I had a great Easter weekend full of adventure. On Good Friday I was at my CSPS weighing babies like normal but it was my first time since IST. My friend Sophie who does them with me casually asked if I was still looking for a dog. I have been asking everyone I meet if they knew where I could get a puppy since the first week I arrived. Everybody says that its not puppy season, that comes with the rains in June. I was feeling frustrated since many of my volunteer friends in other villages had found puppies and I was wanting a buddy!! Anyways I told Sophie that I would love a puppy so as soon as we were done she took me to a house where she heard they had puppies. They had four males that were a month old but I was told to choose from three since I couldnt take the runt. I picked out one with a black nose, white paws and belly, and brown all over. Sophie bought the other two so I can visit his brothers in the future.
Anyways puppy went home with me and everyone was very surprised. There are no dogs in my neighborhood since it is mostly only Christians that have dogs in my village. The kids were scared to death at first and some still wont come near him though he fits in the palm of my hand! Most have quickly realized how fun he is though and started calling him Puppy since thats what I was saying. The name has stuck and I dont think I can change it now so he is officially Puppy. Not the most creative name in the book but I like it better than Patience which was suggested to me by numerous people. I guess thats a popular name here! Puppy hangs out with me at home and sometimes I take him in my bike basket to the market and the CSPS. Its only been two weeks but already everybody asks where he is when I come without him.
Its interesting having a dog here since they are not used to pets. Dogs are for guarding your house or for meat. Yep Christians eat dogs here. Sophie says thats what will happen to Puppys brothers but I cant tell if she is joking. Also on the topic of food, they dont sell dog food so I have to prepare all his meals myself. Usually he eats whatever I eat plus I buy him fresh cows milk from the Fulanis that come into town for the market. It doesnt last long becuase of the heat so this is a treat. I have discovered he really likes beans and also rice when I mix dried up fish with it! He doesnt like carrots though!!
We are now in the middle of hot season and it is awful. My thermometer reaches 120 degrees and there have been times the mercury hits the top. Even at night it is over 100! This makes it nearly impossible to sleep and I have gotten used to always being wet from sweat! I am sleepign outside now in my bug hut tent. Puppy also sleeps outside. I made a little section of my courtyard blocked off for him but he whines when he is left there and I worry about him waking the whole neighborhood so usually he just runs free in my courtyard. He is good most of the night but every morning for the last two weeks he has gotten up at 4 am or a little earlier and wants to play with me. He can see me in the tent but cant get in so whines and jumps on it until I get up. This is going to have to change but I dont know what to do!
OK back to Easter weekend. Saturday morning my PCV neighbor Karla biked to my village. It was her first time here so I was really excited. It was a market day so I showed her around and introduced her to my neighbors and friends. That evening was a special mass at the church. I havent gone to the Catholic church in village though I have repeatedly been asked to come because its all in Bissa and just seemed really boring. I figured Easter was a good time to go. I was told it started at 8 pm and wouldnt be more than an hour and a half. We went to my friends first and then didnt head to church until 9 and it didnt actual start until 9:30. Everyone gathered around outside and they had a big bonfire. Several people started playing bongo drums and there was lots of singing followed by a procession into church. There were about 8 readings I think and a little singing and dancing for each response. After the readings were done we had a big singing and dancing break with people out in the aisles and a group of traditional Bissa dances in front!! It was very exciting and unlike any Catholic church I have been to before!! I didnt understand anything of course but loved the energy. We got home about 1 am--much later than expected but I definetly enjoyed it. I plan to go back for regular mass once in cools down since it was very hot in the church in the middle of the night so I cant imagine how bad it is in the morning.
Sunday Karla and I biked to see An, our other PCV neighbor. She was having a little party for her teacher co-workers and friends. It was fun to hang out together and swap stories about our experiences. An has been here almost two years and heads back to the US in early July. I am sorry that we havent been able to spend more time together since our service overlaps for such a short time. She is being replaced though so I will have another neighbor by the end of summer!
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