Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Tabaski...Like Christmas except without warm fuzzy feelings...mostly just warm.

Tabaski or Eid-al-Adha is celebrated by Muslims worldwide to commemorate the willingness of Abraham to sacrifice his son Ishmael as an act of obedience to God, before God intervened to provide him with a sheep to sacrifice instead. I don't know how many of my villagers actually know that, I might have had to wikipedia it myself...
In my village this is an excuse to dress fancy, eat well (slaughter a goat), make (more) tea and not go to school. Thanks be to Allah, no fasting is associated with this holiday so it is my preferred Senegalese celebration.



Our breakfast of party noodles and potatoes before prayer as opposed to corn porridge.



The women praying at mosque.




My mom with all of her grandchildren.



My brothers lookin snazzy!



My namesake and her daughters.



My BABIES! Hawa, Ami and Binta...getting bigger everyday!

Life Update in Pictures



A recent trip to Kedougou, Tambacounda's southern neighbor. This place looks more like Guinea than the rest of Senegal. Greenery, mountains, waterfalls and Pulaars...Senegal's most scenic region by far.



Move in day!!! These are two of the girls in my Girls Club and I waiting for a bus because Fatu (left) and Hadja (Right) were moving to Tamba for school. This was such a rewarding day, checking out their new school and houses and touring Tamba. Who run the world, GIRLS!



I got a visit from some American University students a few months ago. They are in a study abroad program in Dakar that matches students with Peace Corps Volunteers to give them rural village experiences. I always love sharing my village and Pulaar culture so we had a great time!



Back when my village was beautiful post rainy season. Now everything is dead again, but oh to remember...