who knew doing nothing could be so enjoyable?

I must apologize for waxing poetically in my last poste but I just couldn't help myself...

So after spending the day in the scorching heat of Senegal in October- apparently one of the hottest months to be in Dakar (oh great! just my luck!), I headed home to rest up for the party at Jasper's.

For some reason or another, Jasper took it upon himself to organize a party for all of MSID participants and anybody else they brought along with them. More fruit juice (more on that later) and food than anyone could ever finish. It was a great time, dancing with everyone and meeting people's host siblings.
My host sisters took me by force and treated me like a my-size-barbie-doll. I must have tried on over 5 pairs of pants, 2 skirts, at least a dozen or so tops before we found (or rather they found and I just stood there helplessly) the perfect outfit to make a grand entrance. Wearing my own black pants, I had my sister's black camisole bedazzled and bejeweled with lace, buttons and beads. It couldn't stop there, oh no. I was then strapped into golden heels (lethal weapons - pointed toes that could maim even the strongest of men) . I pleaded with them to call it a day at that. I just threw on some bracelets and put a hairclip in - it was by grace of god that I escaped with only a golden purse on my arm; no crazy makeup and no more jewelry hanging from my wrists, my neck or my ears.

Returning at 4am, seeing as how the temperature finally becomes bearable an hour after sunset and I want to take every opportunity NOT to begin dripping, I called it a night.
Waking up at 11am on Sunday, the day only got better from there.
*Lollygagged my way through the morning, playing with the baby here and there.
*Read a bit.
*Considered going to the market, but decided there was no rush to spend my money.
*Considered calling up some friends to get together, but decided it was nice practicing my Wolof with the family.
*Considered quite a bit, but in the end, lounging around always won.
... I really just spent the day doing nothing. Now while this is by no means anything new for Senegal- the Senegalese could win competitions in sitting around and waving a fan back and forth, and never have I watched so many soap operas in my life! It was truly the first time I had considerably enjoyed doing nothing. It was the type of lazy day that I could imagine having at home with people.

Highlights:
*I got to browse through photo albums of the family. It was so fun seeing everyone when they were younger. And the clothes!
*I played with Cheruna, my 8mo old host nephew- always a joy!
*I learned how to make juice out of bisaab and ditax. Bisaab is hibiscus leaves, and ditax is a weird moss-y green fruit that has a hard shell like an egg. Hopefully I can figure out a way to make them at home.