Happy September 1st!

In 13 day’s I will have lived a year in Senegal. It’s crazy how time flies. To celebrate myself and a couple other folks are going to go play golf. I have to get through these next two weeks first. This week I don’t have a lot planned, just a couple of meetings. This week also starts the month of Ramadan which should be interesting. When I got last year in September, I was staying in a Training Center were we got breakfast and lunch everyday and by the time we finished with training, it was about time to break the fast. Considering I live in a family with 3 small children it shouldn’t be too much different cause the kids don’t fast. What’s going to be interesting is to see how my work changes, or even if it will change. I’ll keep you updated.
This past weekend I hung out in Saly with my friend Meme and some other American’s for her going away party. I was just planning on going for the evening and then coming back to Joal, but no one wanted to me to travel at night so I ended up staying the night. Sometimes its really weird being around a group of American’s cause there’s a sense of disconnection. I live my life like the Senegalese, I eat Senegalese food, all the people I interact with on a daily basis are Senegalese. The life I live here is completely different then how I lived in the states and to be around other Americans that live like they do in the states is foreign to me. Im fine when it’s one or two folks but a group of folks who have the comforts of America I just feel like an outsider. I guess you can say I’m truly integrated in my community. And it’s also a good thing that on occasion I go and hang out with other Americans so I don’t become completely disconnected from what I know. At any rate, had a great time; I had burgers and chicken off the grill, hung out around the pool had a lots of laughs and by Sunday i was glad that I stayed. Even have a new Wii hook up since Meme is leaving. It’s Monday and I need to go be productive while it’s not raining.

[gnilan]