One of the Kids

I can't believe how the time is flying by. The past few weeks have been very packed, and I was thankful for a little break this last weekend. After a very busy week, which included French and Wolof lessons, working after school at a community center, parent teacher conferences, and Harvest Fest, I was very grateful for some time to relax.

I spent Saturday with my Senegalese family, just sitting around. It was great. Sometimes I really feel like a little kid when I go to visit them, and this week was no exception. After lunch, they "put me down for a nap." They told me to lie down for awhile. Then, one of them asked another woman in the house a few minutes later if I was asleep. When she told her I wasn't, she told me to go to sleep. I felt like a four year old who gets caught trying to skip nap time. I almost felt like my mom or dad was going to show up and give the sign for me to shut my eyes.

I really don't mind it, though. In fact, the slow pace is one of the things I love the most about going to visit them. I'm very thankful I can go and hang out there without even calling to let them know I'm coming.

Ndeye is one of the most amazing women in the world. She could get away with doing hardly any work, but she continues to keep going and doing even more than the younger women. She's taking care of the baby in this picture while his mom gets cleaned up.

Pop got a new bucket to sit in. They use the bucket a lot like we use baby chairs in America. They prop pillows and towels around the baby so that he can't fall over and let him sit there while they work.

Muhammed was trying out his dad's sunglasses. They're a little big, but he was playing it cool, munching on his apple.

Muhammed really wanted to put the baby on his back. I don't know why because that's not something men do, but the women let him do it for a second. What you can't see in this picture is the baby's mother ready to grab the baby as soon as the picture was taken. Look at Pop's face; he's not so sure about this, either.

Visiting with Family

I've had the opportunity to visit with my Senegalese family several times since I've been back. They are so much fun to be around. Their hospitality is unmatched by any I've ever known. They really make me feel like I'm part of their family, and I can barely speak the language. I love them and look forward to many more visits. I also look forward to being able to speak to them more and share the story that has changed my life.

If pictures say a thousand words, then I better stop writing and let you read these pictures.

Here's a picture of me and the baby in the house. His name is Pop ______. I don't have a clue how to spell it, and I mumble it when I say it. So, we'll just call him Pop for now. This was taken by one of the girls in the house. That's why my head is cut off.

This is the picture taken by the girl's mother. As you can see, my head is still attached, which I'm thankful for. I do a lot of holding the baby when I'm over there.

This is right after shower time when they all look fresh and clean. The hottest part of the day was over, so they all take showers and dress up. This is Maita, one of the craziest people I know. (And that's saying something!) She's great! I love her. She can always make me laugh or feel incredibly awkward.

When I told them I needed to leave, they made me wait for the peanuts to get done so that I could take some with me. Ida was cooking them over a gas fire in a pan of sand. I'm not sure how clean they are, but I ate some anyway. I figure I'm not eating the outside. They were very soft in the middle. They have the consistency of green peas.

Another picture of the baby and Anta. He's so cute! And, she's so pretty! She's grown so much since last summer. She's a bit of a rebel at times, but she's a lot of fun.