Catching Crabs and Ass Races

FUTBOL
Germany vs. Turkey 3-2.
Toubabs vs. Keur Sadaro. 1-0 [nice goal Kielan].
CRABBING
Mia, Justine, and Jessica vs. Cory and Claire [Michael and Eliza dropped out due to fear of crabs]. 18-9.

Since our last blog, we've finished all the tasks at the village. Our second and last stay in the village was three nights long. For most, that stay in the village was easier because we knew what to expect and we were all rested. Due to prior experiences, we were all prepared to fight the pests, children, and heat. We finished the roofs on all the school buildings and even got to patch up the clinic roof. The hardest part of that was getting all the tar off our arms and legs. The desks have been finished! "Money in the bank!" We sanded, varnished, and bolted the remaining desks; it took longer than expected because although it seems like an easy task, obtaining the correct length of bolts is actually very difficult =]. The clinic looks amazing. We painted in the interior and some of the outside of the building. There is now electricity in there as well; that group worked long hours to install lights in all the rooms, while others were watching ass races [as in donkeys...]. The survey group worked with Katarina to treat as many villagers as possible as well as interviewing families to find out what their medical needs are.

On our last full day in the village, we had a cultural experience which included the abovementioned ass races, a soccer game, and some life-threatening wrestling. Jeremy was brave enough to get in on the action but was unsuccessful in his endeavor.

We were sent off with gifts from our families. They ranged from skirts, full outfits, peanuts [some carmelized/burnt], hard oatcake, hard boiled eggs, candy, and a variety of homemade "doughnuts." It was amazing to see how attached we were to our families and how much we had all gotten to know the members of our compounds. They sent us off with tears and waving arms, some even chasing our bus. "It felt like we were famous celebrities." -Justine.

Glad to be back in Mbour, many of us went straight to the ocean and were joined by little blue jellyfish and had surprising encounters with rocks. Activities included tanning/sunburning, card games, eating, tackling, obtaining personal beach trainers, building forts/communal baths and dinosaur huts, and orphanage-ing, again. A few of us went back to the orphanage and got to spend three hours with the babies. We boarded the bus with a changed wardrobe. The additions included, spit-up, vomit, baby food, drool, and other unidentifiable liquids. We also held a crab catching tournament. Nik and Zoe were the referees, Ms. Triggs was our action photographer, Kate kept time, and the teams [and the score] are above. However, the first team was said to have an advantage due to "experience" and practice time. We claim those aligations as false and would like to have to score remain valid. On our second day in Mbour we traveled to Shell Island, a small 95% Catholic village of 8000. The island reminded us of a small colonial town with narrow street paved by shells and only shells. As the name might suggest, the entire village was built on shells which are collected (400 kg can be collected during low tide daily.) Across another bridge there is a cemetary which consists of Catholics and Muslims buried side by side. No dirt is used in the burial of bodies which are only 5 feet below the walkway. We also watched the fishermen come into the market. We are still trying to get the stench out of the our clothes... While some retreated back to the bus, others were sprayed with fish guts while professionals scaled, gutted, and chopped the heads off of the catfish.

We made two pitstops on our way to Dakar today; we visited a Turtle Village, and la lac rose [the pink lake]. At that lake, people can go and collect salt. The water there is so salty that you would not be able to swim because you would just end up floating. The lake water is 40% salt. If you were to go in to the water for more than 15 minutes, your skin would burn because it's so salty. The salt farmers put cocoa butter on in order to avoid the burn. They get one ton of salt for every four hours of work. It is 1.83 meters deep in the center and have to use a pick to break apart the salt, which gets sifted through and brought ashore.

We are spending our last three nights in Dakar, enjoying the lack of bed bugs (hopefully), air conditioning, toilet seats, and paved roads. Although this our last stop, it seems like the journey has just begun. (CHEESY...) We are all soaking in this amazing experience and buying last minute gifts for the dedicated loved ones who visit this blog daily. (Computer Nerd!)

xoxo
Jessica, Justine, and Mia (who right now is passed out on the bed from a long day of travel)