Crazy, cursing guy + drunk guy in Dakar

Well today's highlight, after applying for a new passport at the embassy, was being followed down the street by a crazy guy on the way to Marche Sandaga. He was asking me continually what I was looking for (to buy something I assume, even though it was pretty clear he wasn't selling anything). I told him what I really wanted was for him to leave me alone, but I guess that wasn't the answer he was looking for. Speaking Wolof seemed to open doors for him in communication and he proceeded to cuss me out in Wolof and get a little aggressive. I finally sought refuge in a nearby pharmacy into which he followed me, still cursing me out! The whole experience was completely unpleasant as I'm sure you can imagine.

Crazy, cursing guy takes a seat in the pharmacy next to me (unbelieveable) and was still harassing me. If I weren't so annoyed, it probably would have been funny. The pharmacy people made him leave the store and I sat there until he rambled on down the street--probably to see who else he could stalk. I really loathe going to Marche Sandaga. It seems to attact crazy and really annoying people. Unfortunately I need to buy these hallogen light bulbs and its the only place that I know that sells them.

After I confirmed that crazy guy had definitely left, I emerged from the pharmacy. People on the block who saw this guy harassing me pressed me to get a taxi to go to the store for the light bulbs instead of walking. Unfortunately they did not know that the one thing I hate more than being harrassed is over-paying for a taxi. Grimacing at the high prices of the passing taxi drivers just to go a few blocks, I decided to take my chances and walk. Luckily there were no more further incidents and I bought so many light bulbs as I could to avoid having to come to Marche Sandaga until sometime next year.

Mission accomplished, I did some grocery shopping for vegetables, since we have practically none in Tamba and won't have any until next month and January. So I was carrying my backpack full of heavy vegetables and hand-carrying 2kg of tomatoes about to go into a grocery store. At the same time there was a drunk guy harassing people inside the store and some store employees were so angry at this guys antics that they pushed this guy out of the store really hard... unfortunately since the guy was drunk and he was pushed really hard, he fell right into me as I was walking in. Even though I couldn't get out of the way of falling drunk guy, I did manage to hold my tomatoes out to the side so they wouldn't get crushed by the same falling, drunk guy. This, at least, was successful.

Of course those of you who have visited us already or know Senegal or West Africa, crazy harassing and drunk guys are not the norm. That's why it's news worthy. Especially getting two "special" experiences in one day. I daresay I'm ready to go back to calm and peaceful Tamba.

Mother got off alright last night. Omar, (the chauffeur who I hire all the time), and I stayed out there with mom until 1:30am. I got a IM from Robb who said she called him from JFK this morning, so that's good to know.

Well hopefully I won't have any more exciting incidents for the rest of the day, but if I do, I know you know that I'll tell you all about it.