NEWS
January 14, 2005
I set up this blog so I could tell everyone back home about working in Peace Corps in the country of Mauritania. Most everybody has some idea about life here from my emails over the past 18 months(has it been that long?).
NEWS:
Last autumn I helped two farmers put forth proposals to the U.S. Embassy in Nouakchott. The proposals asked for a donation of materials like cement, rebar, and fencing. The materials were to be used to build wells, irrigation basins and fence to keep out the animals. The proposals were approved and the two farmers received the materials last October.
I visit these two farmers regularly and often eat with their families. So, I was kind of surprised when I saw they were building new houses. The one guy has used most or all of his materials to build a new well and an irrigation basin and completely fenced in his garden. The other guy hasn’t done anything except put up his fencing.
So I explained to them that it looked kind of suspicious to start building new houses after receiving materials from the Embassy. They both got sarcastic with me, the one guy refused to show me the materials that were left over. He tried to tell me that it didn’t concern me and that I didn’t need to know how he used the materials.
I wrote an email to Peace Corps and the Embassy, explaining that I don’t have the authority to resolve the situation and that volunteers can’t be expected to do the embassy’s leg work. I wasn’t so blunt in the email, but you get the idea.
I started a small garden last week, I planted eggplant, carrots, sweet peppers and spinach in rows between my Moringa trees. It should do well because I fertilized the beds with compost about 6 weeks before. Hopefully, it will be an example to the local gardeners to start their own compost piles. I have tried to explain composting to them but they are superstitious about collecting cow manure.
Among some of the more ridiculous superstitions:
Not bathing in the winter time(makes you sick)
Not eating any salt(not sure why)
No vegetables, they are proud of their diet of rice and cous cous, however rice is not a traditional food of northern Africa and they have way too much pride for a country that only grows about 50 % of the calories it needs.
The women generally are afraid to use the outhouses(too dark and smelly) they just go outside their compounds. My village is covered with landmines.
So WHY?? do I stay, well I recently got a sandboard and that makes a big difference, I can surf down the dunes for a couple hours every morning before I have to deal with the locals. Also, I am good friends with one of the high schooll teachers and he helps me with my French and I help him with his English, which is a pretty good deal for both of us.
During the last week we had dust storms nonstop for about 8 days. I saw the sun once.
The Paris-Dakar Rally went through my town, a couple hundred dirtbikes, off-road vehicles and support trucks and SUVs going about 80 miles an hour.
This year is totally different from last year in that most of the European tourists I meet have been really friendly. I set up two guys with a little tea ceremony the other day. Most of them find it hard to believe that we live here for two years.
I set up this blog so I could tell everyone back home about working in Peace Corps in the country of Mauritania. Most everybody has some idea about life here from my emails over the past 18 months(has it been that long?).
NEWS:
Last autumn I helped two farmers put forth proposals to the U.S. Embassy in Nouakchott. The proposals asked for a donation of materials like cement, rebar, and fencing. The materials were to be used to build wells, irrigation basins and fence to keep out the animals. The proposals were approved and the two farmers received the materials last October.
I visit these two farmers regularly and often eat with their families. So, I was kind of surprised when I saw they were building new houses. The one guy has used most or all of his materials to build a new well and an irrigation basin and completely fenced in his garden. The other guy hasn’t done anything except put up his fencing.
So I explained to them that it looked kind of suspicious to start building new houses after receiving materials from the Embassy. They both got sarcastic with me, the one guy refused to show me the materials that were left over. He tried to tell me that it didn’t concern me and that I didn’t need to know how he used the materials.
I wrote an email to Peace Corps and the Embassy, explaining that I don’t have the authority to resolve the situation and that volunteers can’t be expected to do the embassy’s leg work. I wasn’t so blunt in the email, but you get the idea.
I started a small garden last week, I planted eggplant, carrots, sweet peppers and spinach in rows between my Moringa trees. It should do well because I fertilized the beds with compost about 6 weeks before. Hopefully, it will be an example to the local gardeners to start their own compost piles. I have tried to explain composting to them but they are superstitious about collecting cow manure.
Among some of the more ridiculous superstitions:
Not bathing in the winter time(makes you sick)
Not eating any salt(not sure why)
No vegetables, they are proud of their diet of rice and cous cous, however rice is not a traditional food of northern Africa and they have way too much pride for a country that only grows about 50 % of the calories it needs.
The women generally are afraid to use the outhouses(too dark and smelly) they just go outside their compounds. My village is covered with landmines.
So WHY?? do I stay, well I recently got a sandboard and that makes a big difference, I can surf down the dunes for a couple hours every morning before I have to deal with the locals. Also, I am good friends with one of the high schooll teachers and he helps me with my French and I help him with his English, which is a pretty good deal for both of us.
During the last week we had dust storms nonstop for about 8 days. I saw the sun once.
The Paris-Dakar Rally went through my town, a couple hundred dirtbikes, off-road vehicles and support trucks and SUVs going about 80 miles an hour.
This year is totally different from last year in that most of the European tourists I meet have been really friendly. I set up two guys with a little tea ceremony the other day. Most of them find it hard to believe that we live here for two years.
posted by andyfurlong at 3:17 AM
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