may the force of Africa be with you

We are all excited here, even so far away, for the showdown on election day. Volunteers and Senegalese alike, that is. Believe it or not, even somewhere so far away-seeming as West Africa, people are excited for American change.

Even my host father, Ibou, a normally very serious and sometimes severe man, has been making jokes recently, like when I got back to the house one evening last week, after being out all day.

(note: Ndiaye is my last name, taken from my host father's. 2. one way to honor someone when you are greeting them is to repeat their last name, as they repeat yours. 3: obviously this is translated from the original Wolof)

Ibou: (as he sees me) Oh, who is this? (pretending to be surprised to see me, like I've been gone so long) Ndiaye, Ndiaye, Ndiaye. (extending his hand)
Me: (taking his hand, shaking it) Ndiaye, Ndiaye, Ndiaye.
Ibou: Well, Ngoné Ndiaye, how are you?
Me: I am here, Ibou Ndiaye, how are you? Did you pass the day in peace?
Ibou: I am here, peace only. And you? How are you? I hope you are well?
Me: Peace only, thanks be to God. I am very well. I hope everyone here is well?
Ibou: Yes, indeed, praise the Lord, we are all in peace.
But where did you go today?
Me: Well, I went to the school, talked with Monsieur Loum, went to the mayor's office, to the market... and then stopped by Gnilan's... and after that... (thinking in an English/Wolof blur) After that, now I'm here.
Ibou: Did you see the mayor?
Me: No, we didn't see the mayor. You know, he's never there. But I saw Mamadou Sarr, and we talked about the trash project.
Ibou: Oh, good. (seeming to be actually interested in the events of my day.) Ok.
Because you missed Barack Obama. He came to visit you, but you were out.
Me: What? Wait, who came?
Ibou: Obama, Obama, Barack Obama.
Me: Oh really, he came here, to the house?
Ibou: Yes, here! He greeted your mother, and your sisters Soukeye and Deanor, and your brother, Pape Sambou... but I said you were out, and I didn't know when you'd be back.
Me: Really? (laughing a little)
(then more seriously) That's too bad. Maybe he'll stop by again soon.
Ibou: (straight-faced) I don't know, he said he had to go to France tomorrow.
(and then a minute later, he laughs)