Wolf Children

I haven't felt the call to write in this blog for quite a while.  I was pretty consistently getting a post in every 2-3 weeks, but here we are, nearly a month later and, to be honest, I'm still not really feeling it.  I can't say why that is exactly.  Perhaps things are feeling too normal around here or maybe it's because I've been writing for other reasons on the side.  Yes, I have just committed two cardinal writing sins.  I've informed my audience that not only am I not very excited about writing this post, but also that I've been writing for others behind their back.  What can I say?  I won't lie to you even if the truth hurts.

So, the renovations to the house and my room are done and I like my situation so much more.  My room more than doubled in size, so I bought a table and 4 chairs to make a little sitting area/breakfast nook.  It's so nice having another option besides my bed to sit on in my room.  I say room, but I really should say apartment now.  They've separated me off from the rest of the family and moved my door from inside another apartment to the main staircase.  I can now enter and exit my apartment without disturbing anyone else which affords me a lot more independence.  I love it so much.... ugh, look at me gushing.  How embarrassing.  In any case, I'm very happy with my new living situation.

In less than a month, the new group of Health/CED trainees will arrive in country.  This will not only mean that I am now a "senior" PCV, but it will also mark the end of my first year in Senegal.  I'll be getting two new CED volunteers in Dakar, although they'll be placed out in the suburbs.  I'll have some responsibilities in the initial 2-month training especially during what's called Village Visit, or City Visit for us Dakar volunteers, where I'll be responsible for showing the 2 new volunteers around the city and introducing them to key people in their area including the people that I was working with in Zac Mbao and Guediawaye as I'll be passing off my projects there to these new people.  They'll move to Dakar permanently in May and, then, I'll be responsible for guiding them through those very difficult first few months in the big city.  It's definitely a responsibility I feel ready for.  From Day 1, I've considered it part of my job to know the city as well as possible and be able to help fellow PCVs in situations of need in the city.  Also, I can be the mentor to these new volunteers that I wished I had when I was new in this city.  I'm looking forward to being involved in the training of this next group and to helping these new volunteers in the beginning stages of their service. 

So, a couple months ago, I posted a photo of a path that led around a corner and I said I would show you where that path led in the next post.  Well, here we are, several posts later, and I've finally decided it's time to post the rest of the photos that I took that day.  Photos of my new room and neighborhood are coming eventually just not now.  The album with the rest of those photos can be seen here..  Basically, you follow that path around the cliff and eventually come to a landing overlooking the ocean. The landing stands a couple stories above the ocean and you can see the stairs that lead down to ocean level in one of the pictures.  In the front of the landing is a little pool that is, for the most part, protected from the otherwise extremely rough waters.  On the right and left sides of the landing are two little coves that trap the waves causing the water to swirl and be quite fun to look at, but very dangerous to be anywhere near.  You can see some shots of the ocean crashing in the coves at the end of the album.  It's really a great spot to take photos and to generally hang out because of the view, of course, but also because there's hardly ever anyone there.  I've spent several hours there over a couple trips and I've only ever seen 2 people pass through.

So, that's all I have for you for now.  One final note, though, on the title of this post.  That movie..... after the first watch I already knew I really liked it.  I'm normally of the opinion that you have to watch a movie twice before you can really start to understand it, so having strong feelings after one viewing is rare for me.  I watched it for the second time and liked it even more.  It can be strange at times, but it's such a beautiful story.  I just wanted to mention it because it became one of my favorites so quickly.