2009-10-07
I was in some basement that I’ve never been in. There was a red cup of some clear liquid in front of me, and a puppy on the ground. It was an adorable puppy; brown with white spots. I didn’t know what the cup was full of, but the puppy spilled it over, and started...
Read More2009-10-06
Under the boardwalk, out of the sun Under the boardwalk, we’ll be havin’ some fun, Under the boardwalk, we’ll be fallin in love. As the sun beat down today, lifting moisture into the air and slowly boiling us, Gaya, Matt, our guide Adama, and I walked along the boardwalks of Dakar… and by that I...
Read More2009-10-06
Today was our culture orientation, and wowee, did we learn a lot. So many new ideas, new concepts, new values, just a whole different way of life that I find so fascinating. We began with food and lunch. So first off, much of the time Senegalese eat on the floor with a huge communal bowl....
Read More2009-10-06
We were finally introduced and dropped off at our homestays today. My family are the Thiaw’s (pronounced Chaw). They’re extremely extremely nice. The home is quite big. I get my own room, with my own bathroom! It’s a pretty nice set up I’ll admit. It’s quite hot, since the house doesn’t have much circulation. I...
Read More2009-10-05
When the other fellows and I arrived in Dakar four days ago I had no expectations other than being over whelmed. Having never been to Africa I knew I would never have been able to imagine things such as the level of humidity and heat or the sheep that look like goats grazing in the...
Read More2009-10-04
As everyone I have ever come into contact with knows I like to talk. I love to have discourse about things of substance. I know there are different forms of communication but it pains me to not be able to speak French or Wolof. I have so many questions. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy...
Read More2009-10-04
So.. my plans to write more frequent blogposts didn’t come to fruition. Obviously. I had every intention to update my blog, but the U.S. Training Institute was such a constant whirlwind of activity. Any and all free time that we Fellows had was devoted to reflecting, talking and just catching our breaths. True, some of...
Read More