Road Video

Road Rage

Getting out of the city of Dakar is a joke.

It doesn't matter whether you want to drive north or south on the coast, everyone has to essentially travel on the same one road to get out of town. Depending on the traffic, it can take as little as 50 minutes or as long as 2+ hours just to get to the junction where you continue straight for the northern road or take a right to head down south.

Anyway, there's one place on the road out of town that I call the bridge. It is where 3-4 lanes (depending on the number of lanes drivers make that day) merge into one and continue over something that looks like a two lane bridge to me. At this spot, you're guaranteed to sit in traffic awhile as you inch your way forward. Walking vendors take advantage of the fact that your car is stopped/you're a captive audience, and they walk by with various wares for sale (fruit themed shower curtains, mini fire extinguishers, nuts, fruit, underwear, sunglasses, soccer balls, matches, religious posters, cookies, etc.). Being a toubab, I usually get to peruse all the goods.

And, I'm usually so bored of the traffic that I eventually buy a few things!

Popenguine

P - Popenguine, a beach village located to the south of Dakar, I went for the first time this last weekend
O - Ocean - stunning!
P - Peeps - I went with 6 other friends from school
E - Enjoying Games - especially Boogle
N - Nothing in particular to do (and I loved it!!)
G - Gorgeous food - everyone took turns and cooked a meal
U - Umbrellas not needed, the weather was super
I - I vow to go again...
N - Nighttime campfire
E - Enjoyed the trip in every possible way!

Lompoul

Elizabeth, Hillary and I headed up north last weekend to visit Lompoul for some desert camping. It was a quiet, beautiful place...

Highlights: Sunset, Dromedary rides and nighttime drumming

I highly recommend it!

Vitamin D

I have to say...

I'm amazed at how happy I was to come back. It's been nice seeing my coworkers, not having to make it through a dark winter, and enjoying the warmth. Feeling sunshine on my face/body every day is super.

Of course, it's also amazing to have one of my favorite people here as well. Hill and I started the visit off with some good chats and Don Simon Sangria. Life is good!

Welcome to the World

The day before I left, my friend Laurie gave birth to a beautiful little baby girl. The due date was January 4th, and my fingers were crossed that I would be able to meet Audrey before I went back to Africa. It all worked out. Thanks, little one, for making a timely appearance!

Seattle...

...oh, how I love thee.

Hillary

I met Hillary volunteering in Seattle years ago, and we've been best buds ever since! She's an amazing artist and business woman and has the right mix of listening ear and solid advice giving as a friend. Annnnnnd, she's coming back with me to Senegal for three weeks. She did the same type of extended visit when I lived in Aberdeen, and this time I'm more excited because we have warm temperatures, sun and sand to look forward to in Dakar. Coupled with being an excellent vegetarian cook, she always inspires me to put good food and thoughts into my body and life. I can't wait to ring in the rest of January 2010 with such a positive person!!

Good Friends

I have such great friends! I always enjoy seeing them when I visit, and this time was no different. It was wonderful to see Deb, Erin & Matt. And, I also want to give a shout out to my college chums: Crease, Tiffy, Hickster, and Heather. Love you all!

New Years in Neligh, Nebraska

Mix the following together on one New Year's Weekend, 2009/2010:

• Joe, Jill, and Crystal
• One Buff's Dew Drop Inn (located in Neligh, Nebraska)
  
• 2 Bottles of Patron Tequila (Classy! And, we didn't even finish both)
• Amazing margaritas with real lime juice
• Lime Juice: From a Breville Juice Machine (from Jean, Jill's Mom)
  
• -8 degrees F and a bunch of snow (!!!!!)
• One pepper shot (courtesy of JEFF -- Hi Becky, Brian, and Jill!)
  
• A quad 4-wheel with snow plow
  
• A yellow lab called Toby
• A U of N Bowl win with loads of red clad Husker fans (Heidi, Kevin,Troy, Heather, friends, and a passel of kids)
• BOWL SEASON - Honestly, more football than I've watched in 5 years. I loved it!
  
• Asian Fusion Day
• A Twin (Hi Jeremy!)
  
• A 23 pound cat (or Garfield) named Eddie
  
• Stories about Harold*, the crazy Neligh zoo guy
• Karoke

Mix everything together and don't bake. You might ruin the fun.

*Names changed to protect the innocent

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

The New Year is a fun time for me...it always involves two of my favorite people - Joe & Jill.

Background Info: Nine years ago, I went to Guatemala for a month to do a Spanish language school. There, I met a group of University of Nebraska students doing a rotation for med school. Welllll, we all quickly became friends and enjoyed many a cold Gallo beer and sizzling salsa moves around town. While there, we came up with a plan to meet in 6 months time for New Years in Seattle. Six of us got together and rocked in 2003. That is when the tradition was born...

Since then, we get together in various cities to ring in New Years, depending on where people from our time in Guatemala are living. Most of the time, it's the constant Joe, Jill, and Crystal that make up the core group. And, we've done it for EIGHT YEARS!!!! Happy New Year!

New Years #1 - Seattle, Washington
New Years #2 - San Diego, California
New Years #3 - Dallas, Texas
New Years #4 - San Diego, California
New Years #5 - Seattle, Washington
New Years #6 - Edinburgh, Scotland
New Years #7 - Kansas City, Missouri
New Years #8 - Neleigh, Nebraska

These pictures are from previous (2005, 2006, and 2007) New Years. This year's pictures will follow shortly. We had a great time last night!!