January 19, 2004 - Monday
6:31pm
Homestay - 1st Night
Ok, I realized I have no idea how to spell the name of the town I am in right now, so hopefully that will come later. I know I am going to wish I had more documentation of this first week later, but we have just been so busy that I haven't had time. I've hardly gotten any sleep since we got here anyway and that's without writing in my journal every night.
Well I'm sitting here writing this entry at my desk in my hut on the first night of my homestay. All I really want to do is go to bed, but I don't think going to bed at 6:30 is a good idea. I'm going to try and wait until at least 8:00. We've been told they'll probably wake us up around 5:30am, so that's something to look forward to.
Today has been quite a crazy day. We woke up early again in Tasana and had to have our bags out by 7:15. Packing up all of my crap again was not easy. We had breakfast and then left for the homestay around 9. We stopped at a gas station to buy some things and at the PC office during training to go to the bathroom before we left for the adoption ceremony. I don't think any of us were ready for that. We pulled up to a building with lots of people standing outside. When we got off the bus everyone was clapping and we went into the building. I didn't realize we were literally walking into the adoption ceremony and was a bit taken aback with all of the people and the noise. There was a band and a stage and people clapping and I could see why people sometimes cry! It was a lot to take in and I was very nervous knowing I was about to meet my host family. They made us all get up and dance a few times, which was weird and awkward, then people gave speeches, and then we finally got to meet our host family. My father, Abdoulay, mother M'Mah, and brother Ismael all came to meet me. They are very nice, but the mother only speaks Susu so I haven't had much contact with her. I feel kind of bad because I think Ismael has sort of been assigned to me, but there's obviously not a lot I can do about it. He definitely thinks I'm an idiot, though, because he sat me down to teach me "je," "tu," "il," "elle," etc tonight. Thanks for the 7th grade French lesson. My new name, by the way, is Fatim. Try to get used to responding to a new name after 23 years. Not easy.
So we had this weird little lunch after the ceremony that was very spicy and made me sweat more than I already was. Then there was lots of confusion, partially due to my crappy French, about what was happening next. We ended up getting into a PC van and being driven back here (where I don't know how to spell it) and then waited for our luggage.
I then got brought back to the compound. At this point I still had no idea what anyone's name was or who was related to who or how. There were a bazillion little kids running around and I didn't know if they were my father's kids or neighborhood kids or what. I still don't, really. They showed me to my hut, which is actually a lot more than I expected! It's not attached to the house, but it is basically in the middle of everything. It's really nice having my own space, though, and they seem to respect it a lot so far. Now that I have finally said I'm going to bed and have come in here, though, people keep coming by and saying my name or some kid just shouted "How are you?" and I just didn't respond. I'm not looking forward to being woken up tomorrow, but I am looking forward to seeing my group again and not having to kill an entire half a day by myself.
I've already conquered the bucket bath. I actually like it a lot and will not have a problem with it. The latrine, however, is another story. It's actually worse than I thought, and I didn't think that was possible. It's literally a square hole in the cement and when I lifted up the cover, cockroaches scattered everywhere. AHHHH it was so gross. I actually managed to go pee, although my aim was a little off [TMI? Sorry!]. Oops. I can handle peeing during the day. Shitting in there at night while I'm sick, though...that will be another story. I am not looking forward to it and don't know how I will handle that. Not too well, I'm assuming.
Needless to say, I am completely and totally out of my comfort zone right now. I think the culture shock I never had in Australia is going to be multiplied by about 10,000 here. I've never felt so out of place in my life. I guess the fact that I'm not crying myself to sleep is good, but definitely doesn't mean I won't at some point! I really, really wish I spoke better French and had learned more Susu [Peace Corps gave us a crash course over the course of 2 or 3 days]. I really hope to treat this language training like school and therefore maybe feel more comfortable. I feel like after all of this anticipation, a quiet American who barely speaks French must be quite a let down, but what do I know. One day at a time, and this is only the first day! Eleven more weeks of this seems like an eternity. One day at a time has become my new motto. If a 57 year old can do it, I should be able to as well [that was the age of the oldest volunteer in country at that time]. Who knows, maybe I'll even get over shitting in the latrine eventually. Actually, I'm pretty sure I will.
On another note, I am really beginning to love my group. Not that I haven't liked them up until this point or anything, but everyone is just so supportive and so much fun. Yesterday I had my first passing out spell in Guinea and everyone was so great about it. Everyone was very caring and very concerned about me, which was very sweet.
Ok, well of this is getting a little overwhelming for me, so I know the best thing for me to do is to go to bed. Hopefully things will be a little better tomorrow.
6:31pm
Homestay - 1st Night
Ok, I realized I have no idea how to spell the name of the town I am in right now, so hopefully that will come later. I know I am going to wish I had more documentation of this first week later, but we have just been so busy that I haven't had time. I've hardly gotten any sleep since we got here anyway and that's without writing in my journal every night.
Well I'm sitting here writing this entry at my desk in my hut on the first night of my homestay. All I really want to do is go to bed, but I don't think going to bed at 6:30 is a good idea. I'm going to try and wait until at least 8:00. We've been told they'll probably wake us up around 5:30am, so that's something to look forward to.
Today has been quite a crazy day. We woke up early again in Tasana and had to have our bags out by 7:15. Packing up all of my crap again was not easy. We had breakfast and then left for the homestay around 9. We stopped at a gas station to buy some things and at the PC office during training to go to the bathroom before we left for the adoption ceremony. I don't think any of us were ready for that. We pulled up to a building with lots of people standing outside. When we got off the bus everyone was clapping and we went into the building. I didn't realize we were literally walking into the adoption ceremony and was a bit taken aback with all of the people and the noise. There was a band and a stage and people clapping and I could see why people sometimes cry! It was a lot to take in and I was very nervous knowing I was about to meet my host family. They made us all get up and dance a few times, which was weird and awkward, then people gave speeches, and then we finally got to meet our host family. My father, Abdoulay, mother M'Mah, and brother Ismael all came to meet me. They are very nice, but the mother only speaks Susu so I haven't had much contact with her. I feel kind of bad because I think Ismael has sort of been assigned to me, but there's obviously not a lot I can do about it. He definitely thinks I'm an idiot, though, because he sat me down to teach me "je," "tu," "il," "elle," etc tonight. Thanks for the 7th grade French lesson. My new name, by the way, is Fatim. Try to get used to responding to a new name after 23 years. Not easy.
So we had this weird little lunch after the ceremony that was very spicy and made me sweat more than I already was. Then there was lots of confusion, partially due to my crappy French, about what was happening next. We ended up getting into a PC van and being driven back here (where I don't know how to spell it) and then waited for our luggage.
I then got brought back to the compound. At this point I still had no idea what anyone's name was or who was related to who or how. There were a bazillion little kids running around and I didn't know if they were my father's kids or neighborhood kids or what. I still don't, really. They showed me to my hut, which is actually a lot more than I expected! It's not attached to the house, but it is basically in the middle of everything. It's really nice having my own space, though, and they seem to respect it a lot so far. Now that I have finally said I'm going to bed and have come in here, though, people keep coming by and saying my name or some kid just shouted "How are you?" and I just didn't respond. I'm not looking forward to being woken up tomorrow, but I am looking forward to seeing my group again and not having to kill an entire half a day by myself.
I've already conquered the bucket bath. I actually like it a lot and will not have a problem with it. The latrine, however, is another story. It's actually worse than I thought, and I didn't think that was possible. It's literally a square hole in the cement and when I lifted up the cover, cockroaches scattered everywhere. AHHHH it was so gross. I actually managed to go pee, although my aim was a little off [TMI? Sorry!]. Oops. I can handle peeing during the day. Shitting in there at night while I'm sick, though...that will be another story. I am not looking forward to it and don't know how I will handle that. Not too well, I'm assuming.
Needless to say, I am completely and totally out of my comfort zone right now. I think the culture shock I never had in Australia is going to be multiplied by about 10,000 here. I've never felt so out of place in my life. I guess the fact that I'm not crying myself to sleep is good, but definitely doesn't mean I won't at some point! I really, really wish I spoke better French and had learned more Susu [Peace Corps gave us a crash course over the course of 2 or 3 days]. I really hope to treat this language training like school and therefore maybe feel more comfortable. I feel like after all of this anticipation, a quiet American who barely speaks French must be quite a let down, but what do I know. One day at a time, and this is only the first day! Eleven more weeks of this seems like an eternity. One day at a time has become my new motto. If a 57 year old can do it, I should be able to as well [that was the age of the oldest volunteer in country at that time]. Who knows, maybe I'll even get over shitting in the latrine eventually. Actually, I'm pretty sure I will.
On another note, I am really beginning to love my group. Not that I haven't liked them up until this point or anything, but everyone is just so supportive and so much fun. Yesterday I had my first passing out spell in Guinea and everyone was so great about it. Everyone was very caring and very concerned about me, which was very sweet.
Ok, well of this is getting a little overwhelming for me, so I know the best thing for me to do is to go to bed. Hopefully things will be a little better tomorrow.
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