.Senegal makes me absent minded.

Today, Josh, Paulina, Kerry, Eva, and I went back to that 'orphanage' to volunteer.... (It's called La Pouponnieres des Soeurs Franciscaines) its a place where families can bring their babies if they can't afford to take care of them, the babies are really sick, they leave the hospital too early, the mothers are sick, or they are abandoned all together... So it was amazing (hot and really exhausting, but amazing). Paulina and I stayed and played with the toddlers first. i just sat down and 4 of the toddlers just flocked and kinda flung themselves on me. they were all really adorable. while we were there we met three flight attendants from the US who fly here (stop in Dakar on the way to South Africa) and during their layover they volunteer there, about once a month. cool job.

one of the attendants were telling us that one of the toddlers there were born with a skull that was stuck and wouldn't expand (there is a word for this but i can't think of it)... anyways, normally in the US the baby would just have a small operation after birth and be fine... but here, thats not really possible and so now her brain in going to keep expanding... while her skull stays the same size... i.e. she's gonna pass away pretty soon because there isn't another option.

after playing with the toddlers for a while, paulina and i went upstairs to where the other were with the babies (under 6 months) and we got to bottle-feed them, burp them, and put them to sleep. adorableness.

it was really kinda sad to see all the kids without their parents (many parents do come visit, however, every sunday afternoon) but there were a lot of women there working and spending time with them and it was great to be able to help and see other volunteers there too.

i also found out today that for the first week of my internship phase i'll be staying with a host family in Joal Fadiout while attending an environmental seminar... the organization that i'll be working with for my internship is attending the seminar so i'm just gonna go there for the week and then go to Toubacouta with my supervisor when its over.... i asked my family if they knew Joal and my mom said that the people built their houses and the town on shells... and that they know if you're a foreigner if you break the shells when you walk.... and i guess there are women there who can read shells... like reading your fortune from cards... should be interesting..

if you wanna see where i'm going: http://www.suertenich.com/html/afriq/senegal.jpg

you can zoom in on the map...

Joal Fadiout is south of Dakar right on the coast... and just a little bit south east of there (just north of Gambie) is where Toubacouta is....

hope fall weather is nice.. cuz i'm still sweating.