new address!

hello loves! here's my new address:

PCV Chelsea Moeller
B.P. 26
Kolda, Senegal
West Africa


Tuesday morning at about 5 am, we all hopped on a bus and drove 12 hours down south to see our new villages!Arriving Wednesday afternoon to the village of Dabo,  my friend Alana and I  toured our host volunteer Dave's site.

We stayed there until yesterday then headed back on the road about 15K to  my new home! The village is Mampatim (pronounced Mom-Paw-Team). Its so so so cute!! the main road literally divides the village in half, heavily populated right off the outskirts of the paved road. there's a long stretch of boutiques and fruit and veggie stands where the local women make their money.  Its so nice to walk 5 minutes out of my compound and stumble upon delicious bean sandwiches, coffee and fresh mangoes for breakfast!

Everyone is super friendly, and because I stick out like a sore thumb, they were quickly recognizing me as I walked back and forth to either side of town. I met my elementary and middle school counterparts who I'll be working with on most projects, but more importantly i met my new family!!

my mom is my namesake, Bambe (pronounced like the city Bombay). she is really sweet. fed me mangoes and papaya and peanuts all afternoon! My new last name is Balde! That's right, i now have the coolest alliteration name Bambe Balde! My dad is pretty much exactly like Yoda, a 70 year old wise chief dressed all in white and two missing front teeth. he's adorable! what's even more adorable are my little siblings!

my father said he had 12 daughters and 3 sons, but 5 of his children have passed away. Unfortunately thats not an uncommon thing here. to make my visit even crazier, my father also informed me that he has 45 cows! I saw about 15 of them hanging out by our well, and who knows where they keep the rest. we also have about 6 ducks, two donkeys and about 8 little piglets. i'm living on a farm!!

My hut's roof is still being constructed, but its going to be so sweet! probably will be the most decorated hut there is.

We headed  back on a two hour bumpy bus ride to the regional house in Kolda where all the local volunteers come to hang, relax and get away for a day or two. We'll be partying it up tomorrow night once all the others arrive! Can't wait to meet everyone!

Sunday night we'll be getting back to Thies then its off to Dakar for a day to tour the big city. Hopefully I can skype with some of you Sunday night!

Talk to ya then :)