Becoming Familiar with Dakar

Today was the first day that I truly felt at home in Senegal. I decided to venture away from my group of classmates today. Trusting my French and my sense of direction I headed to the West African Research Center in the Fann Quartier of Dakar on my own. Before entering I decided to walk around the neighborhood and breathe in Senegal on my own. With the hot sun beating on my back, I walked by quietly as men lined the street observing prayer and was greeted kindly by pairs of women who passed. It was the first time I felt truly at peace and able to reflect upon all my experiences here in Dakar thus far.

Tomorrow I am meeting with an African-American woman named Amelia who is from New York City – Harlem for my research I am conducting here on African-Americans who have relocated to Senegal. For over ten years Senegal has been her home. I look forward to connect with an expat and share in her experiences.



Salaam Malakuum

Toubab Jalaw

This past weekend our class took a trip to Toubab Jalaw. A hidden oasis where many young european travelers converge upon for weeklong visits. The small picturesque town was the perfect getaway from life in the busy streets of Dakar. The resort where we stayed was constrcuted by an amazing older haitian gentleman whose name is Mamadou. Mamadou who is an artist created many of the sculptures around the resort and teh buidlings themselves are works of art ...pictures to come as words cannot do it justice. Mamadou was close friends with the first president of Senegal President Senghor and some of Senghors works are on the property.

The town thrives off of the tourists who visit. Both women and men sell jewelry, bags and masks among many other things in the main square. SO of course shopping was to be had! At the night the streets are filled with the sounds of djembe sessions all around the town.

During the two and a half days in Toubab Jalaw we partook in dancing lessons as well as a batiking class. The food was amazing as were the local people. We enjoyed nights talking overlooking the ocean; dancing at the local gathering place of the young people in town and loungin around reading in hammocks. I would love to go back one day. Cant wait to let you know what I do this upcoming week. Look for pictures soon.

I am certainly looking forward to my birthday on Tuesday and thankful to be blessed with another year of life. Keep me in your thoughts and prayers. and Happy Fathers Day to all!

Salaam Maleekum
Courtney
XOXO

Nanga Def? (How are You)

So it has been almost two weeks here in Dakar. I am amazed at how fast the time goes. My days are filled with French class, African dance, djembe lessons, Senegalese food, museum visits and spending time with my host family watching bizarre French soaps.

I live with a wonderful family who lives in an area of Dakar called Grand Yoff. It is a very quiet and serene neighborhood near the Stade Senghor which is the host site of the games of the national futbol team (a sport loved by all here). The narrow streets that intersect our neighborhood are filled with pick-me-up games of futbol being played by neighborhood boys and teenagers, men riding horse drawn carts called (charettes) which carry and deliver anything from a sack of potatoes to picking up your weekly trash. A few buildings down from our home we can look out of our balcony onto an arab-francophone school. Throughout the day (beginning at 4:30am) you can hear the chants of both men and children. The many brotherhoods of the Muslim faith are a very prominent part of the landscape here. But the people here are very welcoming of all regardless of ones religious background.

I live with the Diop family. There is my host mother, father, younger brother (Lamine – 8 years old…who reminds me so much of my little brother Langston), sister (Khadija – 17 years old) and cousin (Swoodoo who is 21 years old). My family is very welcoming and we spend much of our time with our sister and cousin exchanging parts of our culture with one another. The girls love to listen to my collection of American Hip Hop, watch MTV in French, practice their English and learn about my life in America while I soak up all the Wolof (the local language) I can and learn how to the Manna (a popular dance) among many other facets of life here in Dakar.

Last weekend our class traveled to Goree Isle which is the island where many African slaves were kept before they were placed on ships and sent to the America’s. It was a very surreal experience. Walking around the isle which has to date become a tourist a very popular tourist destination. One cannot deny the presence of an abundance of spirits and memories on this island. We visited the last slave house on the Isle and were shown the small rooms where people were kept, beaten and starved before being placed on ships. We saw the small punishment room where Nelson Mandela wept when he visited the isle and the “Door of No Return”. I was absolutely shaken to the core. But I know that the struggle of my people has made me the wonderfully made individual that I am today.

Tomorrow we are headed to Toubab Jelaw….I will post more soon

Blessings

Courtney
XOXOX

SoulChild Arrives ...

It was Sunday, June 7 when I arrived in Dakar, Senegal, West Africa. My first night of sleep in Dakar was glorious. The hotel room was so cool in comparison to the heat outside. The hotel is great and it looks right over the ocean.

Last night, Ibrahima (our Professor) took myself and the three other girls I flew with from Madrid to dinner in the hotel restaurant. We had filet and frites (grilled beef and french fries and I had a cola. My Mother would absolutely loved this hot sauce they have here! mmmmmmmmmm!

Today we will have a short orientation session and then a little touring of the city. So much to look forward to; so much to see. But for now I must get off this computer and conserve some energy. Conservation is a very important thing here; something we so take for granted.

xoxoxo,
SoulChild