Saturday, January 28, 2012

Just call me "Oumy"

It was finally the day when we would be picked up by our host families to be taken to the place where we would call “home” for the next few months. Many of us were too excited to stay inside the hotel so we lined up outside to watch the already loving exchange between students and host parents and siblings as one-by-one we were taken home. When I arrived at my house in Sacré Coeur 3, I was greeted by my Tata (aunt), and Papa, who gave me a quick “Ca va?” as he was very engaged in the Gabon v. Morocco soccer game that was playing on the television. My mother, who I call “Yaay”, then gave me a big hug and assured me that I am already considered a member of the family. When the soccer game ended, Papa also told me that I am to consider him and Yaay to be my second set of parents.
I am truly experiencing first-hand what the Senegalese call “Teranga”, a value that surpasses hospitality to mean a genuine welcoming into not only one’s house, but also into the lives of every member of the family.
As I get situated in my new home, there are many things that I will have to get used to: being given the Senegalese name “Oumy Paye” because Becca is too difficult to say, the screeches of our two parakeets right outside my bedroom window, sleeping under the protection of a mosquito net, and not being allowed to stop eating until Yaay is absolutely sure that I will explode with one more bite.
I continue to be fascinated by all that this culture is teaching me about Senegalese traditions and values.
Ba Beneen! (Until next time.)

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

After 12 hours of airports, airplanes, and waiting in lines, I am finally at the hotel in Dakar! I got my first taste of Senegalese culture from the two women sitting next to me on the 8-hour plane ride. They were very patient with me as I tried speaking to them in French. I soon realized that I had not thought this plan through very well, as there is a rather large difference between speaking french to someone, and being able to understand their beautiful, yet still unnerving mix of rapid French and Wolof. I think I spent more time looking at them with a deer-in-the-headlights look than actually conversing...



As we drove through the city towards our hotel, the buzz of anxious laughter and conversation disappeared almost instantly and a unique african song playing from the radio took its place. I couldn't take my eyes off the buildings we passed. Just as I had come to expect, my senses were overwhelmed with the color of each building, the smell of the breeze coming off the ocean, stray dogs and goats in the street (one of them we affectionately named “Zik” after the billboard above him) and horses with carts in the middle of the road waiting to be used.
After our very first authentic Senegalese meal of rice and beef, we decided to explore the city as much as we could in the short time that we had between orientation activities. A short walk to the beach easily turned into two hours of climbing the rocks on the shore and people watching. I am quickly realizing that it will most definitely take the entire semester of living in this city to just scratch the surface of the history and cultural adventures that await us!

Saturday, January 14, 2012

Pride and Peanut Butter

It is officially one week until I will be flying across the Atlantic Ocean to Dakar, Senegal! It is so exciting to think about starting a new adventure. I haven't even left the states yet and my expectations of what this semester is going to be like are already being challenged- and I am so thankful for that. I expect this list to grow exponentially over this semester, but for now, I am already amazed at how little I actually know about the journey I am about to begin.
What Becca think she knows #1: Americans take more pride in appearances than Senegalese people.
Yeah, right...In fact, during a pre-departure orientation session, we were informed that Senegalese women  not only take much pride in dressing modestly and fashionably, but that also, it is not uncommon for them to see Americans as "grungy"... a problem that can easily be solved with 2 or 3 showers each day (however cold they may be...)

As I pack my suitcase (singular- yes, just one!) with clothes (which hopefully aren't grungy), an L.L. Bean headlamp (which is extremely stylish, by the way ;) believe me, I tried it on), half a dozen travel-size bottles of hand-sanitizer, and a big jar peanut-butter, I think that I, quite possibly, could be ready for anything that comes my way!

Africa, here I come!