May 27, 2004

As Reported by Mary

First of all, Amy's visit to Belaye was cause for a major Goudiaby reunion. Almost everyone but Moussa and Papis gathered. Famita (Papis' sister) came down from Dakar. So did Sidya and Pap Mane (they're Papis' cousins). They had a big soiree for Amy on Tuesday night, her last night in the village. Wednesday she went to Ziguinchor where she spent one evening. Today she must be back in Dakar so we should hear from her soon. She felt like she didn't have enough time in the village. Not enough time to sit at the feet of Le Pere. She's been tape-recording his saga.

She went to school one day, visited every classroom and then went to inspect the women's garden which now has an electric pump. (One of her projects as a volunteer was to get that garden up and running. I think she helped get a well or two there.) She also visited the maternity hut. (That was another one of her projects...she got that built.) She said something about how they're going to build another maternity hut soon. She visited Bajonkatong (Tiamonding's village--Papis' mom). She stopped at every household. Do you know how many hands she must have shook? Let's say at least a thousand. Like I said, she should have been a diplomat!

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