Name: Jennifer Marie Wysong
AKA: Jennie (amongst Americans), Mbayang Thiaw (to the Senegalese)
Languages: English (native), Seereer (fluent), Wolof (functional), French (passable), Pulaar (basic)
Birthday: 29 July 1987
Origins: New Egypt NJ, Farmville VA, Washington DC
Education: BS in Exercise Science, Minor in Outdoor Education, Longwood University
Current Location: Village of Sambande :: Kaolack Region :: Senegal :: West Africa
Occupation: Volunteer, Peace Corps Senegal
Assignment: Environmental Education
The Long Story:
Born and raised in New Egypt, New Jersey I spent my early years involved in everything from marching band, to musicals, to three seasons of school sports. A passion for fitness and field hockey brought me to Longwood University in Virginia where I studied Exercise Science and minored in Outdoor Education. I quickly discovered a love of the outdoors (especially climbing) and foreign travel, which is perhaps what has landed me in my current situation "permanently camping" in a small village in Africa. After graduating college in 2009 I spent a short amount of time working and rock climbing in Virginia before beginning my service with the Peace Corps as an Environmental Education volunteer in Senegal in March of 2010.
I currently live in Sambande, a small farming community of about 500 people located in the "peanut basin" of Senegal. I live in a mud brick and grass-roof hut without the encumbrance of plumbing, electricity or running water in a compound with my family of 30. I speak primarily Seereer (a minority language), although I have been forced to learn Wolof in order to communicate with people outside my village. As an Environmental Education volunteer I work with both the school and community members on projects involving re-forestation, improved gardening practices and water and sanitation. I also paint a lot of murals and assist in projects with volunteers from other sectors including Agro-forestry, Sustainable Agruculture, Health and Small Enterprise Development.
I will be serving in Senegal until May of 2012.
