Destination Dakar

            I’ve been told I came to Senegal at the best and worst time because of the presidential election. It’s the best because it’s an amazing opportunity to see how democracy is run in another country. The worst because the election provides concerns for safety, protest could form things could become violent. Things have been…

Asalaa maalekum! Bonjour! Hello! Greeting people in Senegal is very important it’s apart of the culture, there’s no such thing as I’m not a morning person so I can’t say hi. It’s an obligation so over the last few weeks I’ve slowly been mastering all the ways to greet people in Wolof. At first it…

Toubab Dialao is a small fishing village and only about an hour drive outside of Dakar. It was refreshing to be out of the city after 3 weeks of the hustle and bustle of Dakar, which is chaotic to say the least. Our drive there was pleasant and exciting I think we all were ready…

What it is like to celebrate your birthday in another continent with peers you just met and a family you’ve only known for two weeks? I can say first hand it will be unlike any other birthday you will ever have. For me personally it was a Friday and the course load here is designed…

            Gorée is the missing history lesson from our school books. It’s astounding I had to cross the ocean just to learn about this place. For background Gorée is an island just south of the coast of Dakar and its proximity was useful in many ways. At first it is believed to have been inhabited…

Dear me,             It’s hard to imagine what the next four months will bring me. Especially since I cleaned snow off my car this morning and the warm weather of Senegal seems distant. In this next period of my life I’m going to change and I’m not sure how, but one way to know how…

“If you reject the food, ignore the customs, fear the religion and avoid the people, you might better stay at home.” – James Michener