Rainbow Sandals in Senegal

Hello everyone! It’s been about a month since my last update. Since then, I have spent two weeks on and off with my host family in Mboro for Community Based Training (CBT). Additionally, we had site reveal day during which I learned my permanent site where I will live for the next two years beginning in December after Installation! I spent three days there as well as a day in my regional city, meeting the other volunteers in my region. On site reveal day, there is a large map of Senegal on the basketball court at the Training Center where they have everyone go and put on blindfolds. Then other volunteers and staff members weave you through the map, taking you in circles to disorient you. My language teacher Fatimata led me to mine.

My permanent site is…

Ranerou, Matam!

Ranerou is a road town along one of the routes nationales. The population is around 4,500 people, which seems to be outnumbered by sheep and goats. Where I am in the North (Fuuta in Pulaar), the primary source of income and employment is animal husbandry and herding. It has a savannah climate with green foliage during the rainy season (July to October) and brown the rest of the year (November to June). Ranerou is located between the Reserve du Fanue du Ferlo-Nord and the Reserve du Faune du Ferlo-Sud. I have been told that various wildlife lives in these reserves, including gazelle, camels, and large cats.

Because of the wildlife reserves and Ranerou being the county capital, there is a large government presence with a mayor’s office, the Gendarmerie (police), the Prefect, Eaux et Forets (National Forest Service), and more. Additionally, as a result of the resources at my site as well as a desire for continuing partnerships, my site has had several volunteers over the years from most sectors (Agriculture, Community Economic Development, and Health).

Like my CBT family, my permanent site family has had volunteers before. All of whom they have given Senegalese names and welcomed into their home. My family has renamed me Fati Sara Ja, which is the name of one of my sisters as well as the first name of one of my host moms. (As an predominantly Muslim country, polygamy is common. I will do a more in-depth dive on families in a later blog post). In Senegal, one is usually named after someone else, such as other family members, friends, or community members. It is seen as an honor to have someone be named after you. If someone is named after you, then you are their tokara. This means that my sister and mom are both my tokara.

I am so excited to begin to develop relationships with my community and family over the next two years. For now, I’m back to CBT on Wednesday for two more weeks, and then a week before Installation! Until next time/Haa jonngal!