Learning the ropes

Day 3 in Senegal!! So far we’ve been crazy busy. Every day is filled with lessons on etiquette, how to use the bathroom, Wolof, safety, health precautions and anything else you could possibly think of. Our first full day was a culture fair. At the best station we tried juices frequently served in Senegal. Baobab fruit juice is the best juice ever. This morning some of the girls and I managed to squeeze in a run before breakfast. We’re only allowed out of the compound between 7am and 7:30pm but since classes are from 9:15 to 6:15 and breakfast and dinner have to be squeezed in we have a very narrow time frame.

The dorms

Last night we got to go out in downtown Thies for the first time. The market there is the second biggest in the country! All the sights, smells, and sounds are overwhelming. People, cars, and livestock are everywhere and stands are overflowing with exotic fruit and fabrics. Senegal is so beautiful and so ugly at the same time. The tropical flora Arabic architecture is beautiful and the people are stunning but trash and standing water are everywhere. Many buildings are decrepit or completely vacant and the livestock is emaciated. We also got to go out to “the catholic bar.” It’s part of a family living compound so there were kids running around everywhere. I think I liked the set up better than bars at home. The ambiance was so relaxed- perfect for games and conversations. The tile patio is completely closed in by a high stone wall and tropical brushes. I’d take that in my house any day!

Training center garden

Finally, the food in the training center is amazing, although it’s all fats and carbs. Breakfast isn’t anything exciting- just baguettes with jam or nutella. For lunch everyone sits on mats around a big bowl of rice and beans covered in some sort of delicious sauce and seasonings. We eat only out of the section and only with our right hand because the left is only used to wipe your butt. It sucks being left-handed in Senegal. I can’t wait to be assigned a language (hopefully Wolof) and start practicing with my host family and instructor in our training community. Just two more days until we get our assignments!

Two years, two bags

I hate goodbyes. I’m so glad that part of the journey is over because next time I’ll get to say hello:)

The past couple days have been a whirlwind of amazing times with friends and family and many tears. It seems like I finally found a place at OSU- an amazing group of friends and an awesome student organization to be a part of. I’ll especially miss Cinna, my kitty cat. She turned up on our porch two years ago and the rest is history. She’s my first pet that I’ve taken care of all by myself. (Except the vet bills haha.)It’s not all bad though! My bags were both under 50 lbs and security didn’t strip-search me.  It’s also going to be amazing to make so many new friends and be part of another culture. Despite any recent misgivings or second thoughts, this is what I want. I couldn’t live with myself if I bailed now. Ever since I was little I didn’t want a “boring” life. Even if being an explorer and sailing around the world isn’t an option, this is even better. No regrets!

à plus, Ohio!

Love them!

The OSU Student Farm

Just over one month left until departure!

Reality is starting to set in- I'm no longer a college student:( I've moved off-campus and started work at the Columbus Zoo selling concessions so I can pay for supplies to take to Africa. Annnd all my friends are either moving away or start class next week. It's ok, it'll be my turn soon. There's now a Facebook group for volunteers departing for the September staging and I plan on starting practicing Wolof tomorrow (hopefully).

Stealing veggies

Besides the Zoo, I've spent a lot of time this summer volunteering on OSU's Student Farm. It's been a great learning experience and I got promoted to assistant marketing manager! For any students at OSU, I highly encourage getting involved, even if you aren't an agriculture major. The gardens are a great resource for learning management practices for fruits and veggies as well as sustainable farming methods, and this all happens in a fun atmosphere with great people. It doesn't matter if you've never seen a vegetable. There's activities everyone will enjoy participating in. We do everything from planting, transplanting, fertilizing, tilling, and pruning to building high-tunnels, harvesting, advertising, running market stands, and preparing our 16 CSA shares. Check out the website for more info!

http://studentfarm.wordpress.com/

The market stand with some of our lovely workers

Organic plots

ICM plots

Graduation!

It's official...
I'm now an OSU alumni and no longer a student! Now just a summer to kill before my journey as a Peace Corps volunteer starts.

It's hard to believe that 4 years ago I cried signing my letter accepting Ohio State's admission, committing me as a student at this University. I wanted so badly to leave the state and study somewhere new... but my parents knew best. I've graduated debt-free and with a great education.

I've been wondering where I'd be now if I'd attended a different school... would I have traveled to Ireland, Chile, and Brazil? Would I be an agriculture major? Would I have had the opportunity to spend my summers in on an island in Lake Erie banding birds or in the barns with cows and sheep? Would I have run two marathons? Would I be able to work in gardens learning about alternative growing methods? I can't imagine experiencing all this somewhere else. I'm so happy with the path life is on right now. Despite a rough start, fighting my parents all the way, I'm glad I spent four amazing years at Ohio State.

Thank you to all the friends and family who got me to where I am. You know who you are:)

Though age may dim our memory's store

We'll think of happy days of yore

True to friend and frank to foe

As sturdy sons of Ohio

If on seas of care we roll

'Neath blackened sky or barren shoal

Thoughts of Thee bid darkness go

Dear Alma Matter... Ohio!

Blueberry Cake (not from a box)!

Graduates:)

Celebrating!

With the parents

My roommate, friend, mentor, & boss

Ohio Stadium at Commencement

My Aspirations

My aspiration statement for the Peace Corps. We're required to send it in as an introduction to the in-country staff and as a writing sample. Might as well share since it's pretty important and I put a lot of thought (and time) into it.

1. The professional attributes that you plan to use, and what aspirations you hope to fulfill, during your Peace Corps service:

One of my aspirations for my Peace Corps service is to get lots of hands-on experience in agriculture. I didn’t grow up on a farm, and as an animal science major, much of my experience in the field is theoretical. The reason I got into agriculture in the first place is because I love being outside surrounded by nature. I saw agriculture as a practical way to spend my days outdoors doing physical labor and working with animals and with the land. It’s also an area with many positive aspects; however it does have room for improvements as well. As a young, passionate person with an open mind I feel I have the potential to make a positive impact, no matter how big or small, to make the world a better place. When a started thinking about graduating and what I wanted to do after college, none of the jobs I found appealed to me. I wanted something that would push me to see the world from a new perspective as well as expanding my knowledge of agriculture. Peace Corps is the logical next step.

Other aspirations include being thrown into a totally new way of life and adapting. I'm ready to try something difficult. I want to live in a place with few of the amenities that are taken for granted here in the States. I want to experience how so many other people in the world live so I can better appreciate what I have and be less wasteful. In addition I’m excited to take on the responsibility that comes with a leadership role. I’m ready to put everything I have into building trust and respect in a new community and coping with my triumphs and failures in projects that benefit people and the environment. I also want to become fluent in another language, less materialistic, and see new things and meet new people.

Attributes I intend to use are my self-motivation and strong work ethic. Whether in athletics or the classroom, failure has never been an option for me. Even if I don’t come in first, I always give things my best shot. I never want to look back and be ashamed of my work or have my options limited in the future because of something that was under my control. I also intend on using my leadership skills and working on being a team player. Much of my organized athletic activities and student farm work has involved something physically hard or uncomfortable accomplished as a group. Although I realize that I’m going to learn as much or more than the people I help, ultimately I’m in this to help the people in the community I’m serving. I intend on listening to them and trying to include, teach, and make as many people happy as possible. Finally, I will maintain my humility. I’ve always been a broad-minded person and these attributes will serve me well in a new culture and hopefully help me gain respect and confidence in my new community.

2. Your strategies for working effectively with host country partners to meet expressed needs:

To work effectively with host country partners, I plan on being a good listener. I’ll do my best to befriend and get to know those I work with. If they feel comfortable with me, they’ll be more likely to say if I’m doing something wrong. And by getting to know them, I’ll learn what really needs to get accomplished and if I need to prioritize. Furthermore, if problems with colleagues do arise, I’ll go to my host family and friends within the community, or my Program Director, for advice on how to handle the situation in an appropriate manner. Lastly, I’ll remember that it’s very rare for anything to go exactly as planned. You can’t let this upset you or you won’t be as effective at helping and learning. It’s important to stay flexible and seize opportunities as they come.

3. Your strategies for adapting to a new culture with respect to your own cultural background:

Adjusting to a new culture will be difficult. I expect one of the biggest challenges is dealing with feelings of loneliness and isolation. I’m used to having family and friends close by to lean on. To cope I plan on putting all my energy into the projects I’m working on and into building new relationships with the people in the community to create a new support network. Another challenge is cultural practices and language barriers. The best way to deal with this may be to be as involved as possible with the lives of the people I’m staying with. This way I’ll become acquainted with traditions and practices and understand the meaning or reason behind them. Being interested and respectful will help me to gain acceptance and not feel like such an outsider. Paying close attention during pre-service training and following all advice given there will help as well. Also, speaking with people as much as possible will help me to master the language faster and further help me surmount cultural barriers. I try to listen before making any assumptions. This is about the people I’m with, not me.

4. The skills and knowledge you hope to gain during pre-service training to best serve your future community and project:

During pre-service training I’m especially concerned about learning the agriculture and extension skills needed to successfully complete the projects I take on. I’m an animal science major, not a crop and horticulture major, so despite volunteering extensively in the student gardens, my knowledge is limited. Not to mention tropical agriculture is totally different from Ohio agriculture! Hopefully I will learn the production and teaching skills required.

Local language skills are also a concern for me. I have a basic understanding of French but that’s about it. I’d also like to learn about cultural customs and traditions so I can stay safe and integrate into my new life faster. I’m assuming during this time volunteers will be able to get to know each other. By meeting and working with other volunteers in my sector, later we can collaborate and pool our skill sets in a productive way.

5. How you think Peace Corps will influence your personal and professional aspirations after your service ends:

After my service ends, I hope to either get a fulfilling job or go back to school and get my Masters in something related to sustainable agriculture. Ultimately I’d like to integrate my knowledge of plant and animal production and use it to help feed people, whether in America or elsewhere in the world, in a way that doesn’t destroy the environment. Maybe I'll even have my own farm. Personally, I want to further develop my leadership and language skills to make myself a more valuable, effective worker in a community of farmers and consumers.

My Peace Corps Assignment

12 days ago I received my invitation to serve as a Sustainable Agriculture Extension Agent in Senegal, Africa. I've never been keen on sharing my emotions or dumb mistakes with the whole world, but if I'm ever going to jump into the 21st century and join the blogging craze I suppose now is the time to do it.

According to the booklet I got in the mail, my duties will include:

• Increasing village-level field crop, rice and vegetable production by promoting the usage of appropriate, improved variety seed and their associated agricultural practices.
• Protecting village-level field crop, rice and vegetable production areas from insect and pest damage, through the promotion of sustainable agricultural means, such as Integrated Pest Management.
• Increasing soil fertility through the promotion of sustainable organic means, such as composting.
• Protecting the crop production areas from animal and wind damage through the promotion of sustainable agricultural means, such as live fencing and windbreaks.
• Increasing the production of market-quality vegetables for sale and home consumption.
• Assist your community to develop a 5-year action plan or update the existing one.
• Promote improved seed selection, storage, and handling techniques.
• Provide technical support to other Agriculture Volunteers in the same zone.

Needless to say, I'm a little (ok, VERY) nervous because I know much more about cattle and livestock production than growing fruits and veggies. Maybe I can help by getting some animals to come poop on the crops..

I love cattle!!! (and water buffalo)