Year In…Im getting Tired

So originally, I was going to post a perturbed PC volunteer piece but after a day of reflection, I decided perhaps it wasn’t necessary. Suffice it to say I was in a salty mood cause:
*the power had been out and it had been raining for the past two days
*I had cabin fever
*I was missing the comforts of America.
But I’m a little better now...Alhamdulillah. Even though it’s been raining off and on all day and the power went out for a few hours.

Saturday I went to a Gelle(sp). It’s a traditional Serer Celebration of people born in the same year and it’s usually done 4 years at a time. For example, Men and women who live in close neighborhoods born in 1970-1974 get together and hold monthly meetings to plan their annual party. So Saturday I hung out with my friend Edward and his family cause I was invited to his sisters Gelle. It was slightly delayed cause the power was out but after they got a generator they started it. There were about 50 people who had outfits made in the same colored fabric who marched in circles and danced to traditional Serer music. I always enjoy going to traditional parties and taking in and enjoying the culture of Senegal cause I know there are few Americans that have/will do that. So unfortunately the generator kept going in and out so the music would start and stop. There were drummers and they weren’t affected by the power outage so people continued to dance with out lights. There were tons of children as always and there was a man with a rather large stick keeping them from getting in the way. Every 20 mins there would be a swarm of children running out of the public place where the fete was held. I think I must have stayed for 4 hours cause the power was out all the things I really wanted to do I couldn’t so I figured I might as well stay and take in the “flickering sights”. About quarter to 10 I decided it was time to go and I started walking home and thinking about what I wanted to do with myself. Just as I was getting to my street, the power came back on. Took a shower, at an apple (dinner) and went to visit my friend Bara. Not bad for a Saturday.

[written Sunday Aug. 24]

gnilan