Minneapolis, dear Minneapolis...

I MISS YOU MINNEAPOLIS!!! I just got off the phone with my friend Christopher, and he was on his way to the Walker Sculpture Garden, and I nearly cried when I pictured his surroudings.. Lyndale and 22nd. Nothing particularly special about that intersection; a Super America gas station, a liquor store, and a grocery store just down the street. Anyway, I just miss it- I miss it all. I wish I could spend even 2 days back home, sleeping in my own bed, making my own meals, doing my own laundry (no, scratch that!), walking down Hennepin Avenue, downtown, Nicollet Mall, Loring Park, Lake Calhoun, everything! But most of all, I wish I could spend even an hour with friends (and that includes sponsors, of course!)- I want to laugh and be silly over a bowl of icecream and fried chicken and then watch an artsy fartsy or really campy gay film. Mmm... some gummy bears and M&M's.. oohh with cheese and caramel popcorn... shit, maybe I'm just hungry! NO!!! just kidding.. this is definite, 100% homesickness. I think it's because it's Saturday night, and that's boys night in my world. But instead, I went to a dinner party with some other American students and their Senegalese friends... it was ok, but not my idea of a good time. I spent the entire evening trying to understand what they were saying.. it was discouraging.. I like to think that my French is pretty good.. that it's better than a beginner, but then I have these experiences where I feel totally incompetent! I know it's normal, and I'm not feeling pity for myself or putting myself down, but it is frustrating.. that's all.. especially when the conversation seems like it WOULD be interesting if I could understand. One of the guys there tonight was a diplomat for the Senegalese government- how interesting it would have been to understand what it is that he actually does! But no, he says diplomat, explains a bit more in French, and I nod politely as I feign comprehension.. "ahh... c'est tres interessant.." ("that's very interesting..")

Ok, enough of that. I do feel better now, though. I just talked to a few close people, and it was nice to hear what's going on in their lives. It occurred to me today that I have the luxury of sharing my life with several people all at once through this blog, but I don't get to hear what's going on in your lives, which of course, means that I need to try calling/emailing more. Otherwise I get too caught up in my own life, and that's fine and dandy, but I need to stay informed about y'all, too. So if you get a chance, send me an email, call, do whatever to tell me what's new in your life. Seriously!

So here's the breakdown for today and yesterday:
Today, I slept in until almost noon because I was up late last night from the Sean Paul concert. The concert was a lot of fun- the weather was great to be out in (cool and breezy), and the crowd was energetic and loving- it was full of love, and I'm not joking here. Some random kid came up to me, Yemi, and Assane asking for a drink of our water, and Assane purchased the kid his own water. It was funny because the kid only came up to Assane, and he seemed to expect Assane to do this, as if Assane had some kind of responsibility for his well-being. And obviously, he does! It was very sweet, that's all.

Earlier in the day, Friday, I went to the University again to hunt down some more professors, but they were all gone. Instead, I went to the library and did some reading. Then, I had lunch at the restaurant there- I ordered fried chicken and fries, and it was the worst thing I've encountered here; actually the worst thing I've had in a LONG time.. the chicken was rubbery, and I didn't eat it. It was like eating dog meat, if that's what dog meat is like.. I can only imagine, but that's what came to mind anyway. It was disgusting- that's the point. After that I went back to the Baobab Center to meet Assane and Sayda. We went to their house and their tailor measured me up for the bou-bous he's going to make for me. I'm so excited about this! After that I pretty much hung out with Assane until the concert started.

Today was a lazy day- I started working on my paper for this project here, and then I took a nap, and then it was time to go to the dinner party. And now I'm here, swatting at the world's most persistent mosquito. As much as I'd like to kill it, I do have some satisfaction knowing that it is repelled by the lotion I'm wearing... it's just dying to find an area of exposed skin, but it ain't gonna find it 'cause I'm wearing my full-body covering bou-bou... haayyy... so take that you stubborn ass 'squito!!!

ok, and now that I'm having a fight with some poor mosquito, I think that's my cue to go to bed. Hopefully he doesn't haunt me in my dreams as some giant alien mosquito twice my size... getting his revenge... eek. ok, more later, tomorrow, folks. AGGGHHH why doesn't he just land on me already so I can take him out!!! He's too smart... ok, I just smacked myself again in my vain attempt to kill him, so I'm really going to bed now.. until tomorrow.. goodnight.