 Leadership Team

MEESE!!!

This did not end gracefully.

Left to Right: BA5, BA6, BA7

Co-Rec's!

BA6 Leadership Team

It's been a while since I last posted, I have moved to Dakar.  The roof of the building I'm living in has a rooftop view of the ocean.  It's not the most stunning view of the ocean, but still!

Dakar is quite different from Thies, it's rather like the difference between a small town and a big city.  I think that is because the main difference between the two is that Dakar is big city and Thies is a small town by comparison.


One thing I liked about Thies was that in five minutes I could be running on a lonely red gravel road.  Alack and alas, not so in Dakar, not so.  But I can run to the ocean, and that's pretty neat.

I've tried to watch the sunrise from our rooftop, it will rise over the water as we are on the eastern half of Dakar, which is actually on a peninsula.  The clouds have not cooperated with my efforts though.  Perhaps someday in the next month and a half it will happen that I witness a sunrise.

 In my exploration of Dakar I've discovered a few Catholic churches.  Here is one that is especially suitable for today, as October 1st is the memorial of it's patron, St. Therese of the Child Jesus.

I also saw this billboard in my adventures.  I more of a Case-International type, but hey.  After all, it is harvest time back Stateside, and come to think of it, it is harvest time here too.  Though I haven't seen any JD combines, or any JD equipment for that matter.

The Bread of Life

My Parish the last two months, St. Joseph's in Peykouk

More Language Mix-ups and our Driver

Have you seen this man?  He's bad at blogging.

Superfluous sunset with palm trees.  Because why not?

Because who doesn't love baby cows?

So one thing I’ve learned while I’ve been in Senegal is that I’m really bad at blogging.  Sorry about that if you’ve been checking this blog on a regular basis only to be disappointed, anyway, here’s another post that’s just going to be things that occur to me as I sit typing this while listening to music that I’d rather dance too, and hey, maybe I am dancing, you can’t see me.

So our driver is Senegalese, and he doesn’t speak any English, and he’s a pretty awesome guy.  His name is Damesee (probably incorrect spelling…).  Even though Dame (pronounced Dom) and I don’t speak the same language, we get along grandly.  Dame, so I’ve heard is in his late fifties, but looking at him, you might guess he’s in his early to mid-forties.  Anyway Dame is a jokester, all the Wolof that I know I’ve learned from him, and it’s all pretty much food.  He loves the fact that I love Senegalese food, at least that’s what I think it is.  Anyway, food is a running source of comedy for our crew, and I am often the root of the comedy.  My love of Café Touba often prompts suggestions by he and Roger of Café Touba whenever we see some along the side of the road, and at seemingly random times, Damesee will look at me and say Café Touba (or insert other Senegalese fare here).  I will look at Damesee and respond “Café Touba neehana (spelling is probably horrendous, my bad)” or “Café Touba is good” in Wolof.  As I type it doesn’t seem quite so comedic.  However Dame and I find these exchanges to be hilarious. 

This type of exchange also led to some confusion along the lines of the candle/mango confusion of July (or was it August, I’m typing this on Word, because the internet is down, so I can’t do any fact checking, or spell checking on the Wolof, oh well, sorry if this frustrates you to no end).  So a while ago Dame taught me to say things such as, “Bread and onions” or “Mboro ac soblay” and the like.  Well he also said, “Café Touba ac maio (sounds kind of like my-o).”  Now, understand that Mayonnaise is pretty popular here in Senegal.  When he said this the first time I laughed out loud and reacted like one should to the proposition of coffee and mayonnaise, horrified (but in an altogether good-humored way).  At my reaction everyone reacted uproariously.  This particular exchange happened every so often over the next couple of weeks with the same result.  Then late one afternoon we were stopped in a village while Dame went to pick up some fresh milk.  I asked Roger what the Wolof word for milk was.  His response, “Maio.”  I immediately let out a long, loud burst of laughter.  When I stopped laughing, Nate asked me what I was laughing about.  “Café Touba ac maio,” I said, its milk, not mayonnaise!  More laughter followed this revelation.  I still find it hilarious.  Classic mix-up as they say. 

Also from Damesee I have acquired what could be my most innovative nickname yet:  Sosoblay.  This means:  Onion Sauce.  Dame noticed that I really like onions, including onion sauce, which is a common spread for ones morning baguette.  Anyway, after many hilarious exchanges involving sosoblay, it became my nickname.  Whenever Dame says Sosoblay, I can be sure that when I turn he’ll be smiling or smirking like it’s one of the most hilarious things in the world, and indeed I think it is.  Anyway Dame is an awesome guy, and along with being very nice and friendly (and hilarious in my humble opinion, I think it has something to do with the delivery) he’s also one of the best drivers we could ever have.

Not only is he a super driver, he also speaks most if not all of the languages spoken in Senegal (he speaks at least five that I know of, probably more).  So when we go into a village, he’s the man explaining what we’re up to, what we hope to accomplish, and the like.  He is indispensable to the project. 

I actually think that’s enough for one post.  One shouldn’t stare to long at a computer screen.  Why don’t you log out, shut the computer down, grab a cup of coffee or a glass of lemonade (weather depending), and go sit outside on a chair or step or whatever is handy, and just look at that tree in the yard, or the grass, or the sky, or the leaves, or perhaps your twin black Labrador retrievers Heidi and Elsa frolicking about in playful abandon (I prefer the last option).  May the Lord bless you.

Photo credit to my Mom (who recently sent me some Swiss Cake Rolls!  She's awesome!)

Breakfast

Another morning comes to ENSA, Senegal

In the morning I typically have breakfast, because that's typically the time that breakfast is had.  I will wake up then go for a brief walk, I sometimes go to a local eatery, other times I eat at the ENSA cafeteria.  My presence is such that I am now a "regular" at the local eatery.  When the proprietor sees  me coming, she knows just what to do.  Breakfast usually consists of cafe Touba/ or Nescafe with milk and half a french loaf with  chocopain, butter, or cheese.  Now you know a little more about my life in Senegal.  Go have yourself a great day and God bless you.  

Breakfast

Local Eatery: Interior

Local Eatery: Exterior

An Amalgamation

I have not been very diligent in the upkeep of this blog, so first my apologies if anyone has been checking back so often looking to see a new post.  I do not have a specific trip or anything in mind to blog about, this post is just going to be a random amalgamation of stories and thoughts that I remember as I type.

I have been very well of late, I've discovered the delightful French fried dough known beignet.  They are delightful.  Now, wherever I am, if I see or smell beignets, you can bet I'm most likely going to purchase some.  One of the things I like about beignet is that no two purveyors of beignet make their beignet in quite the same way.  There seem to be many variations on the theme.  Here at ENSA, where I reside, the beignet have some sort of filling which I suspect is a cream cheese type substance.  I say suspect because I've only seen it uncooked, outside a beignet once, and that was from a distance.  Whatever it is, it is good. 

Today has been rather enjoyable from a culinary standpoint, not only because I was able to enjoy to variations of beignet, but also because I was able to have two fresh mangoes (saving two for tomorrow).  These mangoes are truly dessert.  They're like candy, as close as you can come to candy whilst having just been pulled from the tree.  

Speaking of mangoes (ok, I had an idea of some things for this blogpost, and that is a totally telegraphed segway), I was visiting the Benedictine Abbey at Keur Moussa again a couple weekends ago, and meal time again provided some comedy.  It was time for dessert and a tray of mangoes was placed on the table, I grabbed what I thought looked like a good one and cut into it.  The inside however, didn't look right.  A part of the interior seemed to be covered in small black spots.  I held it out and looked quizzically at the Brother seated across from me (remember meals are taken in silence as one of the Brothers reads aloud), he took several moments to look up but when he did, we made eye contact, then he looked at the mango.  His faced changed in an instant to one of horror as he anxiously grabbed the mango from my hands, as if concerned that at any minute I may ravenously begin devouring the thing.  He looked very much relieved that the crisis was averted.  Suffice to say that I now know, if the mango has suspicious spots on the interior, don't eat it.

Roger found a friendly little chameleon at Nioro.

Recently we were back at Nioro for more field work, I was able to collect the second round of samples for the site there.  Before we headed there, a scientist here at CERAAS asked where we were going (we had all our gear packed and ready to leave).  We told her we were going to Nioro and she seemed surprised.  She proceeded to mention the two Frenchman who had gone this time of year in the past, and how they had returned all burnt and puffed up from the sun.  They didn't leave there rooms for a couple of weeks she said. When Roger (the post-doc who we are working with) came in she said, "This is not a nice man making you go to Nioro."  Rogers response?  "Ah!  These guys are guuyyss!!!"  I must say it's one of the best compliments I've ever received.  The field work itself went well, with the proper application of sunscreen I came home no worse for the wear.  One of the days we were on site from 5am to 8pm, it was pretty sweet. From a bright moon and stars to sunset, with several breaks for coffee in between!

From the rising of the sun to its setting.

Coffee!

I have been able to do a lot of exploring in Thies.  I've visited the Cathedral a few times, as well as the market, picking up a tea kettle and some glasses for tea.  As well as a spoon and a knife, I thought getting a fork would be superfluous.

At the Cathedral, St. Anne's

My hair is getting pretty long, sometimes I wear a bandanna to keep it out of my face.  On two separate occasions two different people have commented that it reminded them of the lead singer of Dire Straits.  Who knew Dire Straits was so popular in West Africa?

Sans bandanna.

                              

I think that's enough blogging for now!

In Nioro

So a couple of weeks ago we were conducting some field work near the town of Nioro du Rip.  Here follows an account of some of the things that occured.

So Nioro is about three hours away, we got a late start but still managed to get there by perhaps three or four in the afternoon.  After dropping our bags off at the place we were staying we headed to the field.  After  a few hours of work (installing soil moisture sensors with one of the PhD students and taking soil samples for myself), it was realized that somehow the soil moisture sensors had evaded our eager hands and managed to remain back in Thies.  It was thus decided that Nate and our driver would head back to Thies and get an early start the next morning to arrive in Nioro sometime in the morning.  They left.  After another hour or so of work it was time for us to head into town.  We walked, and walked, stopped, then walked some more.  I think it was 19km or so.  Suffice to say that when we arrived none of us felt like doing much.

Samples!!!

The next morning we began the trek back, happily though we stopped for some delicious cafe Touba and some local bread.  This bread is delicious.  It's got some substance to it.  Sometimes when I'm having French bread I'm just disappointed with how light, fluffy, not dense it is.  This local bread is fantastic.  It's one of the reasons I look forward to going to Nioro (although today the breakfast place I went to here in Thies had it, yes!).

The rest of that day was pretty uneventful if I remember correctly.  Nate and our driver returned and we carried on with the work.

One of the day's I got my first taste of the Senegalese rainy season.  I must admit, to this point I was a little disappointed.  No crazy rain or anything.  This was different.

It started out as your typical down pour.   Some big drops were falling, very windy.  That sort of thing.  I was feeling very exuberant.  We were almost done for the day.  So as we hastened to finish up I was grinning (perhaps maniacally, I like to think maybe a little) and saying things like, "Ahhh yeah, here we go!"  And as the big drops started to fall intermittently, "This is what I'm talking about!"  Then it really started to pour.  It was painful.  Have you ever stuck your arm out of a car window while driving 55mph and it is pouring rain?  This rain felt akin to that only we were standing still.  Quickly my exuberance turned to awe.  But I was still having a blast.  It was very cool.  We scampered around and finished up, with a little bit of cowering on the downwind side of the truck (where one could remain effectively out of the rain).

One of the symptoms of downpours in Senegal, at least in Nioro and Thies, is the power going out.  So on the way back to our abode, we stopped to get some candles at one of the roadside general stores.  I ran in with Roger (post-doc from the Ivory Coast, Roger is awesome.) and we purchased some candles.  We ran back to the truck where Roger and our driver, Damesee (spelling probably wrong), exchanged words in French.  Next thing I knew I was being pushed back out into the rain with a couple of Senegalese coins in my hand.  I had to get more candles.  I ran back to the store.  I saw a woman with whom Roger at spoken.  I held out the coins and said, "Candles."  She picked up a mango, and looking quizzically at me said, "Mango?"  This was going to be difficult.  I realized that it wasn't her store and went to the counter.  Tea?  No, candles.  Biskrem (delicious pre-packaged snack)?  No, candles.  Matches?  No, but now we were getting somewhere, my hand motions were working.  Then, boom!  The fellow beside me who was doing his best to help figure out what I wanted said, "Candles!", with a voice that goes with the realization of the answer to a riddle.  Yes!!!  With Damesee honking the horn I exchanged the coins for two candles and went running back into the rain.  Candles.  Mango?  All time classic mix-up.

Something else totally awesome that happened was that our Nioro field tech (no idea how to spell his name) made us tea.  And not just any tea, this was the most delicious tea I've ever had.  Steeped over charcoal under the shade of an African tree.  It was magnificent.  I have recently acquired a teapot and tried to emulate him.  Suffice to say some Senegalese got a kick out of my attempt.  But with there help, I'm getting better!

Making tea.

So that's all I think except for this fun fact.  While in Nioro we eat lunch and supper at the same place, and they have the same two options for lunch everyday, and I've known them to have three options for supper.  Luckily it's really good food!

Also, I was able to go to Mass at Our Lady of Angels, Nioro!  God is great!  God bless you!

Blessed be God forever!