Salut Senegal! Martha's 2008 African Adventure

I have arrived safely in Fatick...surrounded by swarms of flies, dust and sweat but I am loving every moment of this internship. My new host family is absolutely wonderful and I have been working side by side with my host mother at my internshi..FEE. So the bottom line is there is little work to be done at my internship site, well at least for now. All the students have the entire week off from school since Friday is Senegals independence day. Go Green Yellow and Red! This vacation puts things at a standstill for me especially since my boss will be in Dakar until Thursday. I would get frustrated by how slow the pace is around here but I have gotten use to it...or I at least dont let it bother me as much and I have been putting myself to work and hatching up projects to do at my internship. I havent shared my ideas with my boss but this morning I told my host mother about the one main idea that I have and I think she definately approved.

My idea: To gather as many personal accounts, stories, photos, and information about the girls and staff members at FEE and put them on display with a silent art auction during the summer in Door County to raise money for womens education. There is an extreme lack in funds at FEE. MY host mother was telling me that children in Senegal are able to go to school but are unable to learn the material because their famil does not have enough money to buy basic school supplies. Also, FEE can only house 30 girls at the center, which makes the decision process difficult to decide which girls can stay with FEE during the school year. My boss has already sold her car to pay for bills and just recntly 2 computers were stolen from the office. FEE is supported by a couple international organizations but there are still many things that are left on the back burners, like buying desks so the girls have a place to do their homework after school, since the funds are very limited. Today I read many articles about the organization and their setbacks...I want to work for FEE with whatever task they may throw at me ( possible English tutor sessions after school) and I also want to create something that will continue to give back to such a great organization. So I have taken this freedom that my intership has given to me to choose any project and I am going to run with it. I am going to start contacting businesses and places where I can have a silent auction but also have space to dance to Senegalese music and celebrate the great work FEE has already done and the continuation of a womens educational prgram. Any thoughts? Also, not only have I been putting my Wolof to good use here in Fatick but I have also been learning Seerer, the language that is mainly spoken in my neighborhood. MY host sister, Ngoye, taught me the word in Seerer for "That is beautiful" which is "Amosa", which is also going to be the name of my porject that I am starting at this very minute.

So bascially I have never been so motivated before and excited about a project that I am starting all by myself...kind of scary but Im so excited to see where it will go! So for all of you local Door County artists out there, I will be contacting you soon to see if you would be willing to donate a small piece of art work to be auctioned off and where all the proceeds will go directly toward FEE and the continuation of this NGO.

Other than that I am safe and sound and loving the village life. Little lizards sneak their way into my room during my seista since its a lot cooler there. I dont mind as long as they stay put and not try any funny business like jumping up on my bed when Im taking my nap! This safety and security of this town feels like Ellison Bay where everyone knows each other and doors are alwys left unlocked. Im slowly meeting many of the locals and drinking as much water as possible...FAtick is hot! Current temperature is 43°C which Im guessing is around 110°F; the locals are trying to tell me that this is the cold temp..Yeah sure! ha

Well I love yuo all and thank you for always sending love through emails or on the message boards. I may not have time to get to respond to all of them but just know that I really appreciate all of them.

Love always Martha