A trip to dee bish!!

We went to the beach yesterday, one of my xarit yu yankee, Skye, our friend Biteye, and a bunch of folks from Sanar Peulh and Lahmsar, the two villages across the way from campus. The beach at Cap Ndar is like au moins 3 fois plus beautiful even the beaches of the Casamance, which are such a huge tourist draw. I cannot believe that I had not been there the whole time that I have been in St. Louis. We made lunch, went swimming, played soccer on the beach, drank some tea and juice, and ate some mangoes....altogether a wonderful day ;-)

More pictures up on Flikr!!

Senegal's only LGBT advocacy org forced to close

And Ligeey, which translates from Wolof as "Let's work together," Senegal's only LGBT advocacy organization, was forced to close last year by the federal government.

This story was reported on Behind the Mask shortly after the announcement of possible aid for the LGBT community in Senegal in its fight against AIDS from the Conseil National de Lutte contre le SIDA (CNLS), or National AIDS Commission.

Those caught having same-sex sexual relations in Senegal face enprisonment of one to five years and a fine of 100,000 to 1,500,000 francs CFA, approximately $180 to $2,700 US dating from the colonial penal code under the French.

All of this means that as of March 2005, there has been NOT ONE official, on-the-books organisation in Senegal working formitably against homophobia and heterosexism and helping gay men, especially those living with HIV and AIDS, to seek medical treatment free from discrimination, harrassment, violence, and death.

Geo paper done!!

SOOOO..... GREAT news -- I finished my my geography paper today!! I am pretty excited. More later. LOVE, Matt

I woke up at 3am this morning to a pretty substantial rainstorm -- the first that I have really witnessed since I have been here. I had to close my window for the first time since arriving in this country. Vive la saison des pluies!!

Ces putains de yo gonna need to die soon !!

Our computer lab is like this Matt's blood wonderland for St. Louis's yoyee, also known as birds of death, or mosquitos, right now. Strangely enough I am wearing bug repellent for like the second time officially since I arrived here so that is basically saving me from chicken pox number two!!In other news, I may actually start writing my final geography paper tomorrow--I know, exciting--and otherwise, I will just be waiting for the mango that I bought today to ripen so that I might devour it. It cost me a whole eight cents!! Things are gettin steep ;-)

I hope that doesn't sound wildly pathetic. Today I read two books and ate Honey Bunches of Oats with water (still delicious) and popcorn with sugar. Oh and I drank rooibus tea that mama sent with the razor blades and Easter card.

In other news, it is frigging hot these days, like a constant 90 deg F in my room all day long and getting more n more humid every day. Time to go to the beach!! Alright wish me luck on my paper I am outta here. G'night!