Nacho Libre me manque

I want to see Nacho Libre!!!!!!

OK anyway today was a hot one. I finally was liberated from the house (it sounds like theyve got me under lock and key ay, they really dont). I went to the Centre Baobob which is the organization which arranges language classes home stays etc. and met up with my group. I was really so so so happy to see them. I am loving my timehere but it is nice tohave something familiar thats for sure. So we hung out at the Centre for a while and discussed our plan of attack for Wolof class (i begin tomorrow with four hours of instruction per day for 2 1/2 weeks).

Then we spread our wings and explored a little bit. I defnitely see why things move slowly around here and have learned a couple of lessons on how to best get buy... ask ask ask. We sat at the bank for an hour because a couple of my group members needed to change money and not one person was helped. It wasnt until I asked the man sitting next to me what was going on that we found out that the computer system was "en panne" (not working).
IN our explorations (which occurred from about noon to 3) we walked all over the place and I got so so hot and i have discovered why all Africans go so slowly (everything goes slow except the traffic) and that is for the obvious reason that its too hot to move quickly. I had to be back to my home at a specific time and was late and consequently arrived very very sweaty. But I was very proud of myself for not having gotten lost on my way between home and the Baobab center :)
We also learned the importance of landmarks. We took a taxi from the bank to the hotel the people in my group are staying in. We didnt find it until after we had asked 5 different people and called the hotel. Addresses are basically nonexistent. Essentially I am completely out of whack wiht my sense of direction here: I need a map like its nobodys business.

Then I made my first trip to the Université Cheikh Anta Diop which was somewhat bizzarre with my neighbor from Michigan who has been here for 9 months. I guess when I think university i think of the U of M which is genearlly impeccable. This place was not so much. Its so hard for me to explain. Yes there were students and classes but it was huge and I dont know how anyone who doesnt go there finds places. nothing is marked (much like the rest of the city).
It was really great being with the girl from michigan because she knows the ropes. We have plans to go the market and out to the club which I am greatly looking forward to at the end of the week.
I have also gotten excited about my research again after talking with my group about plans. I think I am just becoming more confident in my abilities. Sometimes this confidence is affirmed such as when a guy at the cafe at the university asked if I was french because I had a good accent and spoke well. But sometimes this confidence is shot down like when my host sister (i think) says that i dont really speak french (only "un peu") a little bit. i certainly hope that my french is better than her english because her english is not so good. What does she know anyway!
Hilight of the day was playing soccerin our courtyard with all the little boys. And yes of course my team won even though the older boys stuck me with the 5-8 year olds. Im not gonna lie and be modest and say that I didnt carry the team to victory, but i really did. Ive still got the skills (even in a skirt)
One other interesting reality that i encountered here but would most likely never encounter chez moi, that of water shortage. Thewaterhas been turned off in our neighborhood all afternoon because we havent had rain for so long. Dont worry Im in no danger of dying of thirst but life just becomes a bit more difficult for everything mostly bathing and cooking.
My curfew is 8, must run. Youd be happy mom they keep a good eye on me around here. They say here that "les sentiments changent"(feelings change) after 8 oclock and women must not be out alone after this time.
Im going to journal tonight so I can come up with something more profound to write here next time. ciao ciao