I'm currently back in Kaedi for a few days before heading to Nouakchott and Dakar, Senegal for the holidays, but I wanted to update you all on the past month and a half since I haven't had a lot of internet time recently. I spent Thanksgiving in Selibabi and did some emailing from their office there, but we were having so much fun eating and drinking and being merry that I didn't get around to my blog.
I have my journal in front of me again, so I'll give you some snippets from the past month:
*November 18: The weather is finally cooling off, especially at night, which makes sleeping a lot more enjoyable. Despite that fact, I'm still up around sunrise each morning to go for a run or walk on the gravel road that leads out of town and into the agricultural fields which surround M'Bout. We heard today that our project proposal (for mentoring center start-up funds) was approved, so now John and I have the task of purchasing materials for the center. Although I'm not actually working more hours each day, I feel good about the fact that we have some pokers in the fire.
*December 3: Even the days feel cool and comfortable now, but I found out that it was 92 today. I thought that I was very in tune with the weather, but it turns out that I can no longer trust my body thermometer since I thought it was about 70. I have finally started reading Edward Abbey's Desert Solitaire after receiving a recommendation from Casey in Vina del Mar last December. It's living up to his recommendation. Although the writing is merely normal, I love the subject matter and how passionately he describes the American wilderness. I feel like a big part of me is dormant right now -- the "outdoors-woman"? -- and reading about his adventures reminds me of some good times that I've had in the woods.
*December 15: I wrote this entry two days before I left M'Bout for Kaedi. From the moment I wake up, I have pangs of excitement about leaving M'Bout and seeing Nouakchott for the first time and seeing my family in Dakar! And we fixed my laptop yesterday, so John and I can watch movies again at his house, which means I can also do yoga with my yoga DVD. I was doing pretty well on my own with only a list of the positions, but it's soo much better with Rodney Yee's voice and soothing music.
Which brings me to the present...
I have one more day in Kaedi to get some loose ends tied up and get ready for my vacation! I took some photos during the Muslim holiday of Tabaski, which we celebrated about a week ago in M'Bout. Everyone got dressed up in new clothes and went around visiting friends and family and ate a lot of sheep meat (do we call this mutton?). My host brothers were so cute in their new clothes, and I was very thankful to have so many friends in M'Bout who wanted to share the day with us. John and I visited five different families on the first day of the holiday. I will try to post photos tomorrow.
Merry Christmas everyone!
