Cooking at Baobab

Cooking is slightly tricky and extremely different here in Senegal. The ingredients are different and quite frankly, there is not near the selection as there is in the United States... which isn't necessarily a bad thing considering many of the food items in the US are not organic or are bought under-priced which does not support the foreign growers (globalization) but.... anyways... the cooking here is most usually an adventure when stepping out of the norm of omelets, egg sandwiches, and egg scrambles ; )

I mentioned to my parents the other day, the food in Senegal is delicious. The difference between the food here and the food I am used to eating or to cooking in the US is that here they can make several dishes of different tastes and textures with the SAME ingredients WHILE I am well versed in preparing several dishes of different tastes and textures with many DIFFERENT ingredients. It's not a problem though, I am still able to make a tasty meal.

omelet time... eggs with a lot of spice and a chopped onion

chopped potatoes with lots of spices... notice the large knife my Grandfather kindly purchased me before returning to Senegal - I use it every day

I have been into breakfast sandwiches lately

mixed veggies with fried potatoes, fresh tomatoes, and scrambled eggs

prep-work stage

a spaghetti concoction

cheesy tomato pasta (with a side of sheep for Moussa =)

pesto pasta with sauteed vegetables and fresh chicken

rice crispy treats...

... and you cannot go wrong with a little chocolate and coconut on top!

I hope the photos give a little insight into SOME of the cooking we do here at Baobab. We also cook rice, other veggies, french fries, and cabbage!

Cheers,

Lacey

our house in Baobab

I just noticed that I had never shared photos of  Moussa and my's apartment. We have been here since November.  I don't like to call where we live an "apartment" and no one here does because it is not what we call places like this in Dakar, so I refer to it as our house. I forgot to take a picture of the building right before you walk in but some day soon I will take pictures of that too. Okie doke artichoke - here is the tour!

when you first walk into the door straight ahead there are double doors leading to the living room hung on the wall a  little piece of art from my dear friend Dayna Tapp

the double doors

directly to the left in the kitchen with a large window opening to the living room

we have a swinging half-door at the kitchen entry way

our little trash and brooms next to the new paint that got wet and crumbles off often - the electricity box was fun to learn

to the left of the kitchen are the cupboards (I forgot to take pictures of the inside... they will be coming soon) - also there is our lovely gas tank "spot" where we cook

as you keep turning right there is the fridge next a little ways away from the gas tank which is neatly tucked away next to our counter and sink - I love my faucet but have to admit that a double-tub sink is so much more user-friendly - you can see my sponge, scratch pad, and dish dryer that Moussa's sister got us - the pot is only in the sink because I just cooked green beans

there are big hollow ccupboards below the counter where I store nothing but washing tubs, scratch pads, and sponges

 I love my kitchen

the view when the double doors are open - we have two comfy old lawn chairs : )

standing at the door and looking to the left you see our windows and little TV - the chandeler is actually really beautiful and there is a single matching lamp in all four living room corners

our living room from the three windows - we have pretty black marble flooring... it is pretty but so hard to keep clean

the door to our guest bathroom

our tiny guest bathroom - I hope you are not claustrophobic

 for example, when I sit down my legs almost touch the door but they can touch the wall... so if you are bigger than me... it cannot be very comfortable... I still think it is cute and quaint

oh, and there is a silly little window without class just above the door - at least it is ventilated... but then again, too bad it is right next to our bedroom...

the door to our bedroom

That is all for now.... the tour will continue another time....

Hope you enjoyed our apartment!

Cheers,

Lacey

I forgot how much I love green beans.

I forgot how much I love green beans until yesterday morning. I happened to see a young man sitting in the warm sunshine on the curb just across from the house preparing a basket full of fresh green beans to sell as he walked through the streets of Dakar. I saw him and thought, "wow, it's been a while since I have eaten or cooked green beans... yum... let's see if he can understand my Wolof and French...." I grabbed a few CFAs (equivalent to two dollars) and I walked out our front door.

I greeted him with the usual "Aslalamalekum" proceeded by the usual banter of asking how much or do I buy it by the kilogram etc. Basically one kilo of green beans costs one dollar. I bought a kilo and then munched on them raw all afternoon until I cooked some today to snack on and use for dinner tonight. Needless to say, I am quite satisfied with my random purchase and excited to eat my green beans.

The simple things in life are what bring joy to our days.

 

Sweet silver bells...

Check it out! I was searching for Christmas songs the other day when I came across an awesome website that has a free, live, holiday radio station playing non-stop Christmas music from November 20 to December 26. It is an "American Sixties Radio" station dedicated to the American Sixties but for the holidays they share ALL types of Christmas music with us! I was quite excited considering I do not have all of my Christmas music here with me in Dakar! I hope you enjoy it as I do!

http://www.americanchristmas.ca/


Also... I would like to suggest to you or remind you of The Oak Ridge Boys. The photo below is the album photo of an absolutely classic, as well as one of my dearest favorites, Christmas albums.

Well, I simply wanted to send a little Christmas love.... sometimes I have to remind myself that it is December, the month of family time, hot chocolate, blankets, fudge, popcorn-balls, and reading by the fire... especially since it is bright and sunny here :)

Cheers,
Lacey

Nostalgia

I was just thinking about the time before I returned to Senegal so I started looking through photos and felt I needed to share some of them with everyone because sometimes photos carry words. Before I left for Senegal I cooked dinner, watched sunsets, and watched movies with my lady-friends, I went camping with Dad for a few days, I visited Melissa & Michael and I was in Redding for a bit with Mom when Gramma & Papa visited. There was much more than that, like great discussions, wonderful phone calls, big dinners, "see you laters" in the grass under tall oak trees, walks, tea dates and lots of shared love... unfortunately, we cannot capture every cherished moment with a camera.... or perhaps that is what makes certain moments so cherished? Yes, I think so. What do you think?

I hope you enjoy the photos.

 

Leaving Melissa & Michael to head to Grants Pass - they helped me a ton with packing and preparing for Senegal as well as spoiled me with delicious food, relaxation, and snugly dog time.

  

Dad and I went camping at Humbug for three nights - it was wonderful! I read us a book that a dear friend of mine recommended and now I will recommend it to you: "Hector and the Search for Happiness". Anyways, besides camping we feasted on homemade salsa and beans with Eva and the house!

Gramma & Papa's visit in Redding! We all swam and had taco night with my homemade beans and veggies from the garden. Michael Emmitt is such a good little swimmer!

Mom, Michael Emmitt, Melissa, and I in the back-seat of the car at 4am on the way to the Portland Airport to see me off to Senegal! We were accompanied by a little Michael Jackson on the radio that morning, ha!

Michael Robinson and I at the airport... that morning was rough.... oh how this life provides us with decisions and experiences that carry feelings of all emotions.

Linsey aka Lin Bird. I love her. One of our last visits before I left.

Pretty Miss Dayna - aside from soulful conversation and an attempt to watch the sun-set we were able to GARDEN together one beautiful evening out in the country.

Arielle y Hilda - We cooked a lot together that last week in the apartment AND ate enough ice cream for at least 8 people!

Beautiful Hilda y yo - our last evening together at the apartment after having lived together essentially for 3 years. I made us strawberry margaritas to share in celebration of our next life leaps!

Lovely Katie and I - a little foot massage and a few scalp scratches are some of the greatest "see you laters" I've ever had!

"Time After Time"

I think it is neat how humans can be surrounded by different languages or different cultures and yet still have a song from their own culture pop into their mind at any given moment. I am also shocked at the many "expressions" we have in English... with teaching English classes I have essentially learned that we speak in "code" and do not even realize it. Perhaps that is an exaggeration... but it is also most defintiely partially accurate.

My work is going well; sometimes it is slightly overwhelming but I am managing. This evening I have a "reunion" with all of the parents of my students in the high school level. I get to share with the parents how I run my class, what my expectations are, and how I am a good professor for thier children. I am not necessarily nervous, but at the same time, there is a lot of pressure considering French is not my first language, I look as if I am the same age as their children, and I am new to the school. All will be well.

I am moving into my apartment today and tomorrow! Alxhumdililah! This last weekend Moussa helped me buy a bed in town and then a cousin of mine (Fatou; she is very sweet and yearns to have more freedom) went with me to the market to buy cleaning supplies as well as tubs for laundry etc. Tomorrow Moussa and I will search to buy a fan because it is still quite warm here and then after that we'll find a small propane tank that I will do all of my cooking on! All is coming along; I should be getting my keys this evening, inshalla!

I am missing everyone quite a bit these days. I am ready to hang up the many photos I carted all the way here to Dakar. Also, I am ready to sleep in until 6am without hearring the goats "baaaaaaa" me "Good Morning!" at 5:30 each morning :)

The older of my younger host brothers, Dany, turned 18 on Wednesday, October 5th and then the next evenign, Thursday the 6th he left for France! He is going to finish his studies there through a program where he will start working at the same time. The house has not been the same since he left. The kids are different and well quite frankly, a little more moody. I understand the situation though; the house is still in mourning. Dany had a presence at the house that everyone, including me, misses. The family is starting to evolve as the children gow up - in the near future Mactar or Mohamed will be finishing their studies and trying to travel as well. I am enjoying observing, processing, and althouth in a different light, experiencing these evolvements of life within the family.

I found out a piece of troubling news this week: Linfield is considering, well more than considering, in the process of terminating the Senegal study abroad program as well as the Francophone African Studies curriculum and professor's position. I, as well as a fez Linfield Alum and current Linfield students and professors, are currently writing letters to the President and the Dean to express the importance of maintaing the program at Linfeld. Please keep this in your thoughts this week... there are expereinces to be had, opportunities to be granted, and human connections to be made through these programs.

I feel as if there are many more items to share but alas, I cannot. I must head off to the parent-teacher conference! Below are a few pictures and there are more to come this weekend!

Cheers,
Lacey

 

Sometimes there are small riots in the road when the power out last for long periods of times - they consist of burning brush in a throwing rock and garbage onto the road for the police to clean.

Sometimes there are small riots in the road when the power outages last for long periods of times - they consist of burning brush in throwing rocks and garbage onto the road for the police to clean.

Moussa and Me at the beach.

Sarah (lively Italian volunteer), Mary (conscientious American student), Mathias (polite and spunky neighbor-boy), Marianne (bright little sister), Mohamed (definite adolescent stage younger brother :), et Me

These next 6 pictures are of the apartment I stayed at during the first week I was in Dakar - it gives you a good sense what apartments for rent are like... my apartment pictures are coming SOON!

salon/living room

salon/living room

cuisine/kitchen

chambre/bedroom

toillette/bathroom