End of Training

Finishing up the rest of February and a few days into March was my In Service Training (IST). This is a technical training held 3 months after becoming a volunteer, which for me happened in October.

It was very informative, and at times, very boring. One presentation followed another day after day and it seemed endless. The worst presentations were given by the Senegalese and the best was given by an importer from the US.

The Senegalese like to talk and talk and talk and then discuss. And subsequently, this transfers over to presentations. Watching a Senegalese presenter present to a group of Senegalese is tantamount to watching a dance. The presenter has to relate his subject to the audience while allowing everyone a chance to comment or offer their opinion. And I mean everyone. And if the presenter fails to allow enough people the opportunity to offer their (usually useless) opinions, his or her evaluation suffers. People raise their hand simply to reiterate what the presenter just mentioned or they do my favorite, get the speakers attention and then point at the person who just spoke and say, "I agree with him." Seriously, Why?

Now take this presenter who is used to the Senegalese non stop verbal assault and place him with a group of Americans who have been sitting in a dark room for a week. And what do you get? Lots of crickets chirping. Often, it became awkward because they would address the audience looking for a comment and they would get silence.

The best presentation, in my opinion, was given by a lady who owns a small business on the West coast and imports products from all across Africa. She offered consumer sided information on the products that she has sold and what she is currently looking at for future imports.

Since IST has finished, I've been thinking of the projects I'd like to work on. I have listed, a vegetable garden for the boy's boarding school, a few technical trainings on computers, trainings in accounting, and exportation. Hopefully I'll stay busy!