Journal of a PCV Parent cont. Mauritania (Almost)
Dave and I both feel that this was the most awesome day off all 5 weeks! After a taxi, bus, charet (donkey cart), and pirogue (wooden dug out canoe) and yet another charet and we arrived on an island in the middle of the Senegal River just across the river from Zach’s former village in Mauritania. A Fête was planned and a house was rented for the day and we met many of Zach’s Mauritanian family and friends. Zach had arranged to have a goat killed, but instead we got mutton, which was very good! As we arrived on donkey cart, Samba and Aseta came out to great us. They were the couple that became Zach’s family while he was in Mauritania. Aseta fed him wonderful food. I received a hug from her that you could drown in and we were both near tears. We were taken into the salon of the barrowed house and treated as honored guests all day. There were speeches given in honor of Zach and us by Samba who clearly loves Zach as a brother. The mayor/chief of the village gave a speech welcoming us (not to be outdone by Samba). We ate traditional food and later the women played dress up with me. See previous pictures (Sue in gold wax print). You could tell that Zach left an indelible mark on the Mauritanians, as did they on Zach. I told them Mauritania would always be in Zach’s heart.
Sue (Zach's Mom)