Our Hands in Senegalese Clay

Today was an incredibly hectic day. I found out that the American Club was having a Mommy & Me pottery class at 10am but none of my mom-friends were going. So, ever the eager mother to broaden her son's horizons, Gusi and I got ready and hailed a taxi a block from our house. As in most developing countries you need to bargain the price before you get in the taxi. So, even though we were late, I had to bargain. The guy wanted CFA1500 which is just over $3 but I knew that the fair price was CFA1000 ($2) so we ping-ponged back and forth until he smiled and agreed to my price.

The ride was quick since there wasn't much traffic and we made it to the club only to find out we were the only ones to show up for the class. No one else was there. But Ibrahima, the teacher, was kind and got out some clay for Gusi and I. We sat at a plastic table in plastic chairs under the shade of a nearby tree next to the pool. Gusi was a bit distracted from time to time when the kids from the nearby ISD (International School of Dakar) came for their swim class, but he seemed to enjoy himself with the clay. I kept telling him it was like play-dough and we were going to make little shapes.

I noticed that Ibrahima's assistant, Babacar, wasn't speaking much, just rolling the clay and trying to get Gusi to do the same by pointing quite a bit. I asked if Babacar was deaf and Ibrahima said yes. I smiled and told them that Gusi knew some American Sign Language (ASL). They were a bit confused and asked if Gusi was deaf, but finally understood after some explanation on my part that in the US we use ASL for early communication with babies. They were impressed as Gusi signed and spoke, so much so that Babacar made the sign for happy many, many, many times during our 45 minutes together. He just became elated every time Gusi signed.

In the end Gusi made (with the help of Babacar and myself) an imprint of his hand, a fish, a duck that got squashed as Gusi tried to put a hat on it, and a giraffe. Ibrahima will fire these up (minus the squashed duck) at his studio and we'll get a chance to paint them in two weeks. His studio works with deaf and handicapped children and youth in Dakar. He is a patient man and it looks like he will be a good instructor for both Gusi and I.

Ibrahima laughed as he told me that no work would get done this afternoon at his studio since Babacar would spend the whole time telling everyone about how this little hearing-baby from America can sign. I am glad that Gusi is getting exposed to more Senegalese people, especially those as kind-hearted as Ibrahima and Babacar. Perhaps when we get our car we will ask to visit Ibrahima's studio to see the kind of work that he is doing. That would be a great field trip for the both of us.