Goree Island

Goree Island is a short ferry ride off the coast of Dakar and was historically used to house slaves before being sent to the Americas. It is popular for tourists, and after being in country for over a year, I finally made my way out there since a couple peoples' parents were visiting. Currently, over 1,000 people live on the island and there is a school there.

Ferry ride over

Shores of Goree

Memorial Statue

House of slaves museum

Door of no return

Artwork sold on the streets

Architecture of the island

Canon

Baobabs are found everywhere!

Lookout

Guinea, Christmas & New Years!

So for the holidays, Whitney, Will & I decided to go to Guinea, meet up with a few volunteers there and climb Mt. Nimba, a peak in southern Guinea bordering Ivory Coast and Liberia. It is considered a UNESCO World Heritage site and the highest peak in the area at 1,790m (5,748ft). (more information here). Our trip was initially going to be just under two weeks, but Whitney and I decided to stay longer to visit volunteers and were there for three weeks. The trip was great, although incredibly difficult at times, and I have many horror travel stories as a result (broken cars, sleeping on the sides of roads, unable to get money from banks, etc). I am glad I went, but can't say I am anxious to go back, although I wouldn't not go there in the future. The roads and cars are terrible, vehicles are constantly overpacked with people and goods, and banks are unreliable. Nevertheless, I saw some beautiful areas of West Africa! It was great to visit the area where the language I learned for Peace Corps Pula Fuuta, is a majority language across the country. Here is a quick photo summary of our journey.

Map of my route

9 person station wagon (typical transport). Not including people who sit on top of the car, on top of luggage.

Car in the river blocking the ferry. We slept in the car that night.

Passing a town in the Fuuta

Meeting up with volunteers in Mamou to meet up with more people in Nzerekoure

We spent a lot of time in the car...

Heading south

Broken car. They typically fixed it with just water and a wrench. How? Don't ask questions.

Merry Christmas! We had a fancy chicken dinner and lots of palm wine.

Group to hike!

Whitney, myself, and Will.

I hiked the mountain in my trusty Chaco flip flops

View from the hike

Beautiful vine bridge in the forest region

Natural bridge

New Years pool party

Soccer

New Years outfits!

SO MUCH MONEY. Or at least it looks like it. People go to the bank with backpacks for withdrawals. Ohhhh inflation...

Diankana

Sunset in the Haut region

KanKan market area

Random woman's house we waited at as a break from the garage waiting for a car to fill up.

Little bouldering

Hiking in Doucki

Lodging in Doucki

Waterfall in Doucki

Fuuta Jallon scenery on the way back to Senegal.

So that's that!

Kevoye Latrine Project

In December I was able to apply and get money for a grant from the Water Charity for a latrine project in Kevoye, 17km from my village. This was relatively easy since I had already done a similiar project in my village. However, there was, yet again, transportation issues which were eventually sortrd out. My work partner Sara, a well digger and mason, took a local leadership role and held meetings to determine who would receive latrines. Here is

Bike route to Kevoye

River to cross to get to the village

Kevoye

Latrine Hole (1m by 1m)

Mason and a finished latrine

Thanksgiving

So there has been a drastic delay in writing blog posts, although I wanted to backtrack and write a little about my past few months.

Thanksgiving was wonderful! Our main dish was chicken, although we also had assorted sides, salads, pies, rolls & deserts! Ashleigh and I took the time to decorate the porch which made things really festive! We also made delicious caramel apple cider. Not exactly politically correct, although our theme was Pilgrims & Indians. We had a few visitors although it was primarily Kedougou volunteers as well as our guards and maids! It certainly wasn't like Thanksgiving in America, although it was closest to family as Senegal as you can get.

Decorations!

House band + guest (Mike from Dakar)

Meal time

Our food for the day!

Themed photo with Anne, Ashleigh & Frank

Group Photo