My Volunteer Visit

3-6^th of April 2014          

VV is an opportunity for new volunteers to visit their sites for a few days mid-training. Usually, they are hosted by their “ancienne”, the volunteer they are going to be replacing. I was lucky to be hosted by Venchele Saint Dic at Dassami Soce.

I arrived the first day in Koalack with several other new volunteers in my work zone. I had time to rest at the regional house before Venchele’s arrival. The day before, we had talked on the phone to work out logistics. After pointing the gendarmerie out to me, Venchele took me out to lunch in Koalack. Over beef yassa, we got to know each other a little better. From the start, we realized that our lives and experiences are very similar in many ways.

After talking for several hours, we took a sept-place down to Dassalami Soce. I was able to meet my community counterpart, Alassane, for the first time. He’s the Agent de Sante Communautaire for Dassalami Soce and two nearby villages. We then walked over to Venchele’s compound. On the way we met many village people, including the village imam, his son, and a wife of the village chief. I also met my family for the first time: my mother Natoma, my father Almamy, my younger siblings, my uncle El Hajji , and his wife Awa. After an excellent chicken and spaghetti dinner, Venchele and I talked for a long time before finally going to bed.  I slept on a concrete bed outside under the stars.

On the second day, we went to buy tea as a gift for the family at the nearby boutique. We returned home to give the tea, along with the bananas I had bought in Kaolack, to the family. For breakfast, we had amazing fried eggs on tapalapa bread at a little hole-in-the-wall eatery next door. Then, we went to visit the health post that Venchele played an important part in building. Alassane kindly gave us a tour, and answered my incessant questions. When we were done, Ben from Pharmaciens Sans Frontières, gave us a ride to Karang. Ben is Venchele’s unofficial community counterpart. He was instrumental in building the health post as well as supplying it with adequate medical equipment and medication.

Karang, 20 minutes away from Dassalami Soce, is right on the Senegalese-Gambian border. Venchele showed me two fabric stores and one western clothing store. Apparently, the fabric here is good quality and substantially cheaper. She also took me to visit a papetterie, and to say hello to the Infermière Chef de Post at Karang’s Health Center. When we finally got back to village, Venchele and I talked for hours about things I should buy for installation, project management, resources, organizational strategies, and relationships in Senegal.

On the third day, we had another delicious egg sandwich. Venchele and Alassane took me on a tour of Dassalami Soce, including Sate Baa (the part of the village furthest from the road). I went to admire the village’s new mosque. I visited the French and Arabic school. We quickly dropped in on a Kulio (naming ceremony). Traditionally, on the morning of the Kulio, the men pray and the women make mono (millet or rice porridge with sugar, boabob powder, and peanut butter) in huge pots. I met the village chief, the president of the CARE group, members of the women’s group, and many other village people. I also met a potential Mandinka language tutor; he tutored Venchele and was like a brother to her. He invited us into his house for breakfast and gave me a first Mandinka lesson.

Ben, Alassane, and Venchele organized a meeting to introduce me to the villagers. After lunch, we prepped for the meeting by going over its most important objectives. The meeting was slightly nerve-racking, but I felt well supported by my “team”. Ben translated my French into Wolof, and Alassane directed the course of the meeting. I’m excited to be able to speak to them directly in Mandinka. All in all, the meeting went well. I have the blessing of both the village chief and the imam, so my work here can begin. After the meeting, Venchele, Alassane, and I went over the “Compte Rendu” of the meeting. Venchele and I then spent several more hours talking about perspectives: at this moment in our lives, I’m looking forward to my time in Dassalami Soce, while she’s looking back.

On day four, Venchele and I flagged down an Alhum to go to Toubacounda. Toubacounda has a beautiful mangrove reserve and exceptional wild life, which make it a popular tourist destination. The PC house here is located right next to a fancy hotel, whose owner gives PCV’s discounts and free access to the pool. Venchele took me on a quick tour of nearby eateries and restaurants. Back at the PC house, we met up with one of Venchele’s good friends here, an Ag PCV. We all went out to lunch together, and ended up having delicious chebujen at a hole-in-the-wall eatery. Soon after, Venchele and I took an Alhum back to the Koalack regional house for my last night of VV.

My thanks to Venchele for her incredible hospitality and support. She’s gone above and beyond to make sure that I had an enjoyable and informational stay. She’s also gone to great lengths to prepare for my arrival in village. I’m proud to call this formidable woman my friend.