I need to dance

I think the cure to all of my problems is dancing and I believe that I will be going out to do that tomorrow at a club, I hope I hope I hope. I think that I will also be going to the market on Saturdy (no thanks to my host family) and then on Sunday will be going to church with my professor and then hanging out downtown. So I am looking forward to a busy fun-filled weekend.
Last night we had the first rain of the season and it hadnt rained here since October!! I couldnt believe it! The Americans next door and I took advantage of the cool rain (and extreme sand-blowing wind) to go get ice cream at the Mobil station a few blocks away and was that ever fabulous. Huge variety I must say! I would have gotten two but had just eaten dinner a half hour before.
Also started the Wolof yesterday and was severely overwhelmed. Also feel as though I am regressing in my French language skills oddly enough. But I often feel like that when Im learning something and am confident that this will change.
I think that I had the biggest realization of my American ways and I now understand why it takes people so long to get anywhere. I am used to the American way of passing and saying hello or how are you and hurrying off to wherever i need to be but not even stopping to pay attention to the conversation, greetings are not something that are terribly valued but here they are sooo important. I need to be more intentional about stopping in order to have these conversations and not being in such a rush because lets be honest, what do i really have to do? not much. Also, people are constantly asking my name and telling me theirs and Im used to America where i dont even hardly talk to my neighbors much less know their name. These human interactions are essential and I have to work harder at spending more time withthem.
Sorry i feel like all Ive been doing in my blogs is kind of complaining and pointing out differences. Am trying to develop a more positive attitude. I blame it on the Culture Shock!! Ciao ciao