"The contents of this web site are mine personally and do not reflect any position of the U.S. Government or the Peace Corps".

Monday, August 22, 2011

Visitors

In the picture on the left are two bicyclists.
They are from France and have been cycling
down the west coast of Africa.

They've been on the road exactly one year
when they dropped in to stay overnight here
in the village. At the end of one year they have
accumulated 11,000 kilometers.

For me it was interesting and I can speak the
French language. They were surprised and
of course they observed and mentioned that
I speak the Quebec / Canadian French. But
actually I really speak the Le Senegal village
French. I can speak well enough to not be
able to go hungry in any Francophone country.
But it was good nonetheless to be able to use
the language again.

Also in the picture on the right is the guy from
Romania and his wife and child.

We are located in the middle of a national
park and there isn't much for miles or
kilometers at a time. So, for cyclists our
location is actually advantageous.

So far we've had a couple from New Zealand
and the United States stay here about a month
back.

This is actually a pretty fun thing to be able to
have people drop by and if they are cycling
through Africa they are apt to be interesting.

As far as activities in the village ... it has been
a little slow. The work with the cultural group
has been sidetracked due to a church taking
the group and using them as a choir. It is ok
except for the fact that the church has practice
on Friday and then has services later on
Saturday. So, they cut into the time that was
used as cultural group time.

I really don't know how this will pan out but I am
hoping that the cultural group will be able to
get back together. But this one I am not too
sure of.

This seems to be a typical scenario. It goes
like this ... whenever it is too good to be true,
it is.

So, it is placing a little more emphasis now
on the small business sector or ... working
with the guy who is working to develop his
beekeeping.

So, seeing as plan A is sidetracked, it's time
to go to plan B.

Now it is out tomorrow to look for a plan C.
I found that a volunteer always needs to have
one plan in the bank, just in case.

Thursday, August 4, 2011

semi traditional

In the picture is a traditional piece used
by the village's San cultural group.

The skirt is tied around the waist and
the beaded area is worn over the behind.
When the girls are dancing the beads
move and it adds kind of maracas sound
to the songs.

The one in the picture is actually a mixture.
The yellow pieces are reeds and are
actually traditional for the Mbukushu people.
They are a Bantu language speaking tribe.
The other pieces are porcupine quills.

The San (Khwe) people are Khoesan
speaking and their traditional pieces
are the porcupine quills.

For the Young San Traditional Dance
Group we have about 6 of those at this
time. We are in the process of trying to
change the reeds to the quills.

To get the quills is not easy and it is more
about people happening to find them. So,
it is going to be a process to outfit the 6
skirts with the quills.

It will take time. Things move slow out here
in the bush.