Sue and Dave's final episode in Jrl

Door to Zach's village
Zach's hut and our home for a week
Road to next village
A family compound
Installation
Zach's two Moms
Drawing water for bucket baths or cloths washing


Small Termite mound near village
Daily life
Sharing your hut with your parents
A refreshing swim in a local waterfall
Road to Zach's waterfall
A friend with her two twins
Village children checking us out
Cold drinks and a card game
Neighbors and cooks
A farewell picture with the chief and his wife

Last week in Senegal

It has taken me over a year to post this entry. I realize now that I don’t want to let go of this trip and that has everything to do with my not finishing the journal. Zach is nearing the end of this episode in his life so, I suppose, I must complete mine. We traveled in luxury from Tambaconda to Segou in a Peace Corps vehicle that had shocks, upholstery and AC! The last section of the road was little more than a rutted out river bed (rainy season only. Quite rough! We were quite the phenomenon as no one could think of a time when parents of a PCV were at an instillation. It was a privilege to be with Zach when he was being officially presented to the village. We sat in the Chiefs hut and with Zach as the interpreter; we were welcomed and part of the greetings and acceptance ceremony. Unfortunately, the village chief’s brother’s mother-in-law passed away that night and there was no village celebration for Zach. Zach was able to settle in and immediately start work on a nearby community’s road project. This was not a Peace Corps project. It was a French Youth project (Sort of a scared straight type thing, but everyone had a blast!) Dave and I spent the day under a Mango tree washing clothes and greeting villagers as best we could (No common language). We lived in Zach’s hut for those 5 days. The Chief’s daughter-in-law, who was very young and not much of a cook yet, fed us. (A lot of over cooked rice and dirt!) Thank goodness for our private stash of Nuttella! After several days of warm filtered water as our only drink, we hiked two and one-half miles to a nearby village that had a campament (read “with a cooler”) so I could feed my addiction to Fanta (made with cane sugar in Africa, not high fructose corn syrup) a wonderfully refreshing drink and cold! Dave and Zach had a cold Flag beer, but I was totally hooked on Fanta! The walk back the next day took us past a wonderful nursery garden a local man had started. Zach was hoping to meet this man. We enjoyed our time under the Mango tree writing in the diary and getting to know some of the villagers, but this ended all too soon and we were headed back to Dakar after two days in the Peace Corp house in Kedagou, while Zach and a villager attended an ecotourism workshop. We met up with Joey and some friends. We had stayed with her our first night there which was a welcoming place to start and end our journey (Thank you, Joey) The PCVs were very impressed with our staying power. We felt we were members of the club and I am all over my regret that I did not do Peace Corps. Suddenly we were boarding the plane and tearfully saying goodbye. It is a testimony to Zach’s and my relationship that after 5 weeks of taking care of his mother, Zach was reluctant to see us go, as was I. The trip worked because Zach took such good and insightful care of us. Thank you seems too little to say, Zach. I love you, Mom

Post script: Experiencing a new culture this way has forever changed my perspective. We have a tendency in the US to be myopic and narrow-minded. It is dangerous and self-limiting. It seems to me that we are loosing a grip on reality and what is really important. We have a chance to live in a great democracy and sometimes I think we are acting like spoiled children. It is time to grow up and deal with the hard stuff, responsible big business, the environment, our education system and subsistent energy to name a few. Please if you have a chance, visit a third world country and come back and be part of the solution. I intend to!