From 14 Aug 13
I try to keep track, if even inconsistent and vague, of what happens each day on the callendar. Today, in the middle of the day, after finishing the second NY Times Magazine, eating lunch with my host family, and having not made it more than thirty feet from my doorstep, I surrendered to the 'nothing' day and proceeded to write 'dara' in Wednesdays square. Thursday's box was full with plans of going to the weekly market and speaking with counterparts in the town there about upcoming projects. I tried to use the full box of Thursday to justify the empty one of Wednesday.
It's difficult though. We're constantly torn in this unique set up where your everday life is somehow your job and so when you aren't 'working' for some, it's hard not to feel like a waste of a volunteer. That somebody could do better. That US dollars shouldn't be wasted with me reading magazines in my house taking a day to relax.
As the day went on, I was in and out of my backyard, weeding and uprooting trees. The small space, approx 10"x13" has at least now eleven trees. All well and healthy. Five of the former thirteen were Leuceana trees. A fast growing nitrogen fixing potentially invasive green buddy. Last year we tried to plant five in my host fathers farm and it felt like such a victory! Until the cows ate them...
This year I diecided to care less. I didn't do a tree nursery for myself but did one with the village. But the aftermathe of the one I did last year called my attention today, in my 'nothing day.'
I pulled one tree out and thought, after the fact, that maybe it could be transplanted. They are hardy trees anyway. I came outside and asked my host family if they didn't want it. A seemingly more common method of asking using the negative form vs positive, i.e., you won't eat? You won't put on something nice to wear to go out? etc.
So, my host mother directed me and one of my host brothers to go place it in one of their bathroom areas. The leaves were already starting to wilt.. well, maybe it will come back? Some hours later I came out with another tree. I had tried to be more careful about up rooting it. This time it was my educated brother, (a teacher) and his wife sitting outside. I again asked if they didn't want it.
Lan mooy njerring? What's its use?
Dafa dimbale suuf si rekk. It helps the soil only.
Xop yi nag? And what of the leaves?
Dimbale na suuf si itam. They also help the soil.
Baax na nu tegal ci tooli Baay. Ok let's put it on fathers farm.
As we went out I tried to explain how we tried to plant them there last year but that the animals ate them. After we transplanted I suggested we try to protect them and suggested more planting throughout his field in the future to provide green fertilizer and stability.
When I cam back I crossed out 'dara,' the Wolof word for nothing, and wrote 'transplanted 2 trees.'
Sometimes you just need a day to catch up with yourself, your work, and your life here. Sometimes you just need a day. But I bet, even when you aren't transplanting, that they aren't just nothing days. They are something. Conveniently, the word for something and nothing are the same word, dara. Those wise Wolof people.
I try to keep track, if even inconsistent and vague, of what happens each day on the callendar. Today, in the middle of the day, after finishing the second NY Times Magazine, eating lunch with my host family, and having not made it more than thirty feet from my doorstep, I surrendered to the 'nothing' day and proceeded to write 'dara' in Wednesdays square. Thursday's box was full with plans of going to the weekly market and speaking with counterparts in the town there about upcoming projects. I tried to use the full box of Thursday to justify the empty one of Wednesday.
It's difficult though. We're constantly torn in this unique set up where your everday life is somehow your job and so when you aren't 'working' for some, it's hard not to feel like a waste of a volunteer. That somebody could do better. That US dollars shouldn't be wasted with me reading magazines in my house taking a day to relax.
As the day went on, I was in and out of my backyard, weeding and uprooting trees. The small space, approx 10"x13" has at least now eleven trees. All well and healthy. Five of the former thirteen were Leuceana trees. A fast growing nitrogen fixing potentially invasive green buddy. Last year we tried to plant five in my host fathers farm and it felt like such a victory! Until the cows ate them...
This year I diecided to care less. I didn't do a tree nursery for myself but did one with the village. But the aftermathe of the one I did last year called my attention today, in my 'nothing day.'
I pulled one tree out and thought, after the fact, that maybe it could be transplanted. They are hardy trees anyway. I came outside and asked my host family if they didn't want it. A seemingly more common method of asking using the negative form vs positive, i.e., you won't eat? You won't put on something nice to wear to go out? etc.
So, my host mother directed me and one of my host brothers to go place it in one of their bathroom areas. The leaves were already starting to wilt.. well, maybe it will come back? Some hours later I came out with another tree. I had tried to be more careful about up rooting it. This time it was my educated brother, (a teacher) and his wife sitting outside. I again asked if they didn't want it.
Lan mooy njerring? What's its use?
Dafa dimbale suuf si rekk. It helps the soil only.
Xop yi nag? And what of the leaves?
Dimbale na suuf si itam. They also help the soil.
Baax na nu tegal ci tooli Baay. Ok let's put it on fathers farm.
As we went out I tried to explain how we tried to plant them there last year but that the animals ate them. After we transplanted I suggested we try to protect them and suggested more planting throughout his field in the future to provide green fertilizer and stability.
When I cam back I crossed out 'dara,' the Wolof word for nothing, and wrote 'transplanted 2 trees.'
Sometimes you just need a day to catch up with yourself, your work, and your life here. Sometimes you just need a day. But I bet, even when you aren't transplanting, that they aren't just nothing days. They are something. Conveniently, the word for something and nothing are the same word, dara. Those wise Wolof people.
Something the same as nothing. Now that is profound and truly right. We all are really just hanging out in a vast Universe, filled with love, truth, beauty and goodness regardless of little time bound perceptions. Tee Ha!
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