So, to begin this post I must say that it is really hot. possibly even too hot. I am lucky enough to be living in a place where I get electricity 80-90% of the time, and I have a freezer. other volunteers are not so lucky. they live in huts with grass roofs and no electricity or running water for miles.
So, I've been trying to make some workshops happen for some womens groups. One of the groups presidents (from the Mashala group) called a great gardener that I know in Kolda (who happens to work with the peace corps almost daily) and asked him to come up and do some workshops. Gardening workshops. very simple workshops for just a few hours. He contacted me through the wonderful Kolda volunteer Marcie and I went down and scheduled some with him for the two womens groups I garden with (Mashala, and Sahelia are the group names). I told both groups to have half the money ready by May 2nd, and after the workshops they can pay the second half. May 2nd came along and no one had any money. I ask the Mashala president why they don't have any money, and they say its too expensive (it is not at all expensive). I told her then that if she doesn't have the money she can't have a workshop. This seemed to surprise her. I told her that i was doing this for her because she called the gardener in kolda, and that I am only organizing this because she asked for a workshop. she tells me that she doesn't know what I am talking about. That she doesn't know the gardener in Kolda and that she doesn't even have his number. That surprises me. eventually she tells me that she will have all the money by May 10th. I am at this point to tired and annoyed to continue arguing, and agree. I tell her that I will call her everyday and ask her about the money until may 10th, and I continually remind her that if she does not have any money, she does not have any workshop. I then go to the house of the other president of the Sahelia group. She says that she and all her ladies love me so much, and they are so happy when I come around. I then ask her for the money. She tells me that i need to sit down and eat Laalo. Laalo is a nasty meal consisting of rice, and the leaves of a baobab tree (at least I think its baobab). its kinda gross. I eat a little bit anyways to be polite, and again ask her for the money. she says she doesnt have it, the secretary has it. I say ok lets go to her place and get the money. So we go there, and of course she doesnt have any money. The president tells me to go to her garden the next morning and she will have the money then. I have my doubts, but say ok anyways, and that I need to leave for Kolda at 10:00. at 9:00 I am at the garden, at 9:05 she tells me she doesnt have the money, but knows someone that does. So we walk a few blocks and end up at Pams supervisors house (I must point out that her house has some beautiful banana trees). I am thinking oh this is great this lady will know I am PC and everything will be great and I will get the money, and I will soon be gone. The lady doesnt really recognise me, nor does she speak pulaar, she only speaks french and wolof, two languages I do not speak. So there I am, trying to figure out what is going on between the two of them, and wondering why on earth woud pams supervisor not speak pulaar, and why does she have the money? I explain to the president who explains to pams supervisor what the workshops are for and why they need money for work shops and she seem sto understand, and then she says that her uncle works for PC. she calls him up and it turns out to be Yousafa, a man that taught me a lot about Urban ag during my training, and whom I really get along with (we are both huge James Brown fans). He told me that both of the groups were trying to treat me like a normal NGO, and are trying to get money out of me (these ladies have obviously never met a full blooded jew before) and that what I was doing was great and that I should not give any money, and that I am here as a teacher. I agreed with him on all accounts, and he talked to Pams supervisor and as soon as she hung up the phone I had the first payment for the workshop in my hands. of course it was almost 11:00. The next day in Kolda I went to the gardeners house and told him all that had happened. He was very confused that the Mashala president said she didnt know him, because the other day she was at his house. he is her uncle. I decided to call her right then and there. the gardener and I talked to her, and reminded her about collecting money for the workshop. everything was great. I called that lady every day to remind her about the money (I may have forgotten one day) and then it was the 10th. and I go to the garden where she works, and notice that no one is there. I call her. I asked her where she and her ladies are. her response is essentially I do not have any money, and I am in Dakar. I tell her she can not have a workshop. The weird thing with her is that she asked for the workshop, and she knew the whole time it was going to cost money, and she knew when the due date was. So, then I go and check on the president of the sahelia to make sure that the second payment will be on time on the 14th. I go to her house, and she tries to feed me Laalo again, and I eat a little bit but this laalo was really bad. and I get down to business, and ask if she has collected the money yet. she asks me when the workshop is going to be. I tell her it is still going to be on the 14th, thats saturday, I use french numbers usually and she asks what that is in Pulaar and I tell her, and she suddenly looks very surprised. She tells me that the 14th will not work, because all of the women will be in Kounkane for a regional women's group thing. at this point, I am not surprised. I honestly should have seen this coming. I ask her what is a good day for her. she says the 17th I call the gardener and he says it'll be fine. later that night as I am in bed watching a movie (Grandmas Boy) and I get a call from Pam. She told me that the president had gone to her house and told her that she wants the workshop on the 13th instead. why she didn't call me, or come to my house instead of Pams house I do not know. She wants the 13th? you have got to be kidding me! I can't move it up a day, thats the day I am going to buy stuff for the workshop and actually prepare materials for the workshop. So then there was this morning. I go to her garden at 9:00 because she told me to be there at 9:00. I waited until 9:30 and then I left. Will she have a workshop on the 17th? maybe. will she get her money back if there is no workshop? I don't know.
My demo garden budget is almost done! its going to be great!
The hamburger guy is back in town, now with Nems (like eggrolls) and Fatayas!!! its awesome!
it is really hot.
-Mike
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