I Just Want a Sandwich.

So, I woke up early this morning because today is the first day of the Demo Garden construction...woo.  Things started off good.  My fencing boys were not only on time but early (which is absolutely unheard of in Senegal)  and we got right to work.  I did the basic white guy foreman thing watching over and making sure things were done right.  Of course through every step of the way my counterpart told me things were being done wrong, and I had to go out and fix them even though it was like little details that probably didn't need to be addressed.  My counterpart also kept telling me that the fence was bad.  he didn't give me much more criticism than it was bad.  he told me it would not work.  as of right now, there are like 22 holes in the ground without any cement or fence posts in them.  how he knows the fence is bad already? we'll find out once its up and then assess the situation.  the chief of agriculture is very concerned about pigs.  he says that the pigs will dig under the fence and get in.  I disagree.  the plan is to have a thorny live fence made out of thorny species of shrub like trees, just inside of the metal fence to demonstrate that you don't really need to buy a fence if you don't have the money.  they don't quite get it yet, but they will.  I might buy some barbed wire if the agriculture guys get really upset about the pigs.  I think that if a pig or any animal gets into my garden without my permission, I have the right to use a slingshot and kill it and eat it.  if someone comes to me looking for damages, ill ask them for the damages for the crops that were eaten.  then I will offer him half of the meat (the organs cause they are gross but people like to eat them here I will split the liver with him cause liver is tasty).

So, then it was lunch time.  becauase it is ramadan I have been making my own lunches.  Today was sandwich day.  on my way to pick up a fresh loaf of bread from the bakery I get one of the worst calls you can get.  Pam called and in a slight panic she asked "how do you stop the bleeding? it wont stop!" I then rushed over to her and assessed the situation: she cut herself pretty bad.  about one cm long 3 sided flap kind of cut.  it got pretty deep definetly into the fatty tissue layer.  She most likely needs a single stitch, but if taken care of properly she wont need anything besides me (wink).  I asked her what she did, she told me that she was cutting meat with a sharp knife and then she sliced her finger.  she then told me that the first thing she did was use antibacterial soap to stop the bleeding, and that because the soap didnt work she decided that the next best plan of action was to spray the wound with perfume to stop the bleeding.  She then asked if she was to put salt in it, if the bleeding would stop...  I made her rinse it again and grabbed her med kit.  then I forced her to sit down and take an ibuprofen.  it was very difficult to get her to sit down and stop moving her finger.  we put pressure on it until it stopped bleeding called med and wrapped it up according to the way med wanted me to.  then I was on my way to getting bread again.  I made a delicious sandwich.  spam and cheese with bbq sauce with some warm kool aide.  it was a very tasty lunch.

So, my arch nemesis is back...yes thats right the bank! (ooo scary right?)  the ATM has been down for like 2 days now and I'm going to have to pay these guys for the fence soon.


-Mike

The Morning I Went On A Quest to Pick Up a Radio Show

So, if you didnt read the post "Whats it Like!? Transportation" a few weeks ago, this is another example of just how ridiculous it is to travel about this country.

So, I woke up early and went to the garage bought a ticket for a car, and ate my delicious egg sandwich.  I got the first seat, so I knew I would be waiting a while.  As the car filled up and we were entering the vehicle, I noticed the ground.  normally this wouldn't be weird, except that I noticed the ground from inside of the car.  I turn to the driver and ask "is this car safe?"he doesn't really respond, and seems confused by the question.  I get in anyways.  If you are sitting in the passenger seat of the car you are required to wear a seatbelt.  I find it covered in mud, and stuck.  I ask him if this is normal, and he said yes, it is broke.  Then the car starts and we are on our way.  After about 10 km (6.2 miles) we stop.  he gets out of the car plays with the front tires.  then pours a clear liquid that I think must have been water into a hole somewhere in the engine, and gives it another try.  it works for the most part, but the driver is not satisfied.  he decides then to get a second car so instead of driving us back to the garage he thinks it best for us to wait on the side of the road.  after 30 minutes or so a car shows up.  to all of our surprise there is another passenger in it.  the passengers form the first car tell me not to get in, and I don't.  It is ramadan and people get angry when they don't eat.  the driver and some guy argue in Wolof and French for 5 minutes.  I can imagine the argument they are having.  then the guy arguing decided it is best for us to just walk back to Velingara.  The driver doesn't like that and makes the lady in the car get out and wait for another vehicle to come by for her.  I eventually get to my destination grab the radio show, and get on a mini bus back home.  a few km out we stop for a few minutes, which is not normal.  I look out the window and see a cow tied to a tree.  Then I see some men grabbing the cow, and wrestling it to the ground and hog tie its feet.  the cow does not agree with the situation and poops on one of the men.  then one man grabs the horns and head, one grabs the legs, and one man grabs its testicles and tail and lift the animal on top of the mini bus.  the rest of the trip is without complications and I get back to site.

-Mike