Since it’s not Ansetta’s turn to cook lunch today, she’ll make her way back home around noon and head to her room or the sal (living room) to scroll on TikTok and record dances with the other girls. She’ll probably change into more comfy bottoms, either looser pants, basketball shorts or a long piece of fabric wrapped around her waist. She’ll call friends and family or send or respond to voice notes before leaving her phone to charge in the community charging station in the mayor’s house. This is a huge privilege to have, as not all homes have solar power or any way to charge devices. Some neighbors even come over to charge their phones at the mayor’s house. She may do some homework if she’s feeling motivated, but she’ll probably leave that till later in the evening when it's gotten a bit cooler.
As it’s very important to be clean before eating meals here, Ansetta will shower just before lunch. She’ll fill a large basin of water full from the well, put in on her head, and walk through the house to the back yard where there is an enclosed space for showering. She’ll be pretty quick with her bucket-shower as all the other girls need to shower after her, too.
At around 3 pm, the house gathers for lunch. Everyone has come home from school or work, whether in the gardens or at the mayor’s office, or just from visiting with neighbors. There is no set time for lunch, just whenever it’s ready, everyone gathers.
Ansetta and the girls sit at one big bowl on the porch and eat with their hands. The men at the other bowls eat with spoons. Lunch is usually rice with some veggies and meat of some kind. The Pulaar staple that is in every bowl with every meal is called folere.
