Welcome Party #2

PCVs always enjoy a chance to get together, relax, and share horror stories from site. We decided to throw another welcome party for the newbies, but this time in our sub-regional area of Sokone. How to describe the awesome-ness…

Beer, salad, pork, BBQ sauce (thanks Jessica), swimming in the delta. Yep, that sums up the wonderful party quite well. And it made the 45km bike ride there totally worth it!

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Byron Yee

Peace Corps Volunteer - Senegal, 2009

Senegal's Eco Footprint

Despite clear developmental and environmental issues, such as the lack of a waste management program, Senegal has a decent eco-footprint.

EcoFootprint: the amount of global hectares it takes to support your lifestyle/standard of living. Take the test here to see how you measure up.

http://myfootprint.org/en/

My current life: In Senegal, my life needs about 7.15 global hectares. If the world's population lived at this level, we would only need 0.45 earths to support us. I'm still living a step above the Senegal standard, which averages 5.5 hectares/person.

USA: The average American needs 99.77ha to live. That would mean we need 6.35 earths to support the world's population, which is clearly unsustainable.

Anyway, take the test, its quick and interesting. Plus, as Americans, we have the ability and options to reduce our footprint. Just my environmental hippie coming out...

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Byron Yee

Peace Corps Volunteer - Senegal, 2009

Installing New PCVs

Unbelievable, but I'm already a year into my service, which means that its time for me to start helping the "new guys"

Our region of Kaolack received 16 new PCVs and for the entire weekend, we were busy running around the market, buying lots of cool tools and goodies, cooking way too much food, and having way to much fun. It was exhausting, but thrilling, and this new group of volunteers is a really awesome group.

Best of luck in your new homes PCVs! It'll prove to be a rough and challenging, but rewarding start.

--Byron YeePeace Corps Volunteer - Senegal, 2009

Concert sur le sensibilisation du SIDA

"Concert to increase awareness of AIDS"

Two of my friends helped a local group put on a very big and successful AIDS awareness concert this past weekend. It was complete with rappers, singers, a theatre group, and even condoms and AIDS testing.

Unfortunately, my cultural barriers, higher standards of technology, and pretentious values on a quality performance prevented me from enjoying the rappers, who were lip syncing and forgetting their own lyrics. However, the crowd seemed to be enjoying the show just fine. Thus, the show was successful and effective for the intended crowd.

Nice work Elida and Jessica. You guys organized a program that was awesome, culturally appropriate and effective, and enjoyable by all - a goal all PCVs strive to achieve.

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Byron Yee

Peace Corps Volunteer - Senegal, 2009

Pictures!

Alrighty folks, lots of pictures just updated. Everything from vacation, to Korite, to mangrove reforestation. Enjoy!

www.picasaweb.google.com/TheByronYee

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Byron Yee

Peace Corps Volunteer - Senegal, 2009