Tambacounda

Tambacounda is the largest region of Senegal, with the smallest population, and the most problems...espeically in terms of health. The Tamba team has completely occupied a hostel-like house within the centre ville of Tamba. The 'city' is dirty, extremely underdveloped, and impoverished. Trash lines the streets, pigs enjoy the trash and the dirt, and heards of goats roam around freely. Instead of falling asleep or waking up to the sound of traffic, construction, and the drama of Wall Street, I am surrounded by the noises coming from the goats outside my bedroom window. There are few taxi cabs and cars, vehicles of transportation for many include a wooden cart pulled by a horse. 

It is hot. Without working AC the temperature in one of the bedrooms at midnight on the second night here was 97 degrees, with two fans running. A few colleagues opted to sleep on the roof. The water in the bath is hot, not lukewarm, as the sun has already heated it for us. The sun is strong, and when it is at its strongest during the day from about 1pm-3pm, or more.. everybody takes a siesta and does not work because it is nearly impossible in the heat. Thus, la vie is slow. I am used to the hustle and bustle and ambition of every hour spent in New York City - here, life sort of passes you by and the sun controls your calendar. Not to say work does not get accomplished, work just does not get accomplished right now; this is a new lifestyle that will take some adjusting to. We are well-received in the region, children are elated when we pass by, and it is exciting to learn about life so far, far away. It is pretty bizarre to be living so far removed from a large city, but somewhat intriguing at the same time. What does one do in Tambacounda? 

On the walk home from the UNFPA office.

Antoinette, my Beninoise research partner