A day in my Senegalese life

After being here for almost a month, I realize that I have not talked much about my host family or what my experience living in Dakar has been like this year.

The Baobab Center (or ACI, as many people now refer to it) arranged my homestay, just like WARC did for me last January. I did not receive the details about my family until 48 hours before I landed in Dakar, and a lot of the information in the homestay packets is either inaccurate or out of date for any number of reasons.

A Weekend in Saint Louis/Ndar: Advice on getting there, getting back, and a few things in between

This past weekend, my friends and I went to Saint Louis/Ndar in the northern part of Senegal to escape the hustle and bustle of Dakar. Saint Louis is also where Younnouss Seye, the artist I am looking for as part of my research, was born. 

I heard lots of good things about Ndar: a coastal city, built at the same time the French colonizers build New Orleans in the United States, similar architecture, beautiful views... 

Dama feebar - What happens when you're sick in a foreign country

I know that it has been almost a week since my last post.

I was sick.

Like, incredibly sick.

As in, had to call a house-call doctor and explain in broken French, Wolof, and English how to get to my house using a map of Dakar in bed and hope for the best. When the doctor arrived, I had a temperature of 103.6 degrees Fahrenheit.

Being sick is awful. Being sick far away from home is equally awful. Being sick in a foreign country with almost no means to contact home or touch base with normal support mechanisms is on my Top 5 List of Things I Despise.

Sonn naa - On Being a Transnational Researcher

Today was one of those “researcher days.”

I am tired. My feet definitely hurt. I did not eat enough food today (my teeth hurt too much to chew) or drink enough water (I’m sick of the taste). I still do not have regular access to the internet without being at the Baobab Center or Le Mermoz.

And I also found a connection to Younouss Seye. I have an appointment to meet her next week.

Laundry with a Spiral Staircase

I did my first load of laundry in my homestay today.

According to the terms of my homestay for the Baobab Center, I am supposed to have laundry service once per week in my household. After a few confusing conversations with yaay, I still do not know which day the household does their laundry. Whoops.

I was also told when I arrived in Dakar that homestay laundry does not include "delicates" or basically anything underwear related. Not a problem, since I figured I could do my own laundry.