Today is quite hot and humid and tons of water is still wrecking havoc on the main road, in homes and on side streets. The kindercare was open today so I had my inaugeral visit which was quite fun. The children are delightful and also a little difficult to engage because they speak Wolof, and not French. This has proved quite the challenge for the volunteers who have been working there for several months, so I hope I can add some fun to the fray.
Last night the Aunty Fatou, the aunt of Babacar who works for PA taught us how to prepare a traditional Senegalese meal, Tiébou Dienn - cheb-oo-jen. It consists of rice on the bottom of the platter, then some type of meat such as fish, and veggies if veggies are available, in a pile on top.
The ingredient list started with 3 litres of oil, which is how most meals have been prepared in the house where I live (I can only hope that I can sweat some of it out!). Nevertheless, the main spices are usually chilies, garlic, pepper, and some type of boullion. The fish is usually some sort of dried fish that is caught off of Langue de Barbarie (which is disturbing because I went there last Sunday and saw hammer head sharks and manta rays cut up and drying). The process to make the dish was quite long but it was quite delicious.
We ate on the eating mat on the floor, and there were plenty of spoons to go around. Family style meals have the following etiquette: It is important one eats with the right hand, that you stick to your real estate, that you don't toss food around into other people's area, that the women divvy up the meat chunks to the men and then to themselves. Additionally, in my case I am expected to eat lots which will most likely end up in a few extra pounds on the airplane ride home!
A few other useful things I have learned is that having LOTS of water is very important when out and about, sunglasses help avoid the eyes of street vendors, and a wedding ring is essential whether you're a married woman or not because other than "give me money" the most frequent thing you hear from men on a daily basis is "Are you married or are you single?". Unintimidating but annoying nonetheless :)
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