Fabric World AKA H.L.M.

In Dakar there is a market where fabric and textile related goods are sold. I haven't been brave enough to go, language barriers and haggling gives me the fear. Rebecca, our house guest and spider biologist from Portland, speaks both Wolof and French. She has lived in Senegal before and travels here for work. Recently she was in Guinea finding a certain poisonous spider related to the Brown Recluse.

Rebecca guided us to the town of fabric. First, we took a car rapid (another new experience for me) which is the local way to commute. When we arrived we speed walked through venders, looking for a specific wax fabric. They aren't waxy and but wax is used in the process.

I love these designs. I could buy them all. Rebecca negotiated us a very good price. $5.00 (2500 CFA) for 6 meters (almost 6 yards). We bought two different patterns. Jackie, a colleague, sews skirts, pillow cases, etc. I don't know what we'll do with ours yet. I am thinking duvet cover or table cloth.

It was a taxing day; negotiating, speed walking, fumes, and buses can take it out of you. It was a good experience though.

Thanks Rebecca!

Check out Rebecca negotiate a price for our fabric. Actually he is describing the quality of certain fabrics and that's why they cost more. Oddly enough the items he was charging more for were duplicated in a cheaper section. I went for the cheaper ones and so did she.

The Winter Holiday Party

ISD employee winter party was held at Wayne's house last Friday. Catered Indian food, free drinks (the good ones!), dancing, and a white elephant exchange. It was the best work holiday party I have ever been to. People danced, said inappropriate things, drank, and seemed to have had a nice time.

A Trachea From The Sky

Tuesday was a religious holiday here in Senegal and it is called Tabaski (yeah kinda like the sauce). People here buy a ram, sacrifice it in front of their home, and then have a family feast. It's a tribute to Abraham, the guy that was going to kill his son, then God took a valum and said, never mind, kill a ram instead. It's cool that Islam recognizes Bible figures like Abraham and Jesus. Anyways, so our friend Stacy was on her way to our house, saw a bird above her, the bird was spooked, and dropped this beautiful ram trachea in front of her. Imagine if it hit her on the head, gross!

Things We Have Picked Up

We have picked these things up since we moved here. The tapestry was in the bungalow when we got here, the stuffed animals were purchased at a bazaar a few weeks ago, I bought the mask from a walking vendor at the beach, the little guy with the blue shirt I got at pink lake, and the other statue I got from last nights white elephant (sorry Tod). I love the statue of the guy with the blue shirt. You can buy statues like that of doctors, business men, military, etc. and they come as big as six feet tall. I really want a tall one, but don't know how I would get it home. I would also like to be cliche and start a mask collection. I have this idea of collecting statues, rugs, tapestries, masks, and what not and when I return home I can make our office into some kind of archeological/Indiana Jones themed study. Dark walls, amber lighting, tall books shelves, and decorated with the bits and pieces from Africa. Gabbie could call me "shorty" and I would call her "Indy" or "Dockta Jones".

Dakar Train Station

The Dakar-Niger Railway connects Dakar to Mali. I don't think it has seen a lot of changes since its completion in the early 1900s. Built and owned by the French, when Senegal gained its independence in 1960 they got the the station and haven't done a lot to it since. I have been warned not to ride as it often derails. A friend of mine is going to Mali for Christmas and is taking the train, staying in the nicest section for 60 bucks! Not bad. It would be cool if the government restored it to its original beauty.