Warning:
The photos you are about to see may be awesome

Today was Tabaski!!! There are approximately 1.5 million less sheep in Senegal than there were yesterday :) If you are not familiar with this day, it is one of the most important holidays in the Islamic world. I got the unique experience to go back to my training family for the day since I am not yet situated in my permanent site. It was a great day and besides the sheep slaughtering, I was also invited to go to the mosque with some members of my family for the morning prayer. (how's that for integration!)

It was a surreal day of lounging around, drinking tea, and stuffing my face. Definitely going to miss my CBT family. So now I need to pack my shit because early tomorrow I will make my trek to Kolda for the real deal.

Well, Its official! I am now a Peace Corps Volunteer.

On Friday, all of us went to Dakar for the swear in ceremony held at the ambassador's house. Lots of good food and drinks to savor before I head to Saare Ganga to start my service! Now it is back to packing and purchasing the essentials for village life.     

Preview of life to be

My compound in Saare Ganga

My cozy little hut (front)

Looking in from the back yard

My counterpart/brother and friends in my backyard. Shower and toilet (hole) to the right.  

Just a few of my family

Mom #1 and little sis. amazing woman

Talibe and family

Hop Ski PST!

Alas I have some time to write this long awaited release! The whole concept of time here in PST(pre-service-training) has faded and blurred. "I can't believe I have been in Senegal over a month!" is what I wrote a month ago. So I guess I can't believe it has been over 2. I'll back this thang up a bit.....
 It is a strange feeling being dropped of in a large Senegalese family (in the dark), speaking a language almost completely foreign in a land that is entirely foreign. It is at that moment that the American umbilical cord is snapped (figuratively speaking) and eyes are opened wide. You gasp for air, grab onto whatever comforts you can find, and start re-constructing life. -needless to say, the learning curve is not very sharp at first.
NOW FACTS: PST is a time for learning both culture and language. I live (lived) with a with a very large, religious, and extended Senegalese family in a compound often exceeding 40 people in the evenings. Meals are served in a large bowl with 6 to 10 people eating together. I have mastered the art of eating rice with my hands.... which is usually served 2-3 times a day (most certainly bland but is growing on me).
I am learning a language Fulakunda which is a form of the Pulaar dialect. It is very difficult! and different from any other language I have learned, but I am optimistic about picking it up :) PST will end on Nov 4th (3 days from now) and from there I will move to my permanent site in the Cassamance region of Senegal. Its a beautiful place and hopefully I shall put up some pics!