Blog posts
All of my wisdom that I've gained from this trip!
Saying goodbye
Today is the day of the legislative elections in Dakar. I have been reading about them in the newspaper every day since I got to Dakar (wow is the Senegalese political system confusing and mysterious). Despite the fact that I am excited to see the elections and be here for this occasion, it means that my time has come to an end in Senegal. All of the other students have already departed, and I will leave tomorrow. This is unreal. I have cried so much over the past week because I am just not ready to say goodbye to these people. Although it was admittedly a really rough beginning, I would not trade these memories or experiences for anything in the entire world. I am going to keep this post short and sweet because I want to spend as much time with my host family as possible. I hate to sound like that basic person “Study abroad changed my life.”, but there is no way for me to explain or quantify the impact that Senegal has had on my life. If you haven’t been abroad yet – do it. If you haven’t been to Africa—do it. If you haven’t been to Senegal—do it. Sénégaal jamm rekk (Senegal peace only).
Thiat and keur gui
The best part of my trip was the opportunity to meet Thiat. Thiat is a Senegalese rapper that is a part of the duo “Keur Gui” (meaning family in Wolof). Additionally, he was a co-founder of the “Y’En a Marre” (“We’ve had enough” in French) movement which is aimed at engaging Senegalese citizens in politics and holding their politicians accountable.
In my host family, there is another American, Sarah, who is a French professor from the University of Idaho. She had been to Senegal before, became friends with Thiat, and invited me to a dinner with Thiat and one of her students.
At the dinner, I immediately clicked with Thiat. Our humor was very similar and he was excited to teach me more about his movement as well as Senegalese politics. He took us to an amazing restaurant where we had Dibi (a special goat dish). As dinner was ending, we walked around the neighborhood. Almost everyone we passed recognized him, and he took the time to greet every person. He is such an amazing example of how celebrities can use their platform to have a significant positive impact, both on a large scale and a small scale.
The next evening, Thiat invited us all to go clubbing with him. We got to the club, and it was just like an American club. (However, it was weird to be at a night club with a university professor.) We all sat on the rooftop patio and just talked. Then, he took us to the western most point of continental Africa, and we continued our conversation. After that, he invited us back to a car wash where he and his friends hang out each night. We stayed there until 5:30 in the morning talking about religion in Senegal, the upcoming legislative elections, and the political instability of West Africa compared to the stability of Senegal. This is a moment that I will never forget. Before heading home, Thiat took us to a literal shack in the middle of a parking lot. There, at 6:30 on a Saturday morning, a man was preparing dibi pousse pousse (the same dibi dish as before but on a sandwich.) People from all over Dakar were there ending a Friday night. As we watched the sunrise, we savored every bite of the sandwich as well as the time we had together.
A week later, I reached out to Thiat again. This time, he invited me to his studio to watch him rehearse for an upcoming music festival. I got there and I got to meet the other members of his group and watch them rehearse. Afterwards, we all went out for dibi together. This time, I was the only non-Senegalese person so the conversation was almost exclusively in Wolof and very difficult to keep up with. However, Thiat and his friends were so patient and encouraging and really pushed me to use as much Wolof as possible. After the dibi, we went back to the same car wash and I stayed up the whole night. However, this time the conversation centered around rap music. Thiat is a huge fan of classic Hip-Hop and rap because he knows that it has a lot of meaning. His own music is extremely meaningful with profound lyrics that often critique the Senegalese political system and society. Unfortunately, the night came to a close and I had to head home. I waited until the end of my trip to write this post so that I could document every interaction with Thiat in one blog post. He was one of the nicest people that I have ever met, and I am sure that his stories and experiences will stay with me forever.
In my host family, there is another American, Sarah, who is a French professor from the University of Idaho. She had been to Senegal before, became friends with Thiat, and invited me to a dinner with Thiat and one of her students.
At the dinner, I immediately clicked with Thiat. Our humor was very similar and he was excited to teach me more about his movement as well as Senegalese politics. He took us to an amazing restaurant where we had Dibi (a special goat dish). As dinner was ending, we walked around the neighborhood. Almost everyone we passed recognized him, and he took the time to greet every person. He is such an amazing example of how celebrities can use their platform to have a significant positive impact, both on a large scale and a small scale.
The next evening, Thiat invited us all to go clubbing with him. We got to the club, and it was just like an American club. (However, it was weird to be at a night club with a university professor.) We all sat on the rooftop patio and just talked. Then, he took us to the western most point of continental Africa, and we continued our conversation. After that, he invited us back to a car wash where he and his friends hang out each night. We stayed there until 5:30 in the morning talking about religion in Senegal, the upcoming legislative elections, and the political instability of West Africa compared to the stability of Senegal. This is a moment that I will never forget. Before heading home, Thiat took us to a literal shack in the middle of a parking lot. There, at 6:30 on a Saturday morning, a man was preparing dibi pousse pousse (the same dibi dish as before but on a sandwich.) People from all over Dakar were there ending a Friday night. As we watched the sunrise, we savored every bite of the sandwich as well as the time we had together.
A week later, I reached out to Thiat again. This time, he invited me to his studio to watch him rehearse for an upcoming music festival. I got there and I got to meet the other members of his group and watch them rehearse. Afterwards, we all went out for dibi together. This time, I was the only non-Senegalese person so the conversation was almost exclusively in Wolof and very difficult to keep up with. However, Thiat and his friends were so patient and encouraging and really pushed me to use as much Wolof as possible. After the dibi, we went back to the same car wash and I stayed up the whole night. However, this time the conversation centered around rap music. Thiat is a huge fan of classic Hip-Hop and rap because he knows that it has a lot of meaning. His own music is extremely meaningful with profound lyrics that often critique the Senegalese political system and society. Unfortunately, the night came to a close and I had to head home. I waited until the end of my trip to write this post so that I could document every interaction with Thiat in one blog post. He was one of the nicest people that I have ever met, and I am sure that his stories and experiences will stay with me forever.
The pink lake
This weekend’s trip was only a day long excursion. Because we are coming close to the end of our program, we have more free time to spend with our host families and independently in Dakar. We got to go see the infamous Pink lake. Unfortunately, we were not there at the right time of day nor the right time of year, so it just looked brown. However, we did get to go on an ATV tour of the sand dunes, take some amazing beach pictures, and go on an ocean-front camel ride. Not the most culturally engaging experience, but an incredibly fun day with the group!
Trip to touba counta
This weekend we had another weekend trip to a smaller village, this time in the interior of the country along the river. On the way to the hotel, we stopped in a small village to eat lunch at the house of a family member of the director of the WARC. They gave us Yassa Poisson (a fish and onion that is arguably the national plate of Senegal). After the meal, a lot of the women in the village gathered around and made a dance circle. They sang stories in Sereer (another language in Senegal). After about 5 minutes, they started calling out our names to invite us to dance. I was forced into the middle of the circle first, so I imitated their moves. (The video is attached under photos – you’re welcome.) This was really embarrassing at first, but eventually everyone joined in and had their solo. It was honestly one of the happiest moments of my life.
At the hotel, I instantly connected with a family from Mali and played with the kids in the pool. I got to talk about the differences and similarities between their culture and Senegalese culture (feel free to reach out to me if you are interested in specifics, it’s just a little too complex for a blog post). Throughout the weekend I would visit with them.
Additionally, we got to visit a small island on the Senegalese river. It was surrounded by mangroves and it was one of the most beautiful sights I had ever seen. On the island, we were presented to the queen of the village. She welcomed us into her home, called us her sons and daughters, and covered us with love and affection. It was the first time that I had encountered Sorcé (another one of the languages spoken in Senegal). I am constantly blown away by how amazingly welcoming and loving the people in Senegal are.
At the hotel, there was a performance of a traditional dance. There was so much energy and excitement, and halfway through they forced us out of our seats to participate. It was a little embarrassing, but so much fun. After the show, we got to see a traditional wrestling match. I was told that it was real wrestling because there was no hitting involved. There was a dance that all of the wrestlers did that was similar to running in place. It was a way for them to concentrate and hype themselves up, and they forced us up to participate. At the end of the match, the winner was presented with 3 sacks of rice and an envelope of money. We were invited to present the prizes, and one of the wrestlers kissed Cat on the cheek while he accepted his prize. It was such a fun experience.
At the hotel, I instantly connected with a family from Mali and played with the kids in the pool. I got to talk about the differences and similarities between their culture and Senegalese culture (feel free to reach out to me if you are interested in specifics, it’s just a little too complex for a blog post). Throughout the weekend I would visit with them.
Additionally, we got to visit a small island on the Senegalese river. It was surrounded by mangroves and it was one of the most beautiful sights I had ever seen. On the island, we were presented to the queen of the village. She welcomed us into her home, called us her sons and daughters, and covered us with love and affection. It was the first time that I had encountered Sorcé (another one of the languages spoken in Senegal). I am constantly blown away by how amazingly welcoming and loving the people in Senegal are.
At the hotel, there was a performance of a traditional dance. There was so much energy and excitement, and halfway through they forced us out of our seats to participate. It was a little embarrassing, but so much fun. After the show, we got to see a traditional wrestling match. I was told that it was real wrestling because there was no hitting involved. There was a dance that all of the wrestlers did that was similar to running in place. It was a way for them to concentrate and hype themselves up, and they forced us up to participate. At the end of the match, the winner was presented with 3 sacks of rice and an envelope of money. We were invited to present the prizes, and one of the wrestlers kissed Cat on the cheek while he accepted his prize. It was such a fun experience.
Trip to Toubab Dialaw
This weekend we had an excursion to Toubab Dialaw! This is a small village on the coast of Senegal south of Dakar. During the car ride, I was able to talk more with Awa (our guide for the class at the West African research center) and practice some Wolof. The weekend was pretty cool. We got to take a tie-dying class in which we learned a traditional technique (Mbatik) to tie dye some handkerchiefs. We also took a djembe (traditional drum) class in the evening. Because I have a very weak level of hand-eye coordination, this class was a train-wreck for me. However, the guides were so supportive and encouraging. They made tons of jokes about it and forced me to do a solo. (For the rest of the weekend they would make fun of me every time they saw me!) The best class that we took was a dance class. Because I grew up doing ballet, tap, and jazz, this class came a little more naturally. I got really invested, and even watched the group after us to learn their routine.
In addition to struggling through these classes (which was an amazing way to learn about more traditional aspects of Senegalese culture), I got to spend a ton of time on the beach and relaxing. I talked to everyone I passed and practiced so much Wolof!!!
In addition to struggling through these classes (which was an amazing way to learn about more traditional aspects of Senegalese culture), I got to spend a ton of time on the beach and relaxing. I talked to everyone I passed and practiced so much Wolof!!!
Classes commence
The 4 other students in the program have safely arrived in Dakar! We all went through a mini orientation (mostly things that I had discovered the hard way), and they were off to their host homes. Sometimes I can get pretty lonely, so it was nice to have the other students here.
The first full day of classes, we got to go to the phone store, which I have discovered is a nightmare in any country. However, while waiting I met a wonderful woman who invited me to her restaurant “Z’Grill”, hopefully I will be able to go in the near future. After the phone store, a guide took us on a bus tour of the city which ended at the statue of the African Renaissance.
This statue was not very well received by the Senegalese public. Firstly, Islam does not accept statues and the country is 94% Muslim. Also, it was extremely expensive and many people would have rather seen that money invested in areas of need like education. Lastly, the clothes that the woman in the statue is wearing are extremely revealing, and in Senegal modesty is fashionable.
One day after courses, I had the opportunity to visit the other students’ host families. At one house we talked with one of the sons and the mom of the house. The mom of the house was not only extremely welcoming, but also very animated. She teasingly mocked one of the students living there and had grand gestures and expressive faces to accompany every sentence. At the next house, we sat and talked with the father of the house. They brought out traditional Senegalese tea and he was extremely interested in what we had to say. In both homes, the fact that Senegalese people are extremely welcoming was affirmed.
The first two days of class our professor (Mr. Sy) gave a crash course in Wolof, one of the local languages that is spoken all over Dakar. Then, we learned about the caste system that is in Senegal and started learning about romantic love in Senegalese culture.
The first full day of classes, we got to go to the phone store, which I have discovered is a nightmare in any country. However, while waiting I met a wonderful woman who invited me to her restaurant “Z’Grill”, hopefully I will be able to go in the near future. After the phone store, a guide took us on a bus tour of the city which ended at the statue of the African Renaissance.
This statue was not very well received by the Senegalese public. Firstly, Islam does not accept statues and the country is 94% Muslim. Also, it was extremely expensive and many people would have rather seen that money invested in areas of need like education. Lastly, the clothes that the woman in the statue is wearing are extremely revealing, and in Senegal modesty is fashionable.
One day after courses, I had the opportunity to visit the other students’ host families. At one house we talked with one of the sons and the mom of the house. The mom of the house was not only extremely welcoming, but also very animated. She teasingly mocked one of the students living there and had grand gestures and expressive faces to accompany every sentence. At the next house, we sat and talked with the father of the house. They brought out traditional Senegalese tea and he was extremely interested in what we had to say. In both homes, the fact that Senegalese people are extremely welcoming was affirmed.
The first two days of class our professor (Mr. Sy) gave a crash course in Wolof, one of the local languages that is spoken all over Dakar. Then, we learned about the caste system that is in Senegal and started learning about romantic love in Senegalese culture.
Korite
For those of you who don’t know what Eid-Al_Fitr is, a quick Google search will tell you plenty, but it is a clebration of the end of Ramadan. In Wolof, it is called Korité. Most of the Muslim community celebrated Eid on Sunday, June 25th, but in Senegal it was celebrated Monday. (Senegal has always had an issue with people celebrating on different days. The day that Eid is celebrated, depends on the sighting of the moon with the naked eye, so that is why certain communities celebrate it on certain days.
The Friday before Eid, I went to a market to buy some traditional clothes, so I wouldn’t stand out too much. I ended up in the shop of a woman named Rabi who sold me a wonderful outfit, gave me the hat as a present, and shared her phone number insisting I visit her again.
On the day itself I went to the Mosque for the morning prayer. There were so many people that some were praying in the street because the courtyard of the Mosque was full. (Sorry, I didn’t take any pictures out of respect!) Back at the house, the day was spent at the house just hanging out while lunch was prepared. Throughout the day, neighbors came by to ask forgiveness and visit.
For lunch, we had pasta with lamb and Yassa (an onion sauce), then cake, then fruit salad. Then, in the afternoon, children came to the house to ask for money and candy (similar to Halloween). I ran over to the boutique across the street to stock up on candy and change so I could be a part of the tradition.
Because we ate so much for lunch, dinner was an optional serving of leftovers. It was so amazing to see how this holiday was celebrated in Senegal.
The Friday before Eid, I went to a market to buy some traditional clothes, so I wouldn’t stand out too much. I ended up in the shop of a woman named Rabi who sold me a wonderful outfit, gave me the hat as a present, and shared her phone number insisting I visit her again.
On the day itself I went to the Mosque for the morning prayer. There were so many people that some were praying in the street because the courtyard of the Mosque was full. (Sorry, I didn’t take any pictures out of respect!) Back at the house, the day was spent at the house just hanging out while lunch was prepared. Throughout the day, neighbors came by to ask forgiveness and visit.
For lunch, we had pasta with lamb and Yassa (an onion sauce), then cake, then fruit salad. Then, in the afternoon, children came to the house to ask for money and candy (similar to Halloween). I ran over to the boutique across the street to stock up on candy and change so I could be a part of the tradition.
Because we ate so much for lunch, dinner was an optional serving of leftovers. It was so amazing to see how this holiday was celebrated in Senegal.
Ramadan Mubarak!!!!
I’m not going to explain what Ramadan is to you, but here is a great introductory article: https://www.thoughtco.com/what-is-ramadan-2004619. I have decided to fast for Ramadan. It is an amazing way to explore other religions, better understand the Muslim community, and get in touch with the local culture.
Today was the first day of Ramadan, and it was interesting. I have a little bit of a cold, and I am pretty sure that my sore throat actually helped cover up my thirst. Because it was a Saturday, I was able to take it slow and take lots of naps and rest a lot. It was nice to make sure I didn’t overexert myself, but time went by so slowly!
Iftar was actually amazing. We basically had breakfast (pancakes courtesy of me, and bread with tea and coffee) as soon as the sun set, around 7:30PM. Then at about 10:30 we had dinner which was rice, beef, a beef sauce, fries, and beef sausage. I had no idea how I was going be able to eat after eating so much for breakfast/dinner, but I ate a full meal. So, I am going to wake up for suhoor at 4:45 AM Insha Allah! Goodnight friends!
Today was the first day of Ramadan, and it was interesting. I have a little bit of a cold, and I am pretty sure that my sore throat actually helped cover up my thirst. Because it was a Saturday, I was able to take it slow and take lots of naps and rest a lot. It was nice to make sure I didn’t overexert myself, but time went by so slowly!
Iftar was actually amazing. We basically had breakfast (pancakes courtesy of me, and bread with tea and coffee) as soon as the sun set, around 7:30PM. Then at about 10:30 we had dinner which was rice, beef, a beef sauce, fries, and beef sausage. I had no idea how I was going be able to eat after eating so much for breakfast/dinner, but I ate a full meal. So, I am going to wake up for suhoor at 4:45 AM Insha Allah! Goodnight friends!
The Sunday Routine
I made it through my first full work week. The internship is amazing and I am learning so much and definitely in over my head. I have started working on Python functions to send AT commands to a modem so I can develop a similar system.
One of the cool traditions that I have found is that my host mom, Abi, goes and walks alongside the ocean at least every Sunday. This Sunday, Abi invited me to come with her. I was so excited, so I woke up early, put on lots of sunscreen and hopped in the car. We drove to the beach and had a wonderful walk.
She knew so many people there. She had created a community out of walking there for years and years, and she graciously introduced me to everyone. I even got to meet her niece and brother-in-law. Everyone was so nice and welcoming; it was amazing to see this community that she had built.
At the end of the walk, we bought these giant coconuts. The vendor chopped a hole in the top and gave us a straw so we could drink the water. Let me tell you, I think coconut water is disgusting, but when I drank it straight out of the coconut it was heavenly nectar. Then, just when I thought it was over, we handed it back to him and he flawlessly chopped it in half, scooped all the meat onto one side, and crafted a spoon out of the coconut shell and we ate the coconut meat.
It was such an amazing Sunday and I can’t wait for more to follow. Unfortunately, most people don’t do this during Ramadan because it is exhausting so I’ll have to wait a while for the next one!
One of the cool traditions that I have found is that my host mom, Abi, goes and walks alongside the ocean at least every Sunday. This Sunday, Abi invited me to come with her. I was so excited, so I woke up early, put on lots of sunscreen and hopped in the car. We drove to the beach and had a wonderful walk.
She knew so many people there. She had created a community out of walking there for years and years, and she graciously introduced me to everyone. I even got to meet her niece and brother-in-law. Everyone was so nice and welcoming; it was amazing to see this community that she had built.
At the end of the walk, we bought these giant coconuts. The vendor chopped a hole in the top and gave us a straw so we could drink the water. Let me tell you, I think coconut water is disgusting, but when I drank it straight out of the coconut it was heavenly nectar. Then, just when I thought it was over, we handed it back to him and he flawlessly chopped it in half, scooped all the meat onto one side, and crafted a spoon out of the coconut shell and we ate the coconut meat.
It was such an amazing Sunday and I can’t wait for more to follow. Unfortunately, most people don’t do this during Ramadan because it is exhausting so I’ll have to wait a while for the next one!
A working man
I found an internship!!! I went to the West African Research center, which, like everything in Dakar, was very difficult for me to find. I sat down and met with the LOVELY staff there, and they explained to me that lawyers had no interest in hiring me because the laws are so different than those in the United States. They said I could work in a law firm, but I would just be translating documents for them, and I decided that was not the right fit.
The next option they presented me was working at a start-up company called Gueye Electrical Intelligence, which is an industrial computing company. I figured that if I work at a start-up, I would get to have a lot of hands on experience and very quickly get down to the nitty gritty, so I decided to meet with Mr. Macodou Gueye.
After meeting with him, I decided that it was the right fit for me, and I had my first day Monday the 15th. He works out of his house, which is right by the ocean, so every day as I walk up I get to see the beautiful beach.
On Monday, I got to go with him to a phosphate facility in Thies. It was interesting to get off Dakar’s peninsula and go into the interior of the country. The lifestyle was much different with small towns spaced far apart. Also, the lack of sea breeze made it significantly hotter. I got to see the process of extracting the phosphate and how it was processed.
The actual project was the automation of water pumps. The pumps are spread out by about 5 kilometers, and before this they had to start and stop the pumps at the site. Mr. Gueye wrote a program that uses a driver and modem to send SMS signals to sim cards that are installed at each pump. The cards at the pumps are also able to send measurements such as flow rates and errors to the main system. This greatly improved the efficiency of the phosphate treatment process.
The next option they presented me was working at a start-up company called Gueye Electrical Intelligence, which is an industrial computing company. I figured that if I work at a start-up, I would get to have a lot of hands on experience and very quickly get down to the nitty gritty, so I decided to meet with Mr. Macodou Gueye.
After meeting with him, I decided that it was the right fit for me, and I had my first day Monday the 15th. He works out of his house, which is right by the ocean, so every day as I walk up I get to see the beautiful beach.
On Monday, I got to go with him to a phosphate facility in Thies. It was interesting to get off Dakar’s peninsula and go into the interior of the country. The lifestyle was much different with small towns spaced far apart. Also, the lack of sea breeze made it significantly hotter. I got to see the process of extracting the phosphate and how it was processed.
The actual project was the automation of water pumps. The pumps are spread out by about 5 kilometers, and before this they had to start and stop the pumps at the site. Mr. Gueye wrote a program that uses a driver and modem to send SMS signals to sim cards that are installed at each pump. The cards at the pumps are also able to send measurements such as flow rates and errors to the main system. This greatly improved the efficiency of the phosphate treatment process.
L'île gorée
I woke up today and had breakfast. I was hesitant to opt for the coffee because the tea was so good yesterday. When I tell you this coffee took me out of my body and threw me on the ground—it was the best thing I had ever had. Normally I drink my coffee with plenty of cream and sugar, but I chugged two cups of this coffee black!
Then it was time to go to the money wiring shop to see if I could finally get money. (At this point I still have no shampoo, no conditioner, no body wash, and $5 of American currency). I got there and spoke with the lady, and she said that because my mom didn’t put my middle name, it would be impossible for me to get the money. So I had to go back home and somehow get in contact with my mom even though her phone was broken and it was 6:00 in the morning. I get in to contact with her, but there is nothing she can do from online, and Alassane, the nephew of our host mother, had already arrived to take us to the island. So, I said why not, what’s the wors that can happen if I go to the most touristy location in all of Dakar with only $5 cash.
So we go with Alassane and take the taxi over to the ferry. At the ferry, we meet a guide who helps us through the whole process. Poor Seth has to pay everything for me because I don’t have any money and oh my goodness it is so stressful. We have to buy a ferry ticket, and pay taxes on the island, and pay for the guide, and pay to visit the house of slaves, and have lunch. Seth literally saved my life!
So we get to the island and it is so pretty. We walk around and the guide talks all about the history. How it was first conquered by the Portugese, but they didn’t want to take it over, just have a presence there. Then the Dutch took it over, then the French beat the Dutch (without surrendering!), and then the British came. We saw so many historic sites, and the views from every side of the island were amazing! There were also so many locals selling art, and they were really talented. I’m almost glad I didn’t have any money with me because if I had, oh man I would’ve been in trouble.
After walking around the whole island, we had lunch where I got to eat Yassa poisson, a traditional fish dish. I kept accidentally chewing the bones and almost ate the fish’s eyeball because I didn’t realize, but it was delicious.
After lunch we went to visit the house of slaves. It was shocking to see the conditions in which people were kept, and how white people morally justified living in luxury above them. They were only allowed to use the bathroom one time per day, and they were only fed grain. It was really frustrating to see houw the lives and prosperity of so many Africans was ruined by white people.
Then, we went for a quick dip in the ocean. It was sooooooooooo cold, but I love the beach so it was worth it. There were a ton of school kids there on a visit and they started making fun of Seth and me and splashing us. It was light hearted fun, but I was just so confused. Then we took the ferry and went home.
I was finally able to receive the cash, so I went to the supermarket and bought shampoo, body soap, and 6 big bottles of water. All in all, today was amazing! Alassane was so fun to talk to, and he was so funny and polite. It really was an amazing day.
Then it was time to go to the money wiring shop to see if I could finally get money. (At this point I still have no shampoo, no conditioner, no body wash, and $5 of American currency). I got there and spoke with the lady, and she said that because my mom didn’t put my middle name, it would be impossible for me to get the money. So I had to go back home and somehow get in contact with my mom even though her phone was broken and it was 6:00 in the morning. I get in to contact with her, but there is nothing she can do from online, and Alassane, the nephew of our host mother, had already arrived to take us to the island. So, I said why not, what’s the wors that can happen if I go to the most touristy location in all of Dakar with only $5 cash.
So we go with Alassane and take the taxi over to the ferry. At the ferry, we meet a guide who helps us through the whole process. Poor Seth has to pay everything for me because I don’t have any money and oh my goodness it is so stressful. We have to buy a ferry ticket, and pay taxes on the island, and pay for the guide, and pay to visit the house of slaves, and have lunch. Seth literally saved my life!
So we get to the island and it is so pretty. We walk around and the guide talks all about the history. How it was first conquered by the Portugese, but they didn’t want to take it over, just have a presence there. Then the Dutch took it over, then the French beat the Dutch (without surrendering!), and then the British came. We saw so many historic sites, and the views from every side of the island were amazing! There were also so many locals selling art, and they were really talented. I’m almost glad I didn’t have any money with me because if I had, oh man I would’ve been in trouble.
After walking around the whole island, we had lunch where I got to eat Yassa poisson, a traditional fish dish. I kept accidentally chewing the bones and almost ate the fish’s eyeball because I didn’t realize, but it was delicious.
After lunch we went to visit the house of slaves. It was shocking to see the conditions in which people were kept, and how white people morally justified living in luxury above them. They were only allowed to use the bathroom one time per day, and they were only fed grain. It was really frustrating to see houw the lives and prosperity of so many Africans was ruined by white people.
Then, we went for a quick dip in the ocean. It was sooooooooooo cold, but I love the beach so it was worth it. There were a ton of school kids there on a visit and they started making fun of Seth and me and splashing us. It was light hearted fun, but I was just so confused. Then we took the ferry and went home.
I was finally able to receive the cash, so I went to the supermarket and bought shampoo, body soap, and 6 big bottles of water. All in all, today was amazing! Alassane was so fun to talk to, and he was so funny and polite. It really was an amazing day.
Arriving in dakar
So, still no news on the debit card. But, the good news is if you’re reading this I found wifi that works! The flight to Dakar was pretty uneventful. I watched two French movies that dealt a lot with race, (“Demain tout commence” et “Il a deja tes yeux”) and then Hidden Figures, so I was feeling pretty politically charged going into Senegal. Nothing could have prepared me for how different the entire airport system is. You just walk out on to the TARMAC and then take a bus to customs. The customs lines were not long, but were so chaotic, with people walking around and not getting checked and people walking back in the opposite direction. I got up for my turn, and he asked me for the address I was staying at. I had no idea, so I told him that I was doing an exchange program and he told me to wait to the side and find the address. I wait there, but I don’t have any cell service and am totally lost and just want to cry. Then, a Senegalese man let me borrow his phone so I could call my professor (just the first example of how nice the people are here). So I made it through customs and to baggage claim. Keep in mind, all I know is I am supposed to meet someone with a sign that says Georgia Tech. So Seth, who is the other Tech student with me, and I are looking around the baggage claim area at all of these people with signs totally confused. That’s when I realize how hot I am. I have sweat through my undershirt and have stains on my regular shirt. It is beautiful ocean air as soon as you get outside, but boy is it toasty. So, we can’t find anyone and decide to try outside of the airport. But, to leave the airport you have to scan your bags and this room is about the size of the lobby in a small hotel, and it is full to the brim. Again, there is no order to the lines so I am constantly jostling for my position. I manage to make it out of the airport and there is a long fenced off walkway with TONS of people standing on the sides holding signs. I make it ¾ of the way down the walkway and get nervous, but then I see my Georgia Tech sign. We get in the car to head to our host family, and oh my goodness the driving here is crazy. I am a flinchy car passenger in the United States, so this was a whole new level for me. I thought about putting on my complementary sleep mask! After about a 15 minute drive, we make it to the house. We are greeted by 2 20 something year old girls and our host mom, Abi (not sure on the spelling—will update you later)! We walk in the house and it is beautiful. The decarations are amazing, Abi is soooo sweet as she shows us around the house and to our room. Seth and I shared a room the first night but have since moved into a mini apartment that is next to the house! Then she asked if we were hungry, and I was like boyyyy am I?!??!?! So the two girls, who work in the house serve us cous cous, chicken with cabbage and carrots, and some type of meat-based stew. OMG it was so amazing, like so delicious. Then for dessert we have fresh oranges, papaya, and mango (Abi told me later that we are lucky because mangos are in season right now!) I then wash my own dishes like a polite guest, but one of the girls just laughed at me the whole time, in a very endearing way not at all condescending. So, then I took a cold shower, which hadn’t happened in +48 hours thanks to my crazy travel plans, and I am now in bed. The next morning (not really morning because it was noon) I woke up and had a breakfast of bread, cheese, a Nutella-ish spread, and tea. Oh my goodness the tea is amazing. They use tea leaves as well as fresh herbs from the garden, and it is minty, delicious, and refreshing (check out the photo)! Over breakfast I read the newspaper. I am determined to be plugged into economics and politics here. Then Seth and I decide to go on a walk to try to figure out the neighborhood a little. We walk around and it’s so fun to see the city a little. When we get back, I start to read the newspaper again, but I am so tired so I decide to take a quick nap before lunch. 4 hours later, I wake up disoriented and confused. I go outside to sit and hang out with everyone. I then offer to help water the plants, if Lai (very not sure about the spelling, I’ll get back to you) teaches me Wolof. So we water the plants and have fun trying to teach me Wolof. Every time I get something correct, I do a little dance and she laughs so hard. We then sit down and talk about our families and what life is like back in Atlanta. Then it’s dinner time, and we have cous cous with beef and a similar meat based stew with fruit for dessert. Again, it is absolutely delicious and perfect and amazing. Then I head to bed in the apartment, where my bed is actually a size king. It’s kind of ridiculous, but if you’re reading this blog then you already know that I am extra and I love it. TLDR: made it to the family. Everything is perfect. Will go hunting for a way to find money tomorrow. (peep the pictures of the food!!!)
Paris? Paris!
So, when I booked my flight, I thought that my layover in Paris was about 4 hours. Turns out I was totally wrong, my flight landed at 7:00am, and the next flight didn’t take off until 4:20pm. So, I reached out to a French exchange student, Maryanne, that I hosted in the summer of 2012! She was available so we made plans to meet up for breakfast.
The fun part was navigating from the airport to our McDonald’s rendezvous with no service. This was even more complicated when I LOST MY DEBIT CARD SOMEWHERE BETWEEN NEW YORK AND PARIS. Thankfully, I had enough euros on me to make it into the city and back. I get to the city and get to the correct metro stop. As soon as I step out of the subway station, I am overwhelmed with how much I love the environment. All the buildings are so cute, the people are adorable, and it is just amazing.
Anyway, I get super lost, cannot make sense of the map so I just start walking. I get about 5 blocks down the road and decide to ask someone for help. She assures me that I am going in the right direction and I find the McDonald’s. I was supposed to be there at 9:00, but got there around 9:20. Maryanne was nowhere to be found, so I connected to the wifi to talk to her through What’s App. Turns out, I went the wrong way out of the subway and was at a different McDonald’s. She ended up coming to the McDonald’s that I was at, and we left.
We went to breakfast at Café Grizli, and caught up. We even face timed my mom for a little bit (mostly to talk about the lost debit card). We then just walked around aimlessly and got lost (I’m amazed by how horrible her sense of direction is haha!) Then, it was time to head back to the airport, so we hopped into the subway station. When we got to the station where it was time to separate, we realized that we had not taken a photo. We hopped out of the random station and had a perfect view overlooking the Seine, with the Eifel Tower in the background. Then we hopped on the train and headed our separate ways. It was so good to see her after such a long time. She still radiated positivity, and we clicked like it had only been a week.
So, now I am sitting in the airport in Paris, waiting for the real adventure to begin. Still no information on the debit card, so I am not feeling great. Stay tuned to see how Robby makes it to his host family with $5 cash and a heart full of hope.
The fun part was navigating from the airport to our McDonald’s rendezvous with no service. This was even more complicated when I LOST MY DEBIT CARD SOMEWHERE BETWEEN NEW YORK AND PARIS. Thankfully, I had enough euros on me to make it into the city and back. I get to the city and get to the correct metro stop. As soon as I step out of the subway station, I am overwhelmed with how much I love the environment. All the buildings are so cute, the people are adorable, and it is just amazing.
Anyway, I get super lost, cannot make sense of the map so I just start walking. I get about 5 blocks down the road and decide to ask someone for help. She assures me that I am going in the right direction and I find the McDonald’s. I was supposed to be there at 9:00, but got there around 9:20. Maryanne was nowhere to be found, so I connected to the wifi to talk to her through What’s App. Turns out, I went the wrong way out of the subway and was at a different McDonald’s. She ended up coming to the McDonald’s that I was at, and we left.
We went to breakfast at Café Grizli, and caught up. We even face timed my mom for a little bit (mostly to talk about the lost debit card). We then just walked around aimlessly and got lost (I’m amazed by how horrible her sense of direction is haha!) Then, it was time to head back to the airport, so we hopped into the subway station. When we got to the station where it was time to separate, we realized that we had not taken a photo. We hopped out of the random station and had a perfect view overlooking the Seine, with the Eifel Tower in the background. Then we hopped on the train and headed our separate ways. It was so good to see her after such a long time. She still radiated positivity, and we clicked like it had only been a week.
So, now I am sitting in the airport in Paris, waiting for the real adventure to begin. Still no information on the debit card, so I am not feeling great. Stay tuned to see how Robby makes it to his host family with $5 cash and a heart full of hope.