A Little Re-cap of How I've Spent My Free Time....

Yesterday marked the beginning of my fifteenth week here in the great country of Senegal. I’ve had plenty of time to study, learn some languages, meet some great folks, and enjoy the music I love and the reading I was slacking on back in the States. So, this entry is going to be a short and sweet review of some of the stuff I’ve read/listened to, because I’m sure you are all busy preparing for the big celebration this weekend!

Music (stuff that I started listening to for the first time after I arrived):
Ray LaMontagne- “Trouble”…… He is AWESOME... I am a huge fan, thanks to Bon! If you get the opportunity you should definitely check him out... and I think he just came out with a new cd, so if you are so inclined you could buy it and,, ehm ehm.. burn a copy to send to me... thanks!

Dixie Chicks- “Taking The Long Way”... I’m not a country fan but they are quite good and I definitely enjoy the new cd.

John Legend- “Get Lifted”... This isn’t a new cd but I hadn’t listened to it in its entirety until I got here. He is great and I can listen to the cd over and over.

David Gray- “Life in Slow Motion”... Love it. But I also just love almost everything he’s done so this should be no surprise.

John Mayer- “Continuum”… Also pretty damn good.

And many more, but these are some of my faves. Think you have something good? Burn it and send! I think music is my saving grace here. Also, I have ZERO dance/party/r&b music with me, so if you want to send me a mixed cd... that would be awesome and it would definitely make dance parties in my compound a whole lot cooler.

Books (I’m ashamed I haven’t finished more):
The Time Traveler’s Wife- 4 ½ out of 5 stars...

Running With Scissors- 4 ¾ out of 5 stars… This was a really disturbing but really good book.

Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim- 3 ½ out of 5 stars. I wasn’t a huge fan but it wasn’t too bad.

Naked- 4 out of 5 stars... Better than the last book but still not my favorite.

Acts of Faith- 5 out of 5 stars... Long but very good.

The Kite Runner- 5 ½ out of 5 stars. I couldn’t put it down. Such a good book.

The Penguin Book of International Women’s Short Stories- 3 ½ out of 5 stars... Some interesting stuff.

I’m currently reading Gone with the Wind and I really like it. I know I am probably the only person who hasn’t read it, but it’s good!

On deck:
Empire Falls, The Secret Life of Bees, The Iliad, Anna Karenin, and Girl With The Pearl Earring... But if you have anything you’re finished with that you think I might like... Send it!

In closing, I hope everyone has a Happy New Year!! Stay safe, have fun, and drink a little bubbly for me!!

Ps- Saturday and Sunday while you are all celebrating the new year, I will be celebrating Tabaski, a two day celebration with tons of slaughtered rams (which means I’ll be starving since I refuse to eat that) and Senegalese people, both poor and rich, wearing ridiculously expensive, shiny, in some cases sequined, new outfits and hair pieces (my outfit was almost 50 bucks! Ridiculous!). I felt the need to share this last part because I was content with just wearing my Korite/Swearing-in outfit but that was a major no-no with my fam. They even strong armed me into buying new shoes (and you better believe I chose the least tacky ones I could find! Just to spite them!) But this wasn’t enough... They actually tried to tell me I needed to get a weave! And that is when I introduced them to the good ole’ American, HELL NO! This is where I draw the line...

See, I’m getting good at this cross cultural exchange thing!

Happy New Year!! Stay Safe! Email me if you have an exciting/ridiculous stories!

Jingle Bells Jingle Bells

I heard a dirty rumor that it’s almost Christmas… I hope it’s not true…. All this time I’ve been sure it was the middle of August… Maybe it’s the ridiculous amount of mosquitoes, the fact that I’m sweating almost always, and it seems the only thing falling from the sky around here is sand...

So, it’s Christmas. In the States this would be my favorite time of year. It means good food, pretty decorations, cocktail parties, eggnog (with or without Wild Turkey... ehm ehm Mr. H), who knows... possibly some snow, and always good old fashioned quality time with the family. Unfortunately, or fortunately (depending upon your perspective), I’m not in the States and Christmas time in Senegal is a bit different.

Unfortunately, I’m unable to access the ingredients necessary to make many of the typical Christmas Day foods. Then again, I may just be ungrateful for all the wonderful food I CAN get here. Take yesterday for instance; I decided I’d prepare something American-ish for our Peace Corps. Christmas party. I went to the ‘toubob store’ to buy a couple of things and when I got home, my two year old sister ran into my room to see what I’d bought. Apparently, what I thought were some less than awe-inspiring purchases were a little too exciting and overwhelming for her, because as she stood in my room looking in the fridge, she peed all over my floor. I guess it’s all about perspective.

Then there are Christmas decorations, which are about non-existent here, due mostly to the fact that almost everyone here is Muslim and therefore do not celebrate Christmas. Makes sense, although it doesn’t make the usual plastic covered furniture and neon colored fake flowers very aesthetically pleasing for someone looking to get in the Holiday spirit. I don’t get that warm, once a year, fuzzy Christmas feeling. C’est la vie.

Thankfully, we can at least pull together a little Christmas party sans cocktails or eggnog (the unfortunate parts). I may even get a little dressed up for the hell of it and put my stilettos to use! I have a funny looking little Charlie Brown tree (thanks Mom!), my place is as decorated as it’s going to get, and I guess I’m coming to terms with the fact that it’s December, even though the only kind of storm I may experience is of the sand variety. Again, c’est la vie.

After all this babbling, my point is, it’s not Christmas without my family and friends. People get wrapped up in giving and receiving gifts, and in the past I suppose I did also, but being here and away from my loved ones, I realize the Holidays just aren’t the same without them. It’s just not Christmas without my family. So I’m not sad, I’m just not celebrating. I’m making some ziti, dressing up a bit, and bringing a goofy looking little tree with me to dinner with some friends, but it’s not really Christmas.

I miss you all!! Merry Christmas!! Happy Holidays!! Happy New Year!!

A couple of shout outs: Mom, Dad, and Nicky for the goofy tree and some other cool stuff; Uncle Harold for the sweet card, and lets be honest, you were always my favorite Lovett; and Campbell for calling me last night and making my day.. possibly my week!! Love you all!

PS- I HAVE A CELL PHONE SO YOU CAN CALL ME IF YOU LIKE (THE NUMBER IS IN MY CONTACT INFO ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THIS PAGE), HOWEVER, SOMETHING IS UP WITH MY PHONE AND SOMETIMES WHEN YOU CALL MY PHONE DOESNT RING, SO IF YOU ARE CALLING AND IM NOT ANSWERING JUST KEEP TRYING BECAUSE I ALWAYS HAVE MY PHONE AND EVENTUALLY IT WILL WORK AND ILL GET THE CALL BUT SOMETIMES IT TAKES A NUMBER OF TRIES! SO DONT GIVE UP! I LOVE HEARING FROM YOU!

Khedi the Riveter!! That has a nice ring to it..

Gender roles in Senegalese society are quite clear cut. Naturally, men can pretty much do whatever they can afford. Women, on the other hand, are meant to get married, have lots of babies, cook, clean, make sure their sons do their school work and make sure their daughters learn how to cook and clean (so they can one day find husbands, have lots of babies of their own, and teach their daughters cooking, cleaning, and other house work). I know this isn’t a concept unique to Senegalese culture, but it doesn’t make it any less difficult to accept, or become accustomed to. Not to say that cooking, cleaning, and housework aren’t important and shouldn’t be learned; I just have difficulty accepting the idea that these tasks are inherently the responsibility of women, based solely upon their gender. But tell that to your average Senegalese man and he will think you’ve lost your mind (I’ve had more than one foot-in-mouth experience regarding the subject of gender roles). Let’s just say, I am working on my cultural sensitivity…
A couple of nights ago, I was hanging out with my aunt, a 25yr. old Senegalese, and her boyfriend. Eventually, our conversation came to why I am unmarried (which ALWAYS comes up) and why I can’t cook (I’m embarrassed to say this is true!!). My aunt’s boyfriend couldn’t understand how I ever expected to find a husband if I couldn’t cook, and he laughed in my face when I said that I plan for my husband and I to share the cooking/cleaning responsibilities. I think I even embarrassed my aunt a little bit, because I asked him if he knew how to cook (which he doesn’t, duh, he’s a man, what was I thinking). The idea that I went to college and now want to pursue work outside the house was incomprehensible for him, and later for his friends who showed up and continued to laugh at me for being single/unable to cook. They said that maybe that works in the U.S. or Europe but a woman living like that in Africa just wouldn’t fly; Women are meant to cook and clean, and men are meant to make money.
I’ve accepted that I won’t change their minds but I also won’t back down. Even though I knew they wouldn’t see how I’m living and realize it isn’t half bad and maybe it would work for them, I intend to continue sharing information about the different lifestyles here in Senegal, and back home; In the name of cross cultural experience of course!!
The next day I sat down with my aunt and my mom to see discuss the issue, sans men, and see how they really felt. Disappointingly, but not shockingly, they agreed with the men that a woman’s place was in the house. They found my insistence on the importance of education for girls to be laughable. School, especially university, was good but entirely too expensive for someone who will work in the house afterwards. They agreed that if a woman was going to go to university it should be up to her husband. Oh well. I’m not giving up!
My favorite part of the whole experience with my aunt, her boyfriend, and his friends was when, after his friend laughed at me for thinking women should be given an opportunity to work outside the house also, the friend asked me for my phone number and said he wanted to be my boyfriend. “Man, I’d love to give you my number but I only date guys that can cook and clean. Sorry though, I really am.” He sure made that one easy!

UPDATE: I made dinner for myself for the first time and it was great!! Tomato sauce from scratch! Delicious! And I also made cookies for my sister’s 18th birthday which also proved to be a hit. I guess now I can tell people, I’m pretty sure I CAN cook but I don’t necessarily want to. I’m sure they will love that one also.

It Finally Happened!!

After laughing at all my friends when it happened to them, and hearing that one day it would happen to me also, one of my little siblings finally peed on me. AWESOME. That's basically my entire story.. My 2yr old sis was climbing all over me last night, and I guess she was having a little too much fun, didn't want to stop, because she peed all over me. Cute, I know.

I'm working on another entry and will be posting it Weds. Hope everyone is well and in the Holiday spirit!

ps- that was not the pic I meant to post in my last entry... C'est la vie.