So you're probably wondering what I do all day....

First, I'll give you an update on the strike...still going.  I believe that they're on strike until Monday now, but I heard rumors of the second cafeteria opening on Monday, and that is one of the main sources of the student unrest.  This week has been pretty good even though I haven't had my formal classes, at least I'm more aware of what's going on on campus and I don't go to each class and see if it's meeting and then go back home like I did last week.  There was a large amount of time wasting involved in my trekking across the desert several times a day last week. Besides not wasting time, I've had my usual French and Wolof classes this week.  Sometimes I forget there's a strike because I've had four hours of class each day this week, so at least my brain isn't turning to mush.  

My new roommate is currently in the moving in process.  She began moving in on Monday, when she kind of barged in with several brooms and disassembled her side of the room to leave it immaculate an hour later.  Since then she periodically drops by to unload some stuff into her closet, but I've only seen her a total of maybe 30 minutes since Monday.  I'm not exactly sure where she's been staying, but I think she'll be moved in for good by this weekend.  From the short conversations we've had, I gathered that her name is Juliette, she's Catholic, and seems really nice.  Although, she's a little shy and I definitely am the who initiates every  conversation, which I'm totally ok with because I have no pride when it comes to being awkward.  

The past few days I've had some nice forays into Saint-Louis! Friday I made my first trip to the post office, which was a much better experience than some of the other girls have had.  One day they attempted to mail postcards and the workers at the post office told them that they didn't have any stamps, hmmm.  The only hiccup I had on Friday at the post office is when the postal worker told me to come to his room so he could give me his shirt? Kids say the darndest things... I did venture back to the post office yesterday and that was more of an adventure.  If you're looking into some insight into how I keep my cool here in Africa, I'll let you know that I don't always. Frankly, I feel a little bad because, as most of you know, I'm not the most tactful person, and at one point yesterday I told one of the workers that the post office was a little disorganized after they sent me running back and forth and out of the post office without getting anything done.  Granted, after that comment I had about half of the post office trying to help me send one thing, so I think I maybe am just picking up a little of the Senegalese fayda (boldness).  For example, when I go to a boutique to get my almost daily can of pineapples, I stand in front of the counter for a few minutes until the boutique man feels bad for me and asks me what I want.  At the same time, I would estimate that 6 Senegalese people walked up, shouted what they wanted, through money at the guy, took their sugar or whatever, and left. Personally, I think that they don't really have much patience in, but I know that's just what they're used to in terms of customer service.

On Saturday Carly and Emily and I visited the museum in Saint-Louis, which is a very nice building on the end of the island with two floors of exhibits.  The first floor is filled with random exhibits ranging from the animals of Senegal, to geological history, to general history of humanity, to French colonialism.  Although the exhibits aren't the most informative, I think it's pretty interesting just seeing what they think is important to display in a museum and compare it to what our museums are like.  My new question is, do Senegalese people actually visit this museum, or is it more for tourists? I'll have to look into that. 

Sunday I went back to my little protestant church.  I think I'm gonna keep attending services there, at least for now because there were more people and there seemed to be a different pastor who spoke a little louder so I had more of a chance of understanding the sermon. Plus, there were African drums accompanying the music, which was really fun.  Admittedly, most of the music is very traditional hymns, but I gave them some songs in English so we'll see how if they use it.

That's a bit of what's new with me, temperatures are scorching hot, around 105 degrees between 11am and 4 pm, so it's tough to motivate myself to do to much more than read books and learn Wolof. with my fan blowing on me.