Tamkharit, pt. 2

Now after reading Part One, you may wonder why exactly I even embarked on such a harrowing journey and what could Part Two bring that could justify such madness. (1) Well, it could always be worse. And (2) I get to hang out with such amazing people as these!

And of course, only for people that I really really like do I cook or bake. A few weeks ago when we hosted our first staff dinner (the others have since been postponed because we're halfway moved out of this house and only halfway moved into the new house), I mentioned to Khadim that we made chocolate cake, or rather brownies. Ever since he's kept on finding sly ways to bring up the fact that he and his brothers would love their own chocolate cake.

So I baked a cake here in Dakar, splurged for the Betty Crocker icing at the fancy grocery store (where they even take credit cards!) and loaded it all into a bag and trucked it with me on my 9 hour adventure to Sokone. I knew that I had arrived late at night when no one asked about the chocolate cake as soon as I walked in the front door.

Amina's birthday was Thursday (Thanksgiving!), Khadim's was November 15th and Momar's was around the 2nd. Birthday Month! Joyeux Anniversaire! You all know how i hate to leave anyone out, so we went ahead and celebrated everyone's birthday. Mme Mane's 1/4-versaire, Bara's 1/4-versaire as well (those summer birthdays!), Abdou's demi-versaire and mine too. And Gaye-Gaye's 3/4-versaire. And so after indulging me and listening to me sing to everyone, individually and in 3 languages (which made it about 21 verses of happy birthday), they all finally dug in!

There was even another birthday girl. Trina is the new MSID student in town, although by now she's a Sokone regular! We met in Dakar, and we were both super excited to have the chance to meet up again in Sokone. And where do all the toubabs like to go? - The beach of course!!

We even brought the leftover icing with us for our own birthday treat!