On jaaraama!
Ｊｕｓｔ ａ ｑｕｉｃｋ ｎｏｔｅ ａｂｏｕｔ ｃｏｍｍｕｎｉｃａｔｉｏｎ ｂｅｆｏｒｅ Ｉ ｕｐｄａｔｅ ｙｏｕ ｏｎ ｍｙ ｌｉｆｅ ａｎｄ ｔｉｍｅｓ ｉｎ Ｓｅｎｅｇａｌ： Ｉ ｈａｖｅ ａｌｌ ｍｙ ｃｏｎｔａｃｔ ｉｎｆｏ ｏｎ ｍｙ ｂｌｏｇ， ｉｎｃｌｕｄｉｎｇ ｍｙ ｃｅｌｌ ｎｕｍｂｅｒ， ｗｈｉｃｈ ｉｓ ａｓ ｆｏｌｌｏｗｓ （ａｇａｉｎ）：
ＰＣＶ Ｓｔｅｖｅ Ｓｕｌｌｉｖａｎ
Ｂ．Ｐ． ３７
Ｋｅｄｏｕｇｏｕ， Ｓｅｎｅｇａｌ
Ｗｅｓｔ Ａｆｒｉｃａ
Ｃｅｌｌ： ２２１ （ｃｏｕｎｔｒｙ ｃｏｄｅ） ７７ １８７ ８７６０
Ａｐｐａｒｅｎｔｌｙ ｃａｌｌｉｎｇ ｆｒｏｍ ｔｈｅ Ｓｔａｔｅｓ ａｌｓｏ ｒｅｑｕｉｒｅｓ ｄｉａｌｉｎｇ ０１１ ｂｅｆｏｒｅ ｔｈｅ ｃｏｕｎｔｒｙ ｃｏｄｅ， ｓｏ ｉｆ ｙｏｕ ｄｏ ａｔｔｅｍｐｔ ｔｏ ｃａｌｌ ｍｅ ａｎｄ ｉｔ ｄｏｅｓｎ’ｔ ｗｏｒｋ ｗｉｔｈ ｊｕｓｔ ｔｈｅ ２２１， ｔｒｙ ｉｎｓｅｒｔｉｎｇ ｔｈｅ ０１１ ｆｉｒｓｔ．
I wanted to take this opportunity to send a quick update before we head back to our homestay families for the next week, and for the (what?!) last time! It's hard to believe that we've come to the beginning of our 7th week of training here in Senegal, and I'm proud to announce that we are still 40 for 40 in our "stage", without having had ANYONE "early-terminate" (i.e. quit). It's probably not the first time it's ever happened, but it does seem to be a rarity and we feel good about being able to have our entire group who met in Philadelphia a lifetime ago swear-in together on Nov. 7th.
Regarding training since my last update (which I have finally been able to add pictures to my last post about the waterfall, so check them out when you get a chance), things have been going pretty smoothly, with the usual back-and-forth between our homestays in Pout and the training center in Thies. We had a four-day stay in Pout with the usual language training and working on our gardens/field crops, then came back to Thies for a few more sessions and shots, and then the fun began.
This past week a very important event took place at the training center: our "Counterpart Workshop". For every volunteer site, there are two "counterparts", a male and a female typically, who are chosen from the community to act as a type of liason between the volunteer and the rest of the village. While we certainly don't have to work solely with these individuals during our service, and likely we'll end up working with others more often, it's beneficial to already have connections on the day we install in the village so we have people we kind of know to show us around, introduce us to important people, etc.
This workshop was a great experience for the trainees and counterparts alike (many of whom have attended before for past volunteers in their villages) because it gives the counterparts a glimpse into what our lives have been like over the last 6 weeks by explaining the kinds of trainings we have been getting and what they are ｍａｄｅ ｔｏ ｐｒｅｐａｒｅ ｕｓ ｆｏｒ． （Ｉ ａｐｏｌｏｇｉｚｅ ｆｏｒ ｔｈｅ ｆｏｎｔ ｂｕｔ Ｉ ｄｏｎ’ｔ ｋｎｏｗ ｗｈａｔ ｊｕｓｔ ｈａｐｐｅｎｅｄ ａｎｄ Ｉ ｃａｎ’ｔ ｆｉｘ ｉｔ．） Ｔｈｅ ｂｅｓｔ ｓｅｓｓｉｏｎ ｗａｓ ｏｎｅ ｉｎ ｗｈｉｃｈ ｔｈｅｙ ｈａｄ ａ ｇｉｒｌ ｆｒｏｍ ｏｕｒ Ａｇｒｉｃｕｌｔｕｒｅ ｇｒｏｕｐ （ｔｈｅｒｅ ａｒｅ ９ ｏｆ ｕｓ； ｅａｃｈ ｓｅｓｓｉｏｎ ｗａｓ ｄｉｖｉｄｅｄ ｕｐ ｂｙ ｗｈａｔ ”ｓｅｃｔｏｒ” ｙｏｕ’ｌｌ ｂｅ ｓｅｒｖｉｎｇ ｉｎ） ｔｅａｃｈ ａ ｌｅｓｓｏｎ ｉｎ Ｊａｐａｎｅｓｅ， ａ ｌａｎｇｕａｇｅ ｗｈｉｃｈ ｓｈｅ ｒａｎｄｏｍｌｙ ｋｎｏｗｓ ｈｏｗ ｔｏ ｓｐｅａｋ． Ａ ｓｍａｌｌ ｇｒｏｕｐ ｏｆ ｃｏｕｎｔｅｒｐａｒｔｓ ｗａｓ ｌｅｄ ｉｎ ａ ｂａｓｉｃ Ｊａｐａｎｅｓｅ ｌｅｓｓｏｎ ｔｏ ｓｈｏｗ ｔｈｅｍ ｈｏｗ ｈａｒｄ ｉｔ ｈａｓ ｂｅｅｎ ｔｏ ｈａｖｅ ｔｏ ｌｅａｒｎ ａｎ ｅｎｔｉｒｅｌｙ ｎｅｗ ｌａｎｇｕａｇｅ ｉｎ ｓｕｃｈ ａ ｓｈｏｒｔ ａｍｏｕｎｔ ｏｆ ｔｉｍｅ． Ｔｈｅｙ ｗｅｒｅ ｖｅｒｙ ｉｍｐｒｅｓｓｅｄ ｂｙ ｔｈｉｓ ｓｅｓｓｉｏｎ， ｓａｙｉｎｇ ｔｈａｔ ａ ｌｏｔ ｏｆ ｔｈｅｍ ｗｏｕｌｄ ｔａｋｅ ｕｐｗａｒｄｓ ｏｆ ５ ｙｅａｒｓ ｔｏ ｌｅａｒｎ ｔｈｉｓ ｅｎｔｉｒｅｌｙ ｎｅｗ ｌａｎｇｕａｇｅ， ｗｈｅｎ ｗｅ ｈａｖｅ ｔｏ ｒｅａｃｈ ｔｈｅ ”Ｉｎｔｅｒｍｅｄｉａｔｅ Ｌｏｗ” ｌｅｖｅｌ ｂｙ ｔｈｅ ｅｎｄ ｏｆ ８ ｗｅｅｋｓ （ａｃｔｕａｌｌｙ， ２３ ｏｆ ｕｓ ａｌｒｅａｄｙ ｈａｖｅ， ｗｈｉｃｈ ｓｅｅｍｓ ｔｏ ｂｅ ｃｏｎｖｉｎｃｉｎｇ ｔｈｅ ｔｒａｉｎｉｎｇ ｓｔａｆｆ ｔｈａｔ ｔｈｅｒｅ ｉｓ ｓｏｍｅｔｈｉｎｇ ｔｏ ｔｈｉｓ ｎｅｗ ｔｒａｉｎｉｎｇ ｍｏｄｅｌ ｉｎ ｗｈｉｃｈ ｗｅ ａｒｅ ｔｈｅ ”ｇｕｉｎｅａ ｐｉｇｇｉｅｓ．”
Ａｎｙｗａｙ， ｔｈｅ ｂｅｓｔ ｐａｒｔ ｏｆ ｔｈｅ ｗｏｒｋｓｈｏｐ ｈａｄ ｔｏ ｈａｖｅ ｂｅｅｎ ｔｈｅ ｆａｃｔ ｔｈａｔ ＢＯＴＨ ｏｆ ｍｉｎｅ ａｃｔｕａｌｌｙ ｃａｍｅ ｆｒｏｍ Ｋｅｋｅｒｅｓｓｙ！ Ｉｔ ｗａｓｎ’ｔ ｌｏｏｋｉｎｇ ｔｏｏ ｇｏｏｄ ｔｈｅ ｄａｙ ｂｅｆｏｒｅ ａｎｄ ｃｕｒｒｅｎｔ ｖｏｌｕｎｔｅｅｒｓ ｆｒｏｍ ｔｈｅ ｒｅｇｉｏｎ ｏｆ Ｋｅｄｏｕｇｏｕ ｈａｄ ｔｈｅｉｒ ｄｏｕｂｔｓ ｂｅｃａｕｓｅ ｏｆ ｈｏｗ ｌｏｎｇ ａ ｊｏｕｒｎｅｙ ｉｔ ｗｏｕｌｄ ｂｅ ｆｏｒ ｔｈｅｍ， ａｎｄ ｔｈｅ ｆａｃｔ ｔｈａｔ ｔｈｅｙ ｈａｄ ｎｅｖｅｒ ｐｉｃｋｅｄ ｕｐ ｔｈｅ ｔｒａｖｅｌ ｍｏｎｅｙ ｔｈａｔ ｗａｓ ｂｅｉｎｇ ｐｒｏｖｉｄｅｄ ｆｏｒ ｔｈｅｍ． Ｂｕｔ， ｓｕｒｅ ｅｎｏｕｇｈ， ｂｒｉｇｈｔ ａｎｄ ｅａｒｌｙ ｏｎ Ｄａｙ １， Ｉ ｍｅｔ ｂｏｔｈ ｍｙ ｍａｌｅ ａｎｄ ｆｅｍａｌｅ ｃｏｕｎｔｅｒｐａｒｔ （ｗｈｏ ｈａｄ ｂｅｇｕｎ ｔｈｅ ｔｒｉｐ ｔｗｏ ｄａｙｓ ｅａｒｌｉｅｒ）， ｗｈｏ ａｓ ｉｔ ｔｕｒｎｓ ｏｕｔ ｗｉｌｌ ａｌｓｏ ｂｅ ｍｙ ”ｍｏｍ” ａｎｄ ”ｄａｄ” （Ｉ’ｍ ｐｒｅｔｔｙ ｓｕｒｅ）．
Ｔｈｅｙ ａｌｓｏ ｅｎｄｏｗｅｄ ｍｅ ｗｉｔｈ ａ（ｎｏｔｈｅｒ） ｎｅｗ ｎａｍｅ： Ｓａｍｂａ Ｄｉａｌｌｏ， ｎａｍｅｄ ａｆｔｅｒ ｔｈｅ ｃｈｉｅｆ ｏｆ ｔｈｅｉｒ ｖｉｌｌａｇｅ． Ｎｏｔ ｔｈａｔ Ｉ ｄｏｎ’ｔ ｌｉｋｅ ”Ａｄｒａｍａｎ” ｂｕｔ Ｓａｍｂａ ｈａｓ ａ ｃｅｒｔａｉｎ ｒｉｎｇ ｔｏ ｉｔ ｔｈａｔ Ｉ ｌｉｋｅ ｂｅｔｔｅｒ．
Ｉｔ ｗａｓ ｓｏ ｅｎｃｏｕｒａｇｉｎｇ ｔｏ ｓｅｅ ｈｏｗ ｍｏｔｉｖａｔｅｄ ｍｙ ｃｏｕｎｔｅｒｐａｒｔｓ ａｒｅ ｂｙ ｓｅｅｉｎｇ ｔｈｅｉｒ ｄｅｄｉｃａｔｉｏｎ ｔｏ ｇｅｔ ｈｅｒｅ ｆｏｒ ｔｈｉｓ ｉｍｐｏｒｔａｎｔ ｗｏｒｋｓｈｏｐ， ｅｓｐｅｃｉａｌｌｙ ｓｉｎｃｅ Ｉ’ｍ ｇｏｉｎｇ ｔｏ ｂｅ ａ ｎｅｗ ｓｉｔｅ， ｔｈａｔ ｈａｄ ｂｅｅｎ ａ ｃｏｎｃｅｒｎ ｏｆ ｍｉｎｅ． Ｂｕｔ ｎｏｗ， ａｎｄ Ｉ ｔｈｉｎｋ Ｉ ｓｐｅａｋ ｆｏｒ ａ ｌｏｔ ｏｆ ｔｈｅ ｔｒａｉｎｅｅｓ， Ｉ’ｍ ｊｕｓｔ ｖｅｒｙ ａｎｘｉｏｕｓ ｔｏ ｓｗｅａｒ－ｉｎ ａｎｄ ｓｅｔｔｌｅ－ｉｎ ｔｏ ｍｙ ｎｅｗ ｓｉｔｅ ＡＳＡＰ．
Ｔｏｄａｙ ｂｅｇｉｎｓ ｏｕｒ ｌａｓｔ ｈｏｍｅｓｔａｙ ｐｅｒｉｏｄ， ａ ｓｔａｙ ｏｆ ８ ｄａｙｓ， ａｎｄ ｔｈｅｎ ｗｅ ｗｏｎ’ｔ ｓｅｅ ｏｕｒ ｈｏｍｅｓｔａｙ ｆａｍｉｌｉｅｓ ａｇａｉｎ ｕｎｔｉｌ ｔｈｅ ｓｗｅａｒ－ｉｎ ｉｎ Ｄａｋａｒ ｏｎ ｔｈｅ ７ｔｈ， ｉｆ ｔｈｅｙ ｃａｎ ｍａｋｅ ｉｔ． Ｈｏｐｅｆｕｌｌｙ Ｉ ｃａｎ ｃｏｍｅ ｂａｃｋ ｔｏ ｖｉｓｉｔ ｔｈｅｍ ｓｏｍｅｔｉｍｅ， ｗｈｅｎ Ｉ ｃａｎ ｃｏｍｍｕｎｉｃａｔｅ ｍｏｒｅ ｔｈｉｎｇｓ ｔｈａｎ ”Ｙｅｓ， ｉｔ’ｓ ｈｏｔ”， ”Ｉ’ｍ ｆｕｌｌ”， ”Ｉ’ｍ ｇｏｉｎｇ”， ａｎｄ ”Ｗｈａｔ ｔｈｉｓ ｉｓ？”．
En Ontuma,
Adraman Barry
Samba Diallo
Steve "Sully" Sullivan
Ｊｕｓｔ ａ ｑｕｉｃｋ ｎｏｔｅ ａｂｏｕｔ ｃｏｍｍｕｎｉｃａｔｉｏｎ ｂｅｆｏｒｅ Ｉ ｕｐｄａｔｅ ｙｏｕ ｏｎ ｍｙ ｌｉｆｅ ａｎｄ ｔｉｍｅｓ ｉｎ Ｓｅｎｅｇａｌ： Ｉ ｈａｖｅ ａｌｌ ｍｙ ｃｏｎｔａｃｔ ｉｎｆｏ ｏｎ ｍｙ ｂｌｏｇ， ｉｎｃｌｕｄｉｎｇ ｍｙ ｃｅｌｌ ｎｕｍｂｅｒ， ｗｈｉｃｈ ｉｓ ａｓ ｆｏｌｌｏｗｓ （ａｇａｉｎ）：
ＰＣＶ Ｓｔｅｖｅ Ｓｕｌｌｉｖａｎ
Ｂ．Ｐ． ３７
Ｋｅｄｏｕｇｏｕ， Ｓｅｎｅｇａｌ
Ｗｅｓｔ Ａｆｒｉｃａ
Ｃｅｌｌ： ２２１ （ｃｏｕｎｔｒｙ ｃｏｄｅ） ７７ １８７ ８７６０
Ａｐｐａｒｅｎｔｌｙ ｃａｌｌｉｎｇ ｆｒｏｍ ｔｈｅ Ｓｔａｔｅｓ ａｌｓｏ ｒｅｑｕｉｒｅｓ ｄｉａｌｉｎｇ ０１１ ｂｅｆｏｒｅ ｔｈｅ ｃｏｕｎｔｒｙ ｃｏｄｅ， ｓｏ ｉｆ ｙｏｕ ｄｏ ａｔｔｅｍｐｔ ｔｏ ｃａｌｌ ｍｅ ａｎｄ ｉｔ ｄｏｅｓｎ’ｔ ｗｏｒｋ ｗｉｔｈ ｊｕｓｔ ｔｈｅ ２２１， ｔｒｙ ｉｎｓｅｒｔｉｎｇ ｔｈｅ ０１１ ｆｉｒｓｔ．
I wanted to take this opportunity to send a quick update before we head back to our homestay families for the next week, and for the (what?!) last time! It's hard to believe that we've come to the beginning of our 7th week of training here in Senegal, and I'm proud to announce that we are still 40 for 40 in our "stage", without having had ANYONE "early-terminate" (i.e. quit). It's probably not the first time it's ever happened, but it does seem to be a rarity and we feel good about being able to have our entire group who met in Philadelphia a lifetime ago swear-in together on Nov. 7th.
Regarding training since my last update (which I have finally been able to add pictures to my last post about the waterfall, so check them out when you get a chance), things have been going pretty smoothly, with the usual back-and-forth between our homestays in Pout and the training center in Thies. We had a four-day stay in Pout with the usual language training and working on our gardens/field crops, then came back to Thies for a few more sessions and shots, and then the fun began.
This past week a very important event took place at the training center: our "Counterpart Workshop". For every volunteer site, there are two "counterparts", a male and a female typically, who are chosen from the community to act as a type of liason between the volunteer and the rest of the village. While we certainly don't have to work solely with these individuals during our service, and likely we'll end up working with others more often, it's beneficial to already have connections on the day we install in the village so we have people we kind of know to show us around, introduce us to important people, etc.
This workshop was a great experience for the trainees and counterparts alike (many of whom have attended before for past volunteers in their villages) because it gives the counterparts a glimpse into what our lives have been like over the last 6 weeks by explaining the kinds of trainings we have been getting and what they are ｍａｄｅ ｔｏ ｐｒｅｐａｒｅ ｕｓ ｆｏｒ． （Ｉ ａｐｏｌｏｇｉｚｅ ｆｏｒ ｔｈｅ ｆｏｎｔ ｂｕｔ Ｉ ｄｏｎ’ｔ ｋｎｏｗ ｗｈａｔ ｊｕｓｔ ｈａｐｐｅｎｅｄ ａｎｄ Ｉ ｃａｎ’ｔ ｆｉｘ ｉｔ．） Ｔｈｅ ｂｅｓｔ ｓｅｓｓｉｏｎ ｗａｓ ｏｎｅ ｉｎ ｗｈｉｃｈ ｔｈｅｙ ｈａｄ ａ ｇｉｒｌ ｆｒｏｍ ｏｕｒ Ａｇｒｉｃｕｌｔｕｒｅ ｇｒｏｕｐ （ｔｈｅｒｅ ａｒｅ ９ ｏｆ ｕｓ； ｅａｃｈ ｓｅｓｓｉｏｎ ｗａｓ ｄｉｖｉｄｅｄ ｕｐ ｂｙ ｗｈａｔ ”ｓｅｃｔｏｒ” ｙｏｕ’ｌｌ ｂｅ ｓｅｒｖｉｎｇ ｉｎ） ｔｅａｃｈ ａ ｌｅｓｓｏｎ ｉｎ Ｊａｐａｎｅｓｅ， ａ ｌａｎｇｕａｇｅ ｗｈｉｃｈ ｓｈｅ ｒａｎｄｏｍｌｙ ｋｎｏｗｓ ｈｏｗ ｔｏ ｓｐｅａｋ． Ａ ｓｍａｌｌ ｇｒｏｕｐ ｏｆ ｃｏｕｎｔｅｒｐａｒｔｓ ｗａｓ ｌｅｄ ｉｎ ａ ｂａｓｉｃ Ｊａｐａｎｅｓｅ ｌｅｓｓｏｎ ｔｏ ｓｈｏｗ ｔｈｅｍ ｈｏｗ ｈａｒｄ ｉｔ ｈａｓ ｂｅｅｎ ｔｏ ｈａｖｅ ｔｏ ｌｅａｒｎ ａｎ ｅｎｔｉｒｅｌｙ ｎｅｗ ｌａｎｇｕａｇｅ ｉｎ ｓｕｃｈ ａ ｓｈｏｒｔ ａｍｏｕｎｔ ｏｆ ｔｉｍｅ． Ｔｈｅｙ ｗｅｒｅ ｖｅｒｙ ｉｍｐｒｅｓｓｅｄ ｂｙ ｔｈｉｓ ｓｅｓｓｉｏｎ， ｓａｙｉｎｇ ｔｈａｔ ａ ｌｏｔ ｏｆ ｔｈｅｍ ｗｏｕｌｄ ｔａｋｅ ｕｐｗａｒｄｓ ｏｆ ５ ｙｅａｒｓ ｔｏ ｌｅａｒｎ ｔｈｉｓ ｅｎｔｉｒｅｌｙ ｎｅｗ ｌａｎｇｕａｇｅ， ｗｈｅｎ ｗｅ ｈａｖｅ ｔｏ ｒｅａｃｈ ｔｈｅ ”Ｉｎｔｅｒｍｅｄｉａｔｅ Ｌｏｗ” ｌｅｖｅｌ ｂｙ ｔｈｅ ｅｎｄ ｏｆ ８ ｗｅｅｋｓ （ａｃｔｕａｌｌｙ， ２３ ｏｆ ｕｓ ａｌｒｅａｄｙ ｈａｖｅ， ｗｈｉｃｈ ｓｅｅｍｓ ｔｏ ｂｅ ｃｏｎｖｉｎｃｉｎｇ ｔｈｅ ｔｒａｉｎｉｎｇ ｓｔａｆｆ ｔｈａｔ ｔｈｅｒｅ ｉｓ ｓｏｍｅｔｈｉｎｇ ｔｏ ｔｈｉｓ ｎｅｗ ｔｒａｉｎｉｎｇ ｍｏｄｅｌ ｉｎ ｗｈｉｃｈ ｗｅ ａｒｅ ｔｈｅ ”ｇｕｉｎｅａ ｐｉｇｇｉｅｓ．”
Ａｎｙｗａｙ， ｔｈｅ ｂｅｓｔ ｐａｒｔ ｏｆ ｔｈｅ ｗｏｒｋｓｈｏｐ ｈａｄ ｔｏ ｈａｖｅ ｂｅｅｎ ｔｈｅ ｆａｃｔ ｔｈａｔ ＢＯＴＨ ｏｆ ｍｉｎｅ ａｃｔｕａｌｌｙ ｃａｍｅ ｆｒｏｍ Ｋｅｋｅｒｅｓｓｙ！ Ｉｔ ｗａｓｎ’ｔ ｌｏｏｋｉｎｇ ｔｏｏ ｇｏｏｄ ｔｈｅ ｄａｙ ｂｅｆｏｒｅ ａｎｄ ｃｕｒｒｅｎｔ ｖｏｌｕｎｔｅｅｒｓ ｆｒｏｍ ｔｈｅ ｒｅｇｉｏｎ ｏｆ Ｋｅｄｏｕｇｏｕ ｈａｄ ｔｈｅｉｒ ｄｏｕｂｔｓ ｂｅｃａｕｓｅ ｏｆ ｈｏｗ ｌｏｎｇ ａ ｊｏｕｒｎｅｙ ｉｔ ｗｏｕｌｄ ｂｅ ｆｏｒ ｔｈｅｍ， ａｎｄ ｔｈｅ ｆａｃｔ ｔｈａｔ ｔｈｅｙ ｈａｄ ｎｅｖｅｒ ｐｉｃｋｅｄ ｕｐ ｔｈｅ ｔｒａｖｅｌ ｍｏｎｅｙ ｔｈａｔ ｗａｓ ｂｅｉｎｇ ｐｒｏｖｉｄｅｄ ｆｏｒ ｔｈｅｍ． Ｂｕｔ， ｓｕｒｅ ｅｎｏｕｇｈ， ｂｒｉｇｈｔ ａｎｄ ｅａｒｌｙ ｏｎ Ｄａｙ １， Ｉ ｍｅｔ ｂｏｔｈ ｍｙ ｍａｌｅ ａｎｄ ｆｅｍａｌｅ ｃｏｕｎｔｅｒｐａｒｔ （ｗｈｏ ｈａｄ ｂｅｇｕｎ ｔｈｅ ｔｒｉｐ ｔｗｏ ｄａｙｓ ｅａｒｌｉｅｒ）， ｗｈｏ ａｓ ｉｔ ｔｕｒｎｓ ｏｕｔ ｗｉｌｌ ａｌｓｏ ｂｅ ｍｙ ”ｍｏｍ” ａｎｄ ”ｄａｄ” （Ｉ’ｍ ｐｒｅｔｔｙ ｓｕｒｅ）．
Ｔｈｅｙ ａｌｓｏ ｅｎｄｏｗｅｄ ｍｅ ｗｉｔｈ ａ（ｎｏｔｈｅｒ） ｎｅｗ ｎａｍｅ： Ｓａｍｂａ Ｄｉａｌｌｏ， ｎａｍｅｄ ａｆｔｅｒ ｔｈｅ ｃｈｉｅｆ ｏｆ ｔｈｅｉｒ ｖｉｌｌａｇｅ． Ｎｏｔ ｔｈａｔ Ｉ ｄｏｎ’ｔ ｌｉｋｅ ”Ａｄｒａｍａｎ” ｂｕｔ Ｓａｍｂａ ｈａｓ ａ ｃｅｒｔａｉｎ ｒｉｎｇ ｔｏ ｉｔ ｔｈａｔ Ｉ ｌｉｋｅ ｂｅｔｔｅｒ．
Ｉｔ ｗａｓ ｓｏ ｅｎｃｏｕｒａｇｉｎｇ ｔｏ ｓｅｅ ｈｏｗ ｍｏｔｉｖａｔｅｄ ｍｙ ｃｏｕｎｔｅｒｐａｒｔｓ ａｒｅ ｂｙ ｓｅｅｉｎｇ ｔｈｅｉｒ ｄｅｄｉｃａｔｉｏｎ ｔｏ ｇｅｔ ｈｅｒｅ ｆｏｒ ｔｈｉｓ ｉｍｐｏｒｔａｎｔ ｗｏｒｋｓｈｏｐ， ｅｓｐｅｃｉａｌｌｙ ｓｉｎｃｅ Ｉ’ｍ ｇｏｉｎｇ ｔｏ ｂｅ ａ ｎｅｗ ｓｉｔｅ， ｔｈａｔ ｈａｄ ｂｅｅｎ ａ ｃｏｎｃｅｒｎ ｏｆ ｍｉｎｅ． Ｂｕｔ ｎｏｗ， ａｎｄ Ｉ ｔｈｉｎｋ Ｉ ｓｐｅａｋ ｆｏｒ ａ ｌｏｔ ｏｆ ｔｈｅ ｔｒａｉｎｅｅｓ， Ｉ’ｍ ｊｕｓｔ ｖｅｒｙ ａｎｘｉｏｕｓ ｔｏ ｓｗｅａｒ－ｉｎ ａｎｄ ｓｅｔｔｌｅ－ｉｎ ｔｏ ｍｙ ｎｅｗ ｓｉｔｅ ＡＳＡＰ．
Ｔｏｄａｙ ｂｅｇｉｎｓ ｏｕｒ ｌａｓｔ ｈｏｍｅｓｔａｙ ｐｅｒｉｏｄ， ａ ｓｔａｙ ｏｆ ８ ｄａｙｓ， ａｎｄ ｔｈｅｎ ｗｅ ｗｏｎ’ｔ ｓｅｅ ｏｕｒ ｈｏｍｅｓｔａｙ ｆａｍｉｌｉｅｓ ａｇａｉｎ ｕｎｔｉｌ ｔｈｅ ｓｗｅａｒ－ｉｎ ｉｎ Ｄａｋａｒ ｏｎ ｔｈｅ ７ｔｈ， ｉｆ ｔｈｅｙ ｃａｎ ｍａｋｅ ｉｔ． Ｈｏｐｅｆｕｌｌｙ Ｉ ｃａｎ ｃｏｍｅ ｂａｃｋ ｔｏ ｖｉｓｉｔ ｔｈｅｍ ｓｏｍｅｔｉｍｅ， ｗｈｅｎ Ｉ ｃａｎ ｃｏｍｍｕｎｉｃａｔｅ ｍｏｒｅ ｔｈｉｎｇｓ ｔｈａｎ ”Ｙｅｓ， ｉｔ’ｓ ｈｏｔ”， ”Ｉ’ｍ ｆｕｌｌ”， ”Ｉ’ｍ ｇｏｉｎｇ”， ａｎｄ ”Ｗｈａｔ ｔｈｉｓ ｉｓ？”．
En Ontuma,
Adraman Barry
Samba Diallo
Steve "Sully" Sullivan
