Today I stayed home until 3, and then I went in for my Wolof lesson. I had missed two sessions, so it was difficult to keep up with the others. I'm also feeling like the lessons might be overkill to the extent that I will actually use Wolof while I'm here. I believe most people I want to talk to speak French, and that will work for me. But I don't think I'll need to know any Wolof. Whatever- it's interesting, and I guess I can use it with the taxi drivers and other strangers I meet. It's so damn hard, though! It doesn't follow the rules we have for English, French, or any other language. For example, there are no verb conjugations per se, but to add a tense to your verb you add another word to complete the sentence (called a "completive marker"). It's confusing, and I'm getting frustrated with it.
After class we came back home, did some reading, and then our cook arrived with homemade lasagne. I could only eat a bit of the lasagne (because my stomach is still sore), but it was tasty! She also brought me a traditional remedy for the stomach ailments- there is a national tree here in Senegal called the Baobab, and it produces a fruit that can be mashed up and eaten. So, she brought some of this over, and then she prepared it for me by mashing it up in a cup of water with some sugar. It was good! I don't know what to compare it to- it's a little bitter, but also a bit tangy. Is that possible? I don't know.. the flavor is hard to describe, like I said! In any case, it was extremely nice of Sayda (our cook) to bring this for me.
Vicki, Armin, and Yemi were extremely helpful last night as well. But today, I started to feel the urge to get away from them. It was nice having a few hours ALONE today when I stayed back, and I think I'll need that from time to time. Otherwise it's like being around people 24/7, and it's starting to irritate me. Hmm... maybe I should do some meditations like my sponsor suggested... yes, I'll go do that. Ok, sorry, I'm cutting this short for now. -- tomorrow we have 4 more hours of Wolof, and then we are free for the day. I'll probably start focusing more on my research then.
ok, a bientot!
Ryan
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3 comments:
Ryan,
So glad to hear that you're back, firing on three pistons at least. Being sick in a foreign place is not any fun, believe me (and I know you do!). Anyway, I'm enjoying your blog---highly interesting, observant and well written to boot. Roll with your big adventure and you'll get more out of it than you ever expected. Be well and take care.
Love from your AA pal,
Larry
that fruit is just like me, tangy AND bitter.
i'm eating frozen yogurt at home alone and can't wait to get a double scoop of the real stuff with you!
don't forget your "you time". it is very oprah-esque but super important.
salaam maalekum! i can't believe you're really half way around the world... in africa! hope your tum tum is on the up n up! let's set up a time to chat. besides, wanda wants to have you on the podcast soon. here's to a delicious week all over the world, my sister!
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