Only been in Africa a little over 2 months and I feel like I belong in this community. I had a really good day yesterday. I said goodbye to my summer school kids after the prize giving ceremony to the top students. I'm really gonna miss little Mohammed Rogers, such a bright kid.......
I spent the rest of the day in town to buy stuff for site and make my way back to the village. It was a great day, it wasn't pouring rain for once during this rainy season and the market was bustling. I ran into other PCVs, some of our LCFs, some of my students, and people I know from around the community. I was talking in Krio and greeting in Mende. I even bargained in Temne to this one guy I was trying to haggle by saying that we were cousins b/c we are both Temne and from Port Loko District.
It just felt good not feeling like a stranger in a strange place. Knowing I can feel comfortable in a large community such as Bo in only a few months lets me know that I can do the same in Lunsar. And with Lunsar, I get 2 years to know that town.
Walking around New York village is kinda like "Cheers"........everybody knows your name, lol. I always hear someone yelling out "Kenyah! Aw di bodi!" I can do things like draw water out of the well or bruk my clothes without a crowd gathering around. I've integrated pretty well, I think.
I know I complain alot about my personal space but I'll definitely miss my family. There are its pros and cons I guess. With my own place, I can finally feel like I'm not living out of a suitcase and have things around the house my way and be able to lounge around in short shorts and a tanktop and go out without anyones permission. Ok wait, there are more pros, lol, ok fine but, I'll just miss the damn people is all! Lol! I even openly went to church today, yes, it was my idea. I just went to say goodbye to the pastors and the other members of the church. Figured I might as well go one last time to make my mama happy.
I've also become really close with the Fourtune family next door. Auntie Musu gave me this beautiful country cloth that she wove herself.....how do you thank someone for such a beautiful gift?! Country cloth is the high quality stuff here. She gave me 2 yards so I can get a fayn embroidered tunic made by the tailor. I can't even tell my parents that I got this gift b/c it's kinda like another family overstepping their boundaries but, they have been so good to me, they treat me as one of their own. I guess they appreciated it when I was there for Florence, their daughter, when her baby came out stillborn. Florence and I have gotten closer, I call her my sister b/c she only has brothers. She always offers to bruk my clothes for me. She even made me and Joe acheke last night.
Things have been good here and I'll definitely miss Bo but it's time to take off the training wheels and do my own thing in Lunsar.
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