Visit to Martine's house in Mbour

The first year that Martine worked for me, 09-10, she asked for an advance on her salary, in order to build a low wall around the property that she had bought. The person that she worked for prior to me had given her a parting bonus of money to buy the property.
It was confirmed that when one bought property, you needed to build on it to secure it as your own. That is why you see so many low walls constructed where ever you do. 

Over the next two years, she started on construction of the house.  I went down for the day to visit prior to my leaving Dakar in June 2012.  I house was just partly completed, no water or electricity. On this visit, I went twice to spend the night at her house. Martine stays in Dakar during the week at her sister's apartment, and travels down to Mbour for the weekend. She had asked me if I could bring her some kind of solar lights, as she does not yet have electricity for the house. When I arrive in Dakar, March 2014, I brought a box of solar powered lights, radio, and phone charger.

When she comes into Dakar, she brings Justine (now 8 yo) with her. Justine is her grand nephew that she is raising. Her two older sons, Malik and Yadi, stay in Mbour.  Yadi has gotten some work on construction, but Malik has been unemployed and not able to afford school.  

These pictures are from my first visit to her house. Yadi was staying down there at a neighbor's house help with construction and to watch the building site. Martine's cousin has a house in the same area and was helping her with advice and support.

Our Easter weekend trip began with a stop at the Bandia animal park (see separate entry) and we spent the night at Martine's house. This is the way the house looks now that it is lived in. 

Above are two pictures which I sent Martine--posted on the fridge used for storage, 'cause no electricity.  After dinner Malik made tea, Senegalese style. 

In the morning, we enjoyed breakfast together before leaving for Joal and visit to Shell Island. 

Here is their dog "Lady". Martine told me that she missed Parami so much when I left, that she got one of her own. 

Packed and ready to go!

Return to Senegal

I recently returned from a visit to Senegal. I wanted to write about the trip and post some photos. I'll do a separate blog entry for several of the events.  Here are some of the highlights. Nalla met me in Dakar, and we took Almamy out to dinner for his birthday along with my former housekeeper, Martine.

We took a trip over the long weekend of Easter--we stayed one night at Martine's house in Mbour, 2nd night in Joal after visiting shell island, 3rd night in a baobab tree in Parmarin, and returned to Dakar by way of Soba Bade and hiked in the nature preserve of Popinguine. 

I met my "grandson" for the first time. Alabra, my french tutor, had gotten married and I knew his wife was pregnant when I left Dakar in June, 2012. He had sent me some photos, it isn't the same as holding him!

World Cultural Day at ISD was always special, and I'm happy that I got to spend that day at school. 

Since I was on vacation, I stayed up late one night to go out of a club to hear music. It took me two days to recover from staying out until 2 am. Of course I also saw other music and dancing--its everywhere. 

Re-imagining a life

        Turning 70 was more of a milestone that I thought it would be.  I thought it would be just one year older.  However, the birthday coincided with returning to the states, retiring from work, moving to apartment in a small town in western Mass and undergoing knee replacement surgeries.  It has been almost a year since I moved back.  I feel that I am just getting some balance to my life.

     The two knee surgeries, Oct 1 and Feb 4 sapped my energy.  I was house bound for a month each time; with nurses and physical therapist coming to the house.  It was painful getting out of bed each morning, I needed to use the walker just to get to toilet with its booster seat just to pee. Pain medication made me drowsy; I couldn't concentrate to read anything longer than an magazine article.  I got off the narcotic pain killers as soon as possible because they made me so constipated.  I never thought of it before, but I think heroin addicts but be horribly constipated. Recover seems to go in stages, I'll make improvement then hit a plateau, begin to feel discouraged, and then a few day I notice a marked improvement.  During the discouraging stage, I would accomplish little, feel tired and out of sorts. This passed weekend for the first time in over 6 months I went bike riding two days in a row.  Cycling has always added to my sense of well being, so it was gratifying to out there. I relived the sense of liberation of my first rides, eight years old, sailing through the German countryside, and taking a ferry across the river for a few fpennigs.

     I corresponded with my former students in Dakar, and was missing them terribly.  I talked to kids where ever I found them, walking my dog, in the grocery store, or hanging outside.  In mid-April I volunteered to go work in a primary classroom where Johanna was subbing.  The 1st day was just a half day; the second day, Friday was a full day and the last day before the April school vacation week.  I was exhausted by 3 pm and sat on the sofa while Johanna read the end of the read-aloud chapter book. I almost feel asleep!  I had a great time tutoring some of the kids. I signed up to sub but haven't been called yet.  Just as well since I have more stamina now.

     Inga and I had a lovely break over Christmas vacation, we flew to Porto Alegre, Brazil to visit the Overs for two weeks in January.  We arrived just before New Years, Hans picked us up at the airport and had champaign to celebrate.  Nelisa when a woke the kids up to welcome us as well.

     I have been meeting with contractors about the addition that I'm putting on the north side of Johanna's house.  It will be one room, a living room with large picture windows facing the river (east) and sliding glass door on the west side opening out onto a deck and small fenced in yard. Having to think through all the details and materials is demanding, especially do it for the first time, I always relied on Lee to do all of this.

I thought that moving to this small town would be somewhat isolating but there is plenty to do, movies, live music, lovely areas for biking and walking.

Celebrating Almamy's birthday

The four of us, Almamy, Nalla, Martine, and I, met at a restaurant on the beach at the point of Almadies, the western most point of Africa. The setting was lovely, the food adventurous, and sunset was spectacular. 

We bought the freedom of some little birds, making a wish with each release. I learned later that these birds are considered a pest, as they eat the millet grain that grows in Senegal. Maybe they went back to eating the grain after we released them!

We ate oysters, sea urchins, shrimp, and calamari and watched the sun set. 

The perfect ending to a perfect evening. Thanks to Nalla for arranging it.