Transport Strike

People are stuck in Kaolack. Some have been here since Monday. I just got in yesterday, hitching a ride with my boss after his visit to the village. He was impressed with the progress of the latrines, and our hopes for pepiniere season. But, I had hoped this would be a quick trip to town, to get to the bank and the post office, then home; but I ended up having to stay here today too because transport is very scarce and even less safe than usual. So here we are, eating yogurt and papayas, fiddling with our chores and complaining about the strike that despite being inconvenient, is not nearly as bad for us as it is to the dozens of Senegalese who are waiting on the sides of the road for a ride home. At least we have a place to sleep and cook. Who knows if people have spent the night huddling on the roadside? Strikes are bad. And the timing is difficult, because this weekend is the Gamou Kaolack, a huge religious event for followers of the marabout Baye Niasse. My whole village, being Niassene, are planning to attend. Hopefully things have settled down by then. In any case, these are the realities of life here at the moment. Rice is expensive, work is tough to find, and the hot season is setting in. Everyone gets grumpy when it's hot.