Saturday Night Fever.

Le samedi passé was the deuxieme anniversaire pour mon niveau, Babacar. Apologies for the Frenglish: what I mean to say is, my nephew Babacar celebrated his second birthday last Saturday. It was one of my favorite experiences of Senegal so far. I got to the party late because I had gone to Bandia, an animal reserve, with the SIT group earlier that day. My family had told me that they were having a little "fete" for Babacar, but the booming hiphop I heard from down the street was not what I expected.

I walked through the paint-chipped gate that functions as my front door, and entered my courtyard, where about 25 people were dancing like crazy. The music was a combination of American and Senegalese hiphop, mbalax, a more traditional Senegalese music form, and salsa. The guests were mostly neighborhood kids ranging in age from 8 to 20, and some of my adult relatives.

When I took out my camera to take pictures, I was bombarded with little girls who wanted their photo taken. They hung off my various limbs, ran in circles around me, and even after I put the camera away for the night, the girls had a vested interest in me, sitting on my lap and brushing my hair with their fingers. There was a table set up with an un-frosted cake, a couple of bottles of Coca-Cola, and some fruit. Though by American standards it was no excessive spread, people at the party repeatedly asked me to take their picture with the table-- not with their friends, not with Babacar, but with the table.

Babacar wandered around for most of the night, dancing in the minimalist way that he does, holding his fists above his head, and swinging his hips slowly from side to side, with a blinding smile. After everyone had left and I had consumed a lot of gateau, beignettes, and other treats, we had dinner at 11:30 or so, and opened Babacar's cadeaux, which were mostly too-large clothes. A great night.

Tomorrow, I depart for Kedougou, a two days' bus ride from Dakar. I will stay in a remote village near Kedougou with two other SIT-folk. The village is called Boundou Kodi, but other than that I'm unsure what exactly is in store for me! Donc, no internets for a while. (Mom, Dad, and friends-- no news is good news!) Au revoir, ba beneen yoon.