Only in Senegal...

Only in Senegal:

...are there mint leaves (with no medical intent) drying in the pharmacy to be used for afternoon tea.
...while walking to work, does a guy ask you if you want to ride his donkey-- only for him to actually be sitting on a cart with a donkey pulling it.
...is there a delay in blood test results because the analyst has to go pray.
...is it okay to whip out your boobs out infront of everyone at any given moment to breast feed. Or better yet, just walk around completely topless.
...do I seriously fear getting cavities or diabetes due to the absolutely absurdly high sugar intake.
...does a coworker take you around back to show you his "goat", only for their really to actually be a goat grazing in the back of the clinic.
...do you live beneath a roof supporting 147 baby chicklings (3 died... the first ten days I am told are supposed to be most trying)
...do i live with a family unattended by parents (the dad travels all the time and the moms (theyre muslim) dont live in the house nor do they visit frequently); it feels like i have on 15-18 siblings because thats how many people are in the house all the time-- mostly friends or relatives to my older host brothers.
...am I told to give my own diagnosis/consultation when I went into the clinic sick last week. Then, after I offered my opinion, they then asked for the same concerning what I should be perscribed. (in the end, it was they who made the final shots, but still) I wanted to cry. That was Thursday. Today is Monday and I am still sick.


Just to keep it real, Sebi has been humbling and tiring, the trials probably no more substantial than Dakar-- but without a ear to listen (that understands English) when venting seems like the only solution, its a bit more tough.

Ive been learning to control my tongue each time the pharmacist (who I am shadowing) loses his temper at me because I can't understand what he's trying to say through his heavy lisp. I was really angry at first, unable to pinpoint where our communication continuously broke down, but now that Im starting to get a better understanding of the situation, Ive been steadily building upon my patience. On that same note, Ive been learning to control my temper each time I get screamed at (in the literal, all heads in the clinic turn and stare at the toubab sense) for not reading his mind, not having prior knowledge of antibiotics and vitamins (from everything from all the generic names, to their functions, their sensitivity to ages, etc), not knowing seemingly futile organization related tidbits (like knowing that the pills are in the middle shelf while the injections are on the top shelf), and random ass facts like all the villages, towns, or cities between dakar and thies (we had a good 15 min screaming session today over this in which I exhibited absolutely no self control or grace).

Much like what Mairead mentioned in her entry, womens rights have really been starting to irk me-- or more so, i guess, the lack of. I came in thinking, okay, even though I hold a progressively liberal point of view concerning women's rights, I was raised in a church environment that has prepared me for this. NO it didn't. I may go off on a rant on this some other day, but I really dont want to walk home from the cyber cafe depressed. Ill wait until Im back in the States with a veggie chipotle burrito (with tons of guac), a slurpie, and a Costco slice of pizza to buffer any feelings of melancholy.