June 2004 Weird Things That happen
Eight, Nine & Ten
We�re eating our food when this European-Senegalese sits near us. He asks where we�re from in the States. I say, �Iowa� (duh) He blinks and says, �Iowa? No, that�s not possible� Well yes, you ask all my friends. Then he says, �You know Cedar Rapids?� Yeah, it�s were I grew up. Well this guy has spent all of his life in Senegal, minus the years he studied Business Admin at our very own Coe College! What are the odds!? So he buys us a beer and we continue talking. I go to wash my hands and return to hear my friend ask, �Why did you go to Iowa?� His response, �I met a Peace Corps Volunteer in Dakar in the 60�s. He said Cedar Rapids was a great town.� I asked, for some silly reason, oh and who was this person? The man replied, �His name was Bill Aossi.� Holy jeez-louise people! The proverbial feather could have knocked me flat. He continued, �He owned a factory on the SE side. Do you know him?� Well yeah, everyone in CR knows him! So we talk some more about CR and the East Side Maid-Rite. My friend asked him what he does now. HE replies, �Oh I own two bakeries here in Senegal.� There are not words to express my amazement. Finally, I go to pay the bill, but the waitress said, �It�s already been taken care of� This trip is just more incredible every step.
No Paige e-mail is complete without a party right? Well don�t worry, we�re getting there. That Sunday I headed to Popenguine. This town is the Catholic hub of Senegal. I was going to attend a Catholic pilgrimage where people walk to this town from all over the country. Yes walk. I took a bus. Lucky for us though, Popenguine is also a beach town. So I�m walking into town and see a huge tent loom up proclaiming, �Welcome Catholic Youths to Blah blah blah! Sponsored by Flag Beer� I mentioned omens earlier�this HAD to a great one right? Well it was. We stayed in a house right on the beach. We sat in a restaurant and sang along with Outfiggy (that group from Thies) and ate pork kabob sandwiches. Tents and people blocked our view of the ocean from the house, but it was loud enough that we had to yell to be heard.
The most exciting part was standing in a bar chatting with friends. My purse was around my shoulder, but slightly behind me. In an absentminded motion I reached to pull it in front of me, where it was more comfortable. Well that was hard to do because some guy had his hand it! Almost anyway, he had the zipper part way open and was trying to reach in and grab something. I grabbed my purse and he pulled his hand away and literally started tapping his lips and whistling, like, �hm hm wasn�t me, didn�t do anything, la dee da� Luckily I didn�t lose anything except a pamphlet I was using as a fan.
I got back into town this past Tuesday. Went to work Wednesday and now have about 5 meetings lined up for next week. I think I need a vacation! ;)
My darling people I do believe I am at the end of my story. What profound insight can I give you based on these encounters? There�s no way you can expect the unexpected, it will always catch you off guard. And when it does, hey, ya got a great story! Run with it and remember as much as you can! I miss you guys terribly and now must go talk to a local English class. This round of hugs on me.
Much Love, Paige
Journal #12
Back to journals