WAIST

Western Africa Invitational Softball Tournament- aka beer league softball tournament with peace corps volunteers and ex-patriots from all over west africa. It was the most white people I have seen in one place in a long time. I got to eat hot dogs and doritos and wear short shorts not to mention play a little softball and swim in a pool. all in all it was a good weekend. The Kaolack region had a team and we made it all the way to the semi finals but we lost so i think that put us in 4th place. Pretty good for not having practiced. I also played a little bit for the Dakar region B team because they didnt have enough people. I didnt have any spectacular plays and i didnt make any huge mistakes either so I was happy.

Friday night We went out in dakar for Thai food (which was a nice change) and then we went to a bar where most of the other Senegal volunteers were. Saturday night I went out to Indian food with a could other people that was really good too. It is really great that dakar has all these things to offer. Volunteers who came in from other countries were saying how they have nothing like we have in dakar. There was also a big party on saturday night at this club that is right on the beach. The party was for all Peace corps volunteers. as you can imagine some people got a little crazy. Mauritania is a dry country so those volunteers went all out. We danced and socalized until the early hours in the morning. last night just went out to a local cheap place in dakar and then went to a swanky expensive bar for a little bit. We got back to thies late last night. It was a fun, expensive and tiring weekend.

Today we went to Mboro on a field trip. it is a city that is on the Nyes. It is an ecological region in senegal that has a series of dunes and valleys. It has great soil and a lot of trees and nice looking gardens. We walked around for a bit and learned some stuff about fruit trees and pruning. It was a good thing we were out and about today because otherwise we would have all fallen asleep in the classroom.

So on the news front... there was a coup in Guinea and now the country is under martial law. all the peace corps volunteers there have been pulled out and are hanging out in Mali. It is a really strange reality to be here for this and since Senegal is a neighboring country I need to pay attention. Also it is a reality check that I do indeed live in West Africa and however stable things appear to be you never know. Right now I dont feel any effects from this but I imagine I will soon. Senegal will probably get some refugees who sneak across the boarder and some could make it up to Kaolack. Peace Corps Senegal will absorb a couple of volunteers.

More close to home... there is a presidential election here for the first time in 7 years. here is a news clip I got in my email today--
Many in Senegal are concerned that the country's largely peaceful history at the polls is about to be shattered. So far no one has been killed or suffered major injuries, but every day of this week has seen incidents such as stone throwing, street battles between mobs of campaign supporters, and the houses of politicians being burned and attacked. Observers fear politicians are setting the stage for real bloodshed, particularly in the weeks after the polls when the results are announced. "Each major candidate is firing up his supporters to believe that if they don't win then there was fraud," says Dominika Koter a Ph.D candidate at Yale University. To deal with the uncertainty, Senegal's security forces say they are on full alert to guard against all possible violent outcomes. "I think everyone knows that the police and gendarmie cannot do it properly alone," said military spokesman Colonel Antoine Wardini. "We'll deploy at least one or two soldiers at each voting booth and a light contingent in larger voting stations."

I am on stand fast the day of the election until the Peace Corps lifts this security level. What that means is we are not allowed to leave our village until we recieve notice that it is ok. (and in theory we are supposed to have a bag packed so that we could if need be begin the steps to evacuation) It starts the day of the election. sundy the 25 feb and goes until who knows. no violence is expected on voting day but some is expected the day the results are released which should be about 5 days after the election itself. Now with that said everything should be fine and the safest place for me to be is in my village where people know me. No need to worry.

ok thats all from me for now. I am headed back to the house for some dinner then to bed to catch up on my sleep.