Tabaski

Tabaski is a holiday which celebrates the willingness of a Bilical man to sacrifice his only son in the name of the Lord. An angel comes and gives him a sheep instead. So my family killed four sheep, but I’m getting ahead of myself. I had a chill morning; I watered my garden and braided the hair of one of my youngest sisters. It hurts and before we were done with it she was, and started crying. It kinda sucked trying to do it while she was crying and moving. Then  they killed the sheep in the yard. My dad came by and dug a hole. I was like huh maybe we are putting up a tent for shade. Nope that is for blood, they slit the sheeps’ throat over the top and drain it in there so that it doesn’t make a mess. The chickens came by later and were picking at it and small scraps of flesh. Then I helped cook lunch. We hacked the sheep into smaller pieces after the men had skinned them and cooked it all. I mean all, heart, liver, stomach, and oh yeah intestines. We peeled onions and potatoes and boiled macaroni. I ate by myself which I thought was weird it being a holiday I thought they would have me eat with them. Then we went and greeted people in wolof clothes. I wore the same thing I did for Korite. I didn’t have anything new made that was ready yet, but my family didn’t know it wasn’t new. Then we ate dinner EWWWWW is all I really wanna say about that. I should have taken a picture! I tried to stay up late but shortly after 9 a little girl began destroying my hair and I had to excuse myself to salvage what is left. She was trying to help me take out my braids. They have fake hair so when they take out their braids they don’t care if it is destroyed, hence my dilemma. The next day we did it all again. I stayed out longer this night greeting some of my aunt’s friends, this aunt is younger than me and the people were cool. Overall as I told my sister it was a two day Christmas party at your inlaws with no booze. I hope next year I am magically in America for Tabaski and our Thanksgiving J

My New Lifestyle

I have been trying to integrate into the community and make my presence known while staying within my comfort zone. I went and ate at the "egg mans" the other day. In all cities and many villages in Africa there are women who sell beans and bread in the morning for breakfast While it sounds simple I assure to a malnutritioned volunteer in need of protein they are the shit! In my village I have instead of a bean lady a man who sells bread and eggs.  Not as good as a bean lady though, and he overcharged me. I do have a new friend in the village now  though! I have been to people's fields and gardens and sometimes I just walk around and say hi to people. There is one boutique, and by that a mean a room in someones compound where I can buy sugar and soap, which I frequent. I think the people there are used to me and that the woman though I don't know her name yet likes me.  My family is getting used to my schedule and know the times I will be sleeping or showering and I feel that they give me my space. Things are looking good :)

Veggie Wars!

My family never has vegetables. I tried to fix my lack of nutrition by buying veggies for my family. This worked for all of one day until the veggies I bought were not appearing in the lunch bowl. I was offered to eat with my brothers' family for dinner one night. I saw them cooking and they had a lot of veggies so I accepted. This infuriated my grandma. I was told I am never allowed to eat with that family again. I will now be hiding vegetables and fruit in my room and eating it when I have my door shut and locked. Crazy crazy crazy lady, just feed me some of the veggies I buy, and really why do you care if I eat with them? Then I'm not eating your food which I'm still paying for. In this culture it makes my family look bad if I eat with someone else, that's why they got mad.