Update

I apologize that it has been so long since my last update. Hopefully, over the course of the next week, I can add a few more posts as well as update my pictures.

In the meantime, I just want to provide yall with an update on my vacation. Due to a potential visit to the garden in late June, there is a good chance I will change my vacation from June 1 - 24 to around June 29 - July 23. With my scheduled vacation two weeks away, I am hoping to know more early next week. I will keep everyone updated when I know more.

Rainy Season Predictions

While the rains have yet to come, they are looming. In the past, Dakar has been known to flood, alot. Disease outbrakes have apparently not been uncommon. This year is going to be an interesting one. Nearly every major road in the city and the only major road leaving the city is under major construction, which can be a nightmare even when things are normal. I predict that I might as well find a boat to get myself to work because transportation is just going to be a sight to see.

New Addition to the Bachelor Room Pad

After nearly 11 months, I have been graced with a magnificent new refrigerator. I've somewhat forgotten what it is like to have one of my own, but it is a nice new addition to my bachelor pad. Next up...plasma tv with satellite.

Breakdown / Accident / Fender Bender

There are somethings in my everyday life here that I can easily compare to things in the States. Other things, I am still perplexed every time I experience it because it is so different from the norm in the States. One of those things, despite the headaches they have created, is the events that follow after an automobile breaks down here or an accident occurs.

In the United States, typically after the initial reaction of disbelief, one tries to get their car off the road and onto the shoulder, in order to not inhibit the traffic flow...it sorta just makes sense. Well, that just does not happen here. It does not matter what road or the time of day, you are bound to see a broken down car in the middle of the road. If I got a cookie for everyone of these broken down cars I've seen in the past year, I would not be skinny.

Eventually, somebody might try and help push the car off the road, but typically, people try and fix the problem on the spot. The people who run the Allhums (big white buses) in Dakar often rival many of Nascars top pit crews, able to change a burst tire on a busy road in minutes.

Accidents are a different thing. I've never seen people care so much about a car that has been on its last leg for the past 15 years. Immediately following these accidents, both drivers get out of their cars, investigate the scratch, and then start methodologically yelling at each other. A crowd usually gathers. All of this would be occurring in the middle of the road. After several tense minutes, the guys typically shake hands and are the best of friends.

Just a bit different from the roadways in the US....

I havent forgotten to update this thing. I have some pictures and a few posts that need to go up, but my I havent managed to do anything other than stare at my calender and continuoly count down the days till I return home for a few weeks. Hope everyone is well and hope to get some new stuff up soon.

jland

Books Read...

Due to the repetition and boredom that I seem to enjoy in my life, I have very few things to post on this site. To keep all of you entertained this Monday morning in your windowless cubicles, here is a list of the books I have read over the past couple of months:

Fast Food Nation
-Eris Schlosser

The Last King of Scotland
-Giles Foden

The Pursuit of Happyness
-Chris Gardener

Three
-Ted Dekker

The Camel Club
-David Baldacci

Invincible
-Vince Papale

Taking Heat: The President, The Press, and My Years in the White House
-Ari Fleischer

Easy Crosswords: Double Issue
-Vol 55

Also, I am currently trying to read The Audacity of Hope by Barack Obama and The Emerging Markets Century by Antoine Von Agtmael

Houdinni in the garden...

Over the past few weeks in the garden, I have showed up each morning to notice teeth marks on the eggplants as well as large bites out of them. In a sense, it didn't really bother me because I can't stand the things. But, because others apparently like these purple masses, I finally decided it was time to enact a counter-assault on the Hopital Fann/Dakar rats.

This past week, we have caught a few rats in our metal traps. It is kinda like waking up Christmas morning and running downstairs to a ton of presents under the Christmas tree. Well, here, it is taking a 45 minute bus ride to work to find a rat or two in a cage, but exactly like Christmas.

This morning, we had two rats or as Sanè,one of the gardeners and I call them..."xarit u Lope". That means "Lope's friends". Lope is the other gardener in the garden. Lope is not too fond of these nighttime beasts, so today, he tried to drown them in one of our water barrels. I'm sure the humane society or animal rights activists would not have appreciated the sight, but after a couple minutes trying to figure out his approach, Lope dunked the tank in the water and left it there. Through this process, the cage door managed to open and the rat scurried to the surface scarring the heck out of Lope. He took the hose and tried to beat it, but it was too fast. Lope tried to chase it, but the rat ran in my direction for some reason, about 20 feet away. I tried to beat it with a shovel, but it managed to run through my legs with its long tail hitting my ankles.
Finally, it went and hid in our shed.

Through this entire ordeal, those watching the work in the garden from the balcony of the Infectious Diseases Ward were laughing hysterically. Lope and I joined in as well. Despite one of the rats getting away, I suppose it is the price one has to pay for another enjoyable day at the office.

After all of this, I did decided that I would no longer wash my hands in the barrel Lope tried to drown the rats in.

Vacation Home...

With 48 days of vacation, or all of it left, and 370 days left in Peace Corps/Senegal, my long-awaited vacation home to the States is "official". According to my airline ticket, I will be leaving Dakar at 11 PM on May 31. I have a 3 hour layover at Charles de Gaulle in Paris where I will have ample time to eat at the MacDonald's and Pizza Hut. Finally, I will be in ATL at 1:10 PM on June 1 ready to go....no need for a nap.

I will be heading back to Dakar at 8:55 PM from ATL.

Happy Easter