Alumni often say, “It doesn’t even feel like it happened. It feels like a dream.” Now, as an alumni of Global Citizen Year, I can tell you, wholeheartedly, that that’s true.
So, I’m home now and I’m trying to adjust. I’m trying to get back into some sort of routine. I’m trying to feel productive and active. But most importantly, I’m trying to process everything that has happened over this past year. And while the year may often feel like “just a dream”, I can tell you that every single day, Senegal is always in the back of my mind. So while I’m trying to adapt to life back at home, I can feel the positive change and my new perspective constantly in me. But figuring out how to work with, share, and preserve the experience is a process that’s constantly in motion.
I was about to say that my story with Global Citizen Year ends here, but I’m so glad it doesn’t! I’m happy to announce that I will be interning with the program this summer – acting as a mentor to fellows of 2017 as they make their preparations for this upcoming August! I couldn’t be more excited to be a part of the progress. After the summer I’ll be off to University of Puget Sound.
Often throughout the year I would think about how much love and life my family in Bandafassi had given me. Their hospitality, generosity, and excitement to help me immerse and adapt is priceless. Yet, it’s important to realize that your words of encouragement, support, and curiosity about my time have been just as key of a player. I am grateful for the emails, messages, phone calls, Skype sessions, and conversations I’ve had throughout the year, both while I was in Senegal and upon my return.
I want to say thank you by sharing with you a short video I made. This video is all of Bandafassi, except the waterfall in Dindefelo and Brooke’s mom cutting fish! I hope this gives you a sense of what I was experiencing over the year.
On jaarama fi fow. Mi wowata halude ko hondun on wadi fii ming. Alhamdulillah.
