This morning I had cow’s feet in a sauce for breakfast. On the rare occasion that meat is slaughtered, we waste nothing. Intestines, stomach, feet, and all are eat (except the hide). As I rarely eat meat and severely lack protein, I eagerly eat whatever remnants of meat I’m served the few days following the main event.
I yet again was able to experience Gamou (The birthday of the Prophet Muhammed), but locally this time. Similarly to Tivauouane, lots of people, lots of food (including delicious meat), and lots of praying. I actually did not experience much of this event other than a very late lunch (4:15pm) and an even later dinner (10pm). After eating dinner, I managed to sneak into my room for the rest of the night when the main events were actually starting.
Apparently our local marabou and other special guests came to pray and conduct Koranic lessons. I woke up occasionally to the sound of prayers, loud feedback, and honking horns. The next morning, most of the 200 people had left and that was that.
Yesterday we had chicken for lunch – meaning a chicken flew into our lunch bowl, which was immediately scooped out by my brother’s spoon before continuing our meal.
Man, I really miss PB&J sometimes…
In just 15 days, I scrambled to create a 15 minute theatrical presentation with a small group of students.
Yeah, yeah, it’s been done before (oh college days…), but never have I done this in a foreign language and culture to which I am still an alien.
Story: I met with about 30 secondary school students and a teacher facilitator to see if there was an interest in creating a theatre group. The answer was an obvious yes. Also they unanimously agreed they wanted to create theatre that educated on sensitize the population and social and community issues. Cool! Until…
The facilitator informed me that in 15 days, there was going to be a school festival, in which they would like to perform a small play. Crap!!! After freaking out like crazy, I madly scrambled to come up with some theatre activities and exercise, which then needed to be translated into French and Wolof. But after only 3 meetings, and less than 8 hours of total practice, we somehow managed to put together a small and successful play.
Subject: Les Grosesses Processes (Translation: Early teen pregnancy).
