What a day. Another extremely Senegalese day.

I got to work without much to do, and I was exhausted, so time was passing really slowly, so when Pape finally called me in to work with Bouna to set up another workshop like the one we did on Friday, I was thankful for the task.

We came up with the things we needed to do before we could successfully implement our atelier (is that an English word, too?)... and then we set up a rendezvous at 4h30 in Bango, the small town outside of Saint-Louis where we would be holding the workshop.

Now, when you're reading this, keep in mind that it's Monday. And we're setting this entire thing up for Wednesday.

Knowing Bouna (who is always late... more so than the usual Senegalese), I left at 16h30 to arrive around 16h55 to find that he was still not there. He arrived around 17h15, so I was happy to not have been waiting the whole time. :D

We first went to the... I'm not even sure what to call it in English, so let me just explain. Claire Enfance works with many different groups of kids, and the girls that we're working with right now are referred to as enfants jeunes travailleurs, young child workers. The vast majority of these girls have never been to school and will never get any formal education... other than what we are able to provide them with through les groupes de base, "basic education groups". Each group has an instructor, a respected instructor from the community who comes to facilitate lessons in French and also lessons in practical things like sewing and embroidery to help give these girls practical tasks that will help them earn a living in the future.

We were looking for a few key people to help us establish this... and to make sure that the girls would come. We spent a good 45 at the first site, talking, sitting, drinking tea, making sure to show that the relationship always comes first... then business. Bouna explained to the girls what was going to happen and when they need to be where. (We told everyone to show up at 15h00 so that we can be sure sure sure to start by 16h00, our intended start time.) And everyone should be there inchallah. Even with less than 2 days notice.

We made our way to another neighborhood of Bango to talk to another key person with lots of connections in the village. We got him to reserve us the large room we'll be using (the day after tomorrow) and they'll also find 150 chairs that we can rent (for the day after tomorrow). And he also took us to the woman that we want to facilitate the workshop, a midwife from the neighborhood. We waited to talk to her for quite awhile, but when we did, she agreed to help meet us tomorrow and facilitate the workshop on Wednesday. Without question. "We're working for the same cause, so there's no problem. We're in this together." She has a great presence, and I'm excited to see what she'll bring to the table at this workshop. Exciting.

At this time, it was already 20h30, but there was still another town we had to visit. We went to Ngallele, the town where my host family lives, but instead of the right side of the street (the University side), we went into the left side (the more village-y side). We met a colleague who insisted that we stay for dinner... and who then insisted that we stay for tea.

1 sandwich, 2.5 cups of really-artificially-flavored pineapple soda, 3 cups of tea, and 2 hours of interesting conversation with good people later, I finally made it home. :D

It was a looooooong and wonderful Senegalese day.

Still no apartment, but that will happen soon inchallah. I'm getting tired of always having to report to family members... I need my independence! And my sleep (without having to share a bed with a host sister who sleeps diagonally!!!)

Things are so interesting here. :D