We are ready to serve!

Well, again it has been too long since our last post, and I find myself cramming 10 kilos of events into a 5 kilo bag.  Our departure from CBT was drowning in tears, at least for our yaay, aunts, and sisters… and a little bit for Kait.  The stoic men remained unmoved.  I was unmoved largely because we were staring down a series of tests back in Thies that would determine if we were ready to head to our sites as scheduled.  Also because we would get another final goodbye with our baay and yaay at a party back in Thies that PC throws to thank the CBT families.  Only one family member gets to attend, but since we are two volunteers, both of our parents got to come. (add that to the ever-growing list of advantages of serving with one’s spouse)

The first, and most stressful, test was our final language proficiency interview (LPI).  We needed to achieve intermediate-mid in order to not get held back for a week of language intensive training.  For anyone interested in more details about how language levels are calculated/measured, check out this PDF (you can find INT/MID on page seven)

We had both exceeded the mark on a practice LPI, so we knew we could do it, but pre-test jitters (especially with our pride, and on-time installation at site hanging in the balance) were still very much present.  In our final LPI we faced a bit of a curveball when, after describing what we studied in college and did after college, we were asked a series of questions on that subject.  The LCF didn’t seem to have many questions to ask about my mathematical education, so she asked me about Americorps.  I was able to say things like, “It’s like Peace Corps, but in America, and only for one year,” and “I worked in a school for bad students to help them learn and find work.”  Unfortunately for Kait, the LCF chose to delve deeply into her art background, a subject which she has (understandably) no vocabulary for in Wolof.  One can only spend so much time saying, “I like art,” “I used to paint frequently,” and “I want to make art in Senegal.”  However, we got through them, and to save you from all of the suspense/stress that we had to deal with as we waited a couple days for any sort of feedback… we passed!  Huzzah!

Everyone had been cycled through their LPIs by lunch, and that was when all the CBT families arrived to partaaaaaay!  It was really good to see yaay and baay, as well as our littlest brother, Muhammed.  For the duration of the party, I knew him better as “my adorable little excuse not to get up and dance.” 

Ma ne, “Jox ma Muhammed ak feccal!” 

I said, “Give me Muhammed and dance!”

Presentation of Certificates, Baay making attaya, lunch time, and Muhammed and me not dancing

Our dance-happy mother was only too happy to go along with my plan.  At one point she basically threw him onto my lap to take last-second advantage of an opportunity to go to the front and dance.  I’m pretty sure for a split second he was neither in her hands nor mine, but actually in the air between us.  Luckily my hand-eye is pretty good.  Despite the numerous hand-offs, there was not a fumble to be had.  It was a great time, and certainly served its purpose, as a fun forum in which to thank the families for hosting us, and the LCFs for teaching us.  Everyone was presented with a certificate, which people here love!  I imagine when we go back to Tassette, we’ll find the certificate we gave them on the wall in the living room. 

Our CBT Group: Carlisle, Kait, Aly Dabo (the best LCF of them all), Me, and Denise

If the first farewell (mentioned above) was sodden, the final farewell, after the family party, was absolutely torrential.  I honestly don’t think I’ve ever seen a grown woman cry as frantically as our yaay when they were made to get on the bus back to Tassette.  It’s indicative of how welcoming Senegalese (especially Senegalese mothers) are that within less than two months of caring for us, she was acting like her child was dying, not leaving for a bit.  

Snazzy new Senegalese clothes, the whole party, and the Thiaw Family Christmas card photo

They missed us so much that they called us the day after the family party, just to talk.  For those of you who have learned a language in the recent past, you will likely understand how this was a bit of a challenge.  It is much easier to understand someone in a new language, in-person.  It enables one to see body language, see facial expressions, look at their mouths as they speak, etc.  Over the phone, especially over a static-ridden cell network, it’s significantly harder.  For that reason, our conversation with them was pretty elementary.  Following you’ll find a translated excerpt from our conversation, translated into English (word-for-word) for your edification.  It might seem silly, but these types of greetings are what take up a huge portion of our days.  It seemed silly at first to us as well, but now it’s habit, and a great way of cultivating connectedness within the community, and expressing that every person has value…

Xadi (Yaay): Peace be upon you.

Us: Peace be upon you too.

Xadi: How is there?

Us: Here is good, but I miss Tassette.

Xadi: How are the people of Thies?

Us: They are here.  How are the people of Tassette?

Xadi: They are here.  You are in peace?

Us: We are in Peace.

Xadi: I miss you.

Us: We miss you more.  How is the family doing?

Xadi: They are here.

Us: How are the kids doing?

Xadi: They are here.  I miss you.

Us: We miss you more.

Xadi: How are you doing?

Us: We are here only.

Xadi: I miss you.

Us: We miss you more.  We will visit in February.

Xadi: I am giving the phone to Pape Fall.

Us: Until February!

This continued until the phone had been passed to at least six family members (including our six-year-old sister, Yasin) and then back to our yaay for a bit.  It was honestly a delight to hear from them, and even better to hear that they are all in peace, despite the trauma of losing two children. 

With the testing behind us, and the majority of us relieved to have successfully leapt through all of the hoops they threw at us and deemed "ready to serve," we set off for the beach at Popenguine, where we had rented three houses at which we would spend two nights, including Thanksgiving.  I must admit, what I’m most thankful for is an understanding readership that totally gets we’re trying to keep up with events as they happen, but are forgiving of the fact that we’ve blogged up to about November 27, and today is December 16.  I thank you in advance for your understanding.  More to come.

Jamm Rekk,

Peter and Kait

P.S.  SPOILER ALERT!!!  For those concerned with our up-to-date well-being, and super-curious for a current update, read on!  For those who want to delay gratification until our update is presented in the exciting full format, whatever you do… STOP SCROLLING NOW!

Current Brief Update:  Things are great.  We’ve installed in Guinguineo and are pretty well moved-in and feng shui-ed.  Our family is unquantifiably excellent in all ways.  Our Wolof is improving, slowly.  There has been a non-human addition to our family in Guinguineo, and another one is anticipated within a couple of weeks. (foooorshadowiiiiiiing!)  Hoping the cliffhangers get you to tune in next time!