After a month of waiting for site placement, we finally got out site placement last Tuesday! I am taking Pulaar classes so I assumed that I would be staying in the Gorgol region of Mauritania (the southern region along the river. It's predominantly Pulaar- speaking, GREEN, and truly beautiful). Looks like I will be staying in Gorgol, and I'll be teaching in Lexeiba, a village about 45 km from Kaedi.
So, about site visit. My sitemate and I, Becca, left the Lycee at about 4pm on Wednesday. We caught a taxi, and waited for our counterpart, Fatimata, to do some shopping. The taxi got impatient, so we walked through a raging river of mud in the rain and waited with her friends, ala. some random Pulaar family while she finished. At about 6, we walked to the garage to get a car out to Lexeiba. After cramming 30 people in a van (no, I am not exaggerating even a little), we headed out! 20 seconds later we blew a tire and had to wait another 2 hours for them to fix it and get a new tire. FINALLY by 8pm, we all hopped back on the van and rolled out. By then it was dark and had been raining all day, so the road was washed out and full of holes. Thus, the 45 km trip to Lexeiba took 3 hours. Luckily it was worth the trip.
Lexeiba is BEAUTIFUL. It's much greener than Kaedi, and there is a rain- created river, beautiful bridge, and banana grove on the outskirts of the town. My little college where I'll be teaching is really cute, and I met a few of my future students. If Binta is any indication of who I will be teaching, I think it will be a great 2 years. Also, there is actually a market in Lexeiba! That means I can buy a Coke when I haaaave to have one, and there is even running water. After living in Rindiao and pullinh gallons of well water everyday, I'm so happy I can't even talk. So, moral of this story is that, while traveling to and from Kaedi will be a pain in the rear (look Dad, I censored my language!) I'm excited and thrilled to be placed there. For now, back to Rindiao to finish out my Pulaar classes.
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3 comments:
Sounds like your trip to your final destination was stressful. Hope all is well with you and your colleagues. What do you and your village need in terms of making life easier? Let us know.
As always.....you know.
Dad
I'm native of that beautifull village,lexiba gorgol.Now i live here in louisville ky .Since ,i go to lexeiba to vist every year for a month or two months .
I'm native of that beautifull village,lexeiba gorgol.Now i live here in louisville ky .Since ,i go to lexeiba to vist every year for a month or two months .
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