After visiting Kate in Senegal this July, she asked that I write a "visitor's post" to update her recently neglected blog. I'll start by telling you all that our dear friend Kate/Katie/Kay/Hadiatou has become Senegalese. She speaks Pulaar practically fluently and has mastered the art of haggling for reduced prices. She can carry heavy objects on her head and she dances the Pulaar dance with expertise. (we taught her Senegalese mother the "American dances" of the macarana and the chicken dance, haha). She is the most tan she has ever been in her life, and she looks healthy and beautiful! (Kate you better post these compliments and not edit them out- your family and friends will want to know the things you are too modest to say!) She is sooooo tough, riding that 50K bikeride to and from her village as if it were a piece of cake (or Obama Cookie icecream at N'Ice Cream in Dakar, mmm). And let me tell you from experience, that bike ride was the hardest thing I have ever and will ever do in my LIFE!!! Hilly, puddly, muddy, rocky, unpredictable bikes, ahhhh! (Thank Allah that Kate rode behind me all 8 hours of torture and sang Disney and Sound of Music songs to me to keep me going and back on the bike after each fall!!) But no worries about Kate who is now an extreme biker. She does the ride in 2-3 hours. Kate is still the same Kate I have known since 2nd grade though, just with a tough Senegalese outlook. And she has become slightly more responsible which I was happy to see (double-thinking before jumping out of the tree she just climbed because she realizes it is very likely she could sprain an ankle...can you imagine the carefree American Kate reflecting like that?!) And she LOVES meat of any form, including things like shrimp eyeballs that you just aren't supposed to eat. So strange. She says she will return to being vegetarian in the states after she crosses off all of the "meats to eat" on her list, but I wonder. I can't forget to mention that MaryBeth and I were both very impressed with Kate's boyfriend Matt- his dancing, tarzan vine-swinging, and cooking skills were all quite amazing. What else to say? The trip to Senegal was incredible to see Kate, the life she is living, and the beauty of the Kedougou/Pellel Kendessa area and the people there. Advice for future visitors: be flexible and prepared for anything; be ready to sweat and smell like never before; only do the 50K bikeride if you are insane or very athletic and daring; bring Kate lots of food (the corn mush in her village was pretty sad); be prepared to be eaten by mosquitos despite wearing repellent; bring gifts for her village family (they loved the photo album of pictures from Kate's blog that we gave them!); a neckpillow for the looooong car rides across Senegal would be a good idea; bring a flashlight/headlamp and tissue packets; try to pack light in a backpack, learn basic Pulaar (A Jaraama = hi, thank you, and bye!, Jam tuŋ = Peace Only, and Mi hari is I'm full of corn mush!; and pick a Senegalese name (the Senegalese will probably laugh at your American name and not be able to say it). I hope you have a wonderful trip if you are visiting Kate!!
~Heather Soldano, aka Hawa Souaré
1 comment:
oh so cute !
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