The time is flying by here in Fatick, and so much has happened in the past couple months! I am becoming more and more familiar with Fatick and the way of life here, but still I learn something new every day. I’m learning to take time to enjoy being with people and overcoming that feeling that I need to be in a rush or be somewhere, when I really don’t. Planning ahead and worrying about the future are less important in Senegal – relationships take precedence. For example, we had a seminar on QuickBooks last month in the accounting department. It was said to start at 8, but instead people started showing up around 8:30, then we ate breakfast and chatted, then eventually settled down to start the seminar. There was a schedule of events, but I think the best way to explain schedules here is that they are more of a to-do list than a strict order of events at certain times. Going off on tangents in meetings have always stressed me out a little bit, and this meeting was no exception. I always have to ask myself, “what am I in a hurry for?” and “why is it so important that we stay on schedule?” I didn’t have anywhere to be, but for some reason I felt in a rush. Moments like this are helping me slow down a little bit, and really take time to build relationships rather thanfocusing so much on work. The work always gets done, but the path getting there is not always straight. Plans and certainty are very Westernized concepts, and we are not so used to when things don’t go according to plan (I know I’m not). But what’s more important: the plan, or the people you are with?
Always making silly faces with Prosper!
Another exciting thing at work was getting to travel to Nioro (about 2 hours south of Fatick) with my supervisor in the music and liturgy department, Nicolas. Part of his job includes traveling to the different Lutheran parishes and teaching the new music. We spent 3 days in Nioroteaching music and building fellowship with the pastor of the parish, Pastor Moïse, and his family. During the teaching sessions, I helped by being able to read the music and sing out loud since not many people read music and only learn the songs by hearing them. Even though I struggled through reading the songs in Serer, Wolof, and Puhlar (3 of the languages spoken in Senegal), my Senegalese friends were able to help me on that end. I even got to teach some songs myself, by singing and playing the chords on the guitar. The pastor’s son also wanted to learn more chords on the guitar, which I gladly helped with in exchange for him teaching me some rhythms on the drum. I have always thought of music as a “universal language.” No matter where I am or what languages are spoken, we can all connect through music. I believe that God has given us the gift of music for so many reasons, one of them being to connect with people across cultures. I may not know exactly what I’m saying when I sing in Serer, but we are still all singing together and that’s pretty neat.
Being a guest at the church and at Pastor Moïse’s house, I experienced teranga at it’s best. The word teranga is a Wolof word for the hospitality and selflessness that Senegalese people show to guests. Often, this is shown by sharing meals and attaya (tea). The host always makes sure you have enough to eat and drink and a place to sit, and Pastor Moïse and his family were such gracious hosts. I have also experienced teranga in my everyday life in Fatick, such as strangers offering me seats as I wait for the bus, picking up friends in the car on the way to the market/work, my supervisor giving me rides home from work, being invited over to eat meals at my neighbors’ houses, and even getting to stay in Nioro for free because the owner of the place we stayed was friends with Pastor Moiïe. Teranga means going to great lengths to make sure the guest is comfortable and always happy.
When I’m not at work, I try to find things to do to fill my time. Usually, I will play games and hang out with my host siblings at home, and the past two weekends have been filled with some other fun activities. There was a Weekend des Jeunes (youth/young adult weekend) in Gandiaye, filled with singing, dancing, and great food. I also got to see some of the other YAGMs for the first time since we left for our site placements! At home, my host siblings taught me how to do the Serer dance, and I got to test out my skills during this weekend as well. Just this past weekend, my fellow YAGM Charlie, who lives in Foundiougne very close to me, came to visit and go to church in Fatick. We spent the morning in the market looking like lost toubabs, but received some much needed help from some of the women selling things when we were looking to buy fans. We hung out at the house, played Uno with the kids, had a jam session at night, went to church in the morning, then ate lunch at the house of one of the women who works with Charlie in Foundiougne, Janette. Janette’s husband is also a pastor, and he has written some hymns for the church and will actually bespending a year writing about the history of the Lutheran Church in Senegal/Africa. It was great getting to talk with them about Senegal and work and practicing our language skills. Once again, another great example of teranga and the hospitality that people show here, often in the way of sharing a meal!
In the next couple of months, I’m looking forward to so many things! I will be traveling a lot, such as (hopefully) to Mbour for more teaching music, going to St. Louis for our first YAGM retreat, and visiting Charlie in Foundiougne. It is also wedding season, and we get to go to the wedding of the secretary for the Lutheran Church of Senegal, Pascal. But mostly, I’m looking forward to all of the relationship building!
Sarah in Senegal 