So my huge vacation started off with a few days at the Rosso training center with all the other Mauritanian PCVs for a safety and security meeting before WAIST (west African invitational softball tournament). It was weird to be back at the center for the first time since swear in and felt a whole lot like summer camp. A hundred volunteers living in two huge rooms, segregated for boys and girls, with free standing mosquito tents and only a few latrines and no running water in the sinks. Thank god we were only there for a few days because as you can imagine the novelty wears off pretty fast haha … We left early Friday morning for Dakar in two huge coach buses and although the trip was long, a stop at a liquor store in Senegal and the sing alongs that soon followed made the trip much more pleasant. We arrived in Dakar around 5pm and went straight to the American Club, the country club like venue where the tournament is held. We were all in awe at the first American amenities we had seen in 8 months- tennis courts, bar, restaurant, swimming pools, sand volleyball court, and softball fields. At the club they introduced us to our host families that we would be staying with for the tournament (American expats who live in Dakar). I was placed with Julie and two other Mauritanian PCVs with a Gabon RPCV (retired peace corps volunteer) in a really nice western style apartment in the neighborhood of Yoff, right on the ocean!
The actual tournament was such an insane 3 days… theres nothing I could compare it too except something like a derby days mixed with Dayton to Daytona. Mauritania has 3 teams that compete- our A team the Pirates, B team the Buccaneers, and C team the Scallywags. I was on the 4th team, the Poopdeck Seaman aka cheerleaders haha… there are other teams there from PC Mali, Senegal and Guinea, along with some expat teams (whose family friendly teams didn’t appreciate our all day drinking). We spent our breaks between the games lounging by the pool/bar and having impromptu dance parties on the pool deck, upholding our Mauritanian PC traditions. Another crazy thing about the Mauritania teams is that we all get soooo into the whole thing. So many of the girls got ridiculous African hair extension and ive never seen so many mohawks/crazy facial hair creations before. I completely understand now what the second years volunteers meant when they said that other teams were scared of us… we come in with mob of a hundred people who are partying like there is no tomorrow (because really there isn’t since we have to return to the alcohol free giant sand box of Mauritania after the tournament). Also, our director doesn’t make us take vacation days, while all the other countries have to, so nearly every mauritania volunteer comes. Our A team made it all the way to the championships and chaos broke out when we won with everyone storming the field and beer spraying everywhere (poor mans champagne) hahaha. A great way to end a great presidents day weekend!
on the right me and matt going along with the pirates theme and on the left me, Julie Ann and Ryan at one of the field next to the ocean.
The actual tournament was such an insane 3 days… theres nothing I could compare it too except something like a derby days mixed with Dayton to Daytona. Mauritania has 3 teams that compete- our A team the Pirates, B team the Buccaneers, and C team the Scallywags. I was on the 4th team, the Poopdeck Seaman aka cheerleaders haha… there are other teams there from PC Mali, Senegal and Guinea, along with some expat teams (whose family friendly teams didn’t appreciate our all day drinking). We spent our breaks between the games lounging by the pool/bar and having impromptu dance parties on the pool deck, upholding our Mauritanian PC traditions. Another crazy thing about the Mauritania teams is that we all get soooo into the whole thing. So many of the girls got ridiculous African hair extension and ive never seen so many mohawks/crazy facial hair creations before. I completely understand now what the second years volunteers meant when they said that other teams were scared of us… we come in with mob of a hundred people who are partying like there is no tomorrow (because really there isn’t since we have to return to the alcohol free giant sand box of Mauritania after the tournament). Also, our director doesn’t make us take vacation days, while all the other countries have to, so nearly every mauritania volunteer comes. Our A team made it all the way to the championships and chaos broke out when we won with everyone storming the field and beer spraying everywhere (poor mans champagne) hahaha. A great way to end a great presidents day weekend!
After the end of WAIST, some of my friends stayed in Dakar for a few days so they could meet Eddie when he flew in! We spent the first day (before he landed) laying out on the Dakar beaches and the second day (when he was there) going to some of the markets. Me, Eddie and my friends went a little crazy buying sculpted animals, which we dubbed “the circus”. We also stayed at this really cute place on the ocean that had beautiful views and cool rocks to climb on. I was soooo happy for my friends and Eddie to finally meet each other although one day was way too short!
on the right some of me and my friends at the A team game and on the left the back of my shirt, “thanks Washington placement office” haha... Mauritania isnt the most sought after placement
on the right me and matt going along with the pirates theme and on the left me, Julie Ann and Ryan at one of the field next to the ocean.
on the right the cheerleaders for the A teams championship game and on the left the winning team looking pretty bad ass in their pirates shirts and matching chayas (short, Aladdin like pants worn by the moors in Mauritania)
on the right freezing at the awards banquet (Mauritanian volunteers are creative, yes we are wearing table clothes haha) and on the left Julie Ann and Amanda discussing “natures fridge aka the wet sand” while trying to get our beers cold on the Dakar beaches
notice the “Obama’s cookies” brand of ice cream and me and Eddie in front of the presidential palace in Dakar
On the right, the circus! (a collection of Yates, Julie Anns, and me and Eddies carved animals) and on the left, me and some of my friends on the rocks (a picture that Julie calls “girl band”
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