I have arrived – he llegado! (1/6/03)
friends and family -- amigos
I have finally gotten settled in senegal and am sending out a group email. i have been here for about 3 days but it seems like longer. i think this is because the country is soo open. i've never met a more inviting people. there's so much physical contact and everyone talks to everyone. people rave about southern hospitality but u ain't seen nothing yet. people are always helpful especially when you attempt to speak wolof. i speak all of 10 words but it's the attempt that counts. actually, i can say most of the basics..like "i am hungry" which is always important. the language is so melodic that you can't help but want to learn. and my 3 sisters are always willing to help.
the family is really sweet, upper class thus i live far from the center (my main gripe being that it takes almost an hour to arrive to some of my classes but i'm gonna get major excerise --glass half full--) my host mom works in meteorology and my host dad works for an aviation organization sorta like the FAA. that's how he explained it anyway. i have 3 sisters, 22, 18, 16. and a 20 yr old bro. at the moment i share a room with the 3 sisters so it's fun to hear them gossip and to share stories with them. it's weird to hear them switch back and forth from french to wolof. i have to stay on my toes. with in the family they prefer to speak in wolof but to include me they will switch to french. however, they occasionally slip back into wolof but that will force me to learn it quicker.
i'm getting used to a different lifestyle. i never knew bucket showers could actually do the job. of course i could use the shower but it's very cold and i can heat the bucket water. using a cup to bathe takes getting used to but i've turned pro. the senegalese are very into cleanliness so many take two showers a day. with all the dust and sand you just about have to.
speaking of sand, i went to goree island this past weekend. i think every american needs to go here, the point of no return for the 12 to 15 million africans sold into slavery. of these, 1/4 to 1/3 died in transit. seeing the conditions and the shackles, i felt part of history, one of the darkest in the history of man. you think of slavery and then you see the present day senegalese who hold themselves to high. it's a weird contrast.
speaking of the senegalese, i have NEVER visited a country with so many beautiful people. the women are absolutely gorgeous. always dressed to the nine in vibrant colors. for a muslim country you wouldn't expect the freeness of dress. but u know it's a muslim country by the 5 am call to prayer EVERY MORNING. unfort, my caller has a very raspy voice which is unpleasant to wake up to. back to the people...the men are gorgeous as well, thus you have gorgeous children running around and they are some of the most well-behaved children i have ever seen. i hardly hear any crying and there are plenty of babies here! family is the most important thing to the senegalese.
food is another great topic. if you like fish and seafood, this is the place to be. yummy is all i'm gonna say.
my classes start wed so i can't talk about them yet but i have the opportunity to take a course with a very prominent senegalese artist. we visited her workshop today. being that i brought all my paints, including the terpintine that spilled all over my clothes, i look forward to painting.
the people in teh program are amazing. out of the 4 study abraod programs i've done, i think i relate to these 16 the best. it takes a different breed of person to go to Africa to live. no offense to those of you i met on study abroad programs!
anyway, my time is running out so i must go but i look forward to hearing how ur semesters are going. have a great new year!
maya
I have finally gotten settled in senegal and am sending out a group email. i have been here for about 3 days but it seems like longer. i think this is because the country is soo open. i've never met a more inviting people. there's so much physical contact and everyone talks to everyone. people rave about southern hospitality but u ain't seen nothing yet. people are always helpful especially when you attempt to speak wolof. i speak all of 10 words but it's the attempt that counts. actually, i can say most of the basics..like "i am hungry" which is always important. the language is so melodic that you can't help but want to learn. and my 3 sisters are always willing to help.
the family is really sweet, upper class thus i live far from the center (my main gripe being that it takes almost an hour to arrive to some of my classes but i'm gonna get major excerise --glass half full--) my host mom works in meteorology and my host dad works for an aviation organization sorta like the FAA. that's how he explained it anyway. i have 3 sisters, 22, 18, 16. and a 20 yr old bro. at the moment i share a room with the 3 sisters so it's fun to hear them gossip and to share stories with them. it's weird to hear them switch back and forth from french to wolof. i have to stay on my toes. with in the family they prefer to speak in wolof but to include me they will switch to french. however, they occasionally slip back into wolof but that will force me to learn it quicker.
i'm getting used to a different lifestyle. i never knew bucket showers could actually do the job. of course i could use the shower but it's very cold and i can heat the bucket water. using a cup to bathe takes getting used to but i've turned pro. the senegalese are very into cleanliness so many take two showers a day. with all the dust and sand you just about have to.
speaking of sand, i went to goree island this past weekend. i think every american needs to go here, the point of no return for the 12 to 15 million africans sold into slavery. of these, 1/4 to 1/3 died in transit. seeing the conditions and the shackles, i felt part of history, one of the darkest in the history of man. you think of slavery and then you see the present day senegalese who hold themselves to high. it's a weird contrast.
speaking of the senegalese, i have NEVER visited a country with so many beautiful people. the women are absolutely gorgeous. always dressed to the nine in vibrant colors. for a muslim country you wouldn't expect the freeness of dress. but u know it's a muslim country by the 5 am call to prayer EVERY MORNING. unfort, my caller has a very raspy voice which is unpleasant to wake up to. back to the people...the men are gorgeous as well, thus you have gorgeous children running around and they are some of the most well-behaved children i have ever seen. i hardly hear any crying and there are plenty of babies here! family is the most important thing to the senegalese.
food is another great topic. if you like fish and seafood, this is the place to be. yummy is all i'm gonna say.
my classes start wed so i can't talk about them yet but i have the opportunity to take a course with a very prominent senegalese artist. we visited her workshop today. being that i brought all my paints, including the terpintine that spilled all over my clothes, i look forward to painting.
the people in teh program are amazing. out of the 4 study abraod programs i've done, i think i relate to these 16 the best. it takes a different breed of person to go to Africa to live. no offense to those of you i met on study abroad programs!
anyway, my time is running out so i must go but i look forward to hearing how ur semesters are going. have a great new year!
maya
posted by maya at 6:33 PM
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