I promise I have not given up on my blog or my readers. I do have to apologize for it being such a long time since my last update. I do want to do a quick update. I will be back in the States this sunday, I know... it has already been 4 months! But as most of you might already know, I will be continueing my education here next semester. I will be home in California for about a month and if you would liek together and here some pretty hilarious stories, I am all yours. Just give me a call on my same cell phone number!
When I return I will have my blog all updated and ready to go for next semester!
Thank you for reading!!!
Happy Holidays!
From Senegal!
Monday, December 15, 2008
Thursday, October 23, 2008
c'est longtemp!!!
Hi everyone!!
I’m sorry it’s been such along time since I have been able to update my blog. Don’t worry I am still alive and doing very well. I have been extremely busy but having an amazing time! I have now been pretty involved with a little program threw our school called CIPFEM it is a program that helps young girls between the ages of 9-15 to empower them and help them with tutoring and teaching them sports like soccer and football. It has been a great experience and I absolutely love it! I am in charge of organizing the students of our study abroad program to be involved with the girls with CIPFEM. I basically do almost the same thing I did when I worked at Trinity this summer, just in a different language and only with girls.
Let’s see where I left off, well I didn’t tell you about my fall vacation. While others went to Mali and Gambia and other great places in Senegal, Johanna and I decided that we would stay in Dakar and explore more around the city here. I spent many days at the beach, working on my Senegal tan! I also went to the Piscine Olympique, which is the Olympic pool that is here with 5 huge diving boards! I spent a lot of time drinking tea with my Senegalese friends and meeting more and more people! My favorite part of my vacation by far was going to the national Senegalese football (soccer) game against Gambia! I have never seen anything like it before!
Not only do they not care what you bring into the stadium; flairs, huge flags, blow horns, they also don’t care what you’re wearing! I’ll let your imagination doing the work! Ha! Unfortunately Senegal lost the game meaning that they lost the chance to get into the African Cup. This along with 3-4 hour power cuts at a time each day, were only some of the reasons why after the Senegalese game, there were ROITS across Dakar. People were lighting tires on fire, one of the students had their bag with all their credit cards and passport stolen, and the Senegalese Football Federation Building was lit on fire after destroying tons of important paper work! Luckily, I had gotten out of the stadium before any of these things started.
Another exciting event since I have last updated you was my birthday on the 14th! Wow!! The best birthday I have ever had in Africa! :D The day started off a little weird but then it got extremely better! I decided I wanted to straighten my hair with my hair straightener for the first time here in Africa, well, not a good an idea (OH! My roommate Johanna cut my hair for me! It’s now to my ears! Which is so much nicer and cooler now!). Anyways, I started to straighten my hair and I got electrocuted! Lol. I’m still alive don’t worry, but I legitimately got electrocuted! That’s only before school started. School was great that day, everyone sang happy birthday to me in Wolof, French and English!
After school I went with my friend Tiffany to the doctor because she wasn’t feeling that great. We walked there from my house since it’s not that long of a walk. Everyone was looking at us, mainly at me. This I have found very normal since we are both white girls and I was dressed really nice because it was my birthday. Well, all of sudden I looked over to Tiffany and she said, “what’s wrong with your sunglasses!?” I took them off immediately and realized that one of the lenses was missing! I wore my sunglasses all the way from my house to the doctor and I didn’t even realize that the lens was missing! We started laughing so hard, I started to cry! Haha! It was great! That night Johanna and My host mother threw me a surprise birthday party at our house with all my close friends here in Senegal! It was so nice! We had spaghetti and a delicious salad!!! I loved it!
I am learning more about Senegal and the culture. I am not as much homesick now because I have such great friends here that we have such a great time together and always have stories to tell!
My French is getting so much better! Sometimes I find myself speaking more French in the day then English. Classes are going well, lots of busy work, one of the reasons why I don’t have a lot of time to online. I have a project due next week on the “Influence of Witch Doctors in Medicine” and another on women and religion later in November.
I started running and playing soccer here. It’s different for people here to see a girl playing soccer, but I love the sport and I need the exercise with all that rice that I am eating here! (Even though I have lost weight). I play a lot with the kids here in my neighborhood; you don’t need to know French or Wolof to know how to communicate in soccer. But they play really rough here. Even those who play on real teams don’t always have cleats let alone shin guards.
I will put as many pictures up as I can and I know I will find more stories to tell soon! But until then, you will here from me soon! Thank you for reading and for your love and support!
Love,
Mariah!
I’m sorry it’s been such along time since I have been able to update my blog. Don’t worry I am still alive and doing very well. I have been extremely busy but having an amazing time! I have now been pretty involved with a little program threw our school called CIPFEM it is a program that helps young girls between the ages of 9-15 to empower them and help them with tutoring and teaching them sports like soccer and football. It has been a great experience and I absolutely love it! I am in charge of organizing the students of our study abroad program to be involved with the girls with CIPFEM. I basically do almost the same thing I did when I worked at Trinity this summer, just in a different language and only with girls.
Let’s see where I left off, well I didn’t tell you about my fall vacation. While others went to Mali and Gambia and other great places in Senegal, Johanna and I decided that we would stay in Dakar and explore more around the city here. I spent many days at the beach, working on my Senegal tan! I also went to the Piscine Olympique, which is the Olympic pool that is here with 5 huge diving boards! I spent a lot of time drinking tea with my Senegalese friends and meeting more and more people! My favorite part of my vacation by far was going to the national Senegalese football (soccer) game against Gambia! I have never seen anything like it before!
Not only do they not care what you bring into the stadium; flairs, huge flags, blow horns, they also don’t care what you’re wearing! I’ll let your imagination doing the work! Ha! Unfortunately Senegal lost the game meaning that they lost the chance to get into the African Cup. This along with 3-4 hour power cuts at a time each day, were only some of the reasons why after the Senegalese game, there were ROITS across Dakar. People were lighting tires on fire, one of the students had their bag with all their credit cards and passport stolen, and the Senegalese Football Federation Building was lit on fire after destroying tons of important paper work! Luckily, I had gotten out of the stadium before any of these things started.
Another exciting event since I have last updated you was my birthday on the 14th! Wow!! The best birthday I have ever had in Africa! :D The day started off a little weird but then it got extremely better! I decided I wanted to straighten my hair with my hair straightener for the first time here in Africa, well, not a good an idea (OH! My roommate Johanna cut my hair for me! It’s now to my ears! Which is so much nicer and cooler now!). Anyways, I started to straighten my hair and I got electrocuted! Lol. I’m still alive don’t worry, but I legitimately got electrocuted! That’s only before school started. School was great that day, everyone sang happy birthday to me in Wolof, French and English!
After school I went with my friend Tiffany to the doctor because she wasn’t feeling that great. We walked there from my house since it’s not that long of a walk. Everyone was looking at us, mainly at me. This I have found very normal since we are both white girls and I was dressed really nice because it was my birthday. Well, all of sudden I looked over to Tiffany and she said, “what’s wrong with your sunglasses!?” I took them off immediately and realized that one of the lenses was missing! I wore my sunglasses all the way from my house to the doctor and I didn’t even realize that the lens was missing! We started laughing so hard, I started to cry! Haha! It was great! That night Johanna and My host mother threw me a surprise birthday party at our house with all my close friends here in Senegal! It was so nice! We had spaghetti and a delicious salad!!! I loved it!
I am learning more about Senegal and the culture. I am not as much homesick now because I have such great friends here that we have such a great time together and always have stories to tell!
My French is getting so much better! Sometimes I find myself speaking more French in the day then English. Classes are going well, lots of busy work, one of the reasons why I don’t have a lot of time to online. I have a project due next week on the “Influence of Witch Doctors in Medicine” and another on women and religion later in November.
I started running and playing soccer here. It’s different for people here to see a girl playing soccer, but I love the sport and I need the exercise with all that rice that I am eating here! (Even though I have lost weight). I play a lot with the kids here in my neighborhood; you don’t need to know French or Wolof to know how to communicate in soccer. But they play really rough here. Even those who play on real teams don’t always have cleats let alone shin guards.
I will put as many pictures up as I can and I know I will find more stories to tell soon! But until then, you will here from me soon! Thank you for reading and for your love and support!
Love,
Mariah!
Friday, September 26, 2008
pictures
there are so many homeless animals in Senegal,
but this kitten knows how to live it up!
my brother...being retarded. :D
From left to right;
a very crazy lady from Maracco, my host mother, and me.
My new best friend!
Toubab Dialow
leggi leggi
Hii all! (leggi leggi meaning "now now" in wolof which is translated to see you later)
Sorry it has taken me awhile to write, there has been so much going on. Since we have fall break starting weds of this week, all our professors are having us turn things in and take test before we all vacation for two weeks. And on top of that I have been a little sick. I went to the doctor the other day and she said it’s the heat (that’s the answer to EVERY problem here) and that I’m dehydrated and I have low blood pressure, so I’m taking a bunch of pills…. but I feel better, so I’m not complaining. I am pretty proud of myself because I made my first doctors appointment in Africa all by myself in French!! I am very lucky to have my host brother, Pape, he comes and checks up on me every couple hours to make sure my temperatures not too high and that I’m doing ok. He took me to the doctor the other day and then to the pharmacy, he is definitely an angel.
Last weekend we (the exchange program) all went to Toubab Dialow, which, if you EVER go to Senegal, you NEED to go there. There’s an amazing resort there where we stayed. A very “honeymoon” type of atmosphere, hammocks hanging everywhere, a beautiful private beach, and the rooms where we stayed we very cute with misquote nets hanging over the beds and simple showers in every room. It was indeed very relaxing, just what we all needed.
Many students are going on various trips over the break but I plan on visiting some very nice beaches here in the area and work on this amazing tan of mine!
My host mother had a religious ceremony last weekend. It was pretty intense; there were many religious leaders there. A couple years ago her husband and son passed away and ever since then, they have had this ceremony every year. It started at 11pm and lasted tell 5 in the morning. With speakers, worshiping and a lot of loud noises, of course in a language I didn’t understand. After some people were starting to cry very heavily and fall to the ground, my brother decided it was time for me to go to bed. I was quite excited that he made that decision for me, because I didn’t have any idea of what to do after my host mother fell to the ground thanking god hysterically. I felt I was a little out of my comfort zone but after a couple of days my host mother and I started to laugh about it. I told her that she could probably do the “superman” dance pretty well if she tried it! She thought that was hilarious and now every time she says “thanks be to God” in Arabic she puts her hands in the air and whispers “superman” to me! Lol. Hahahaaa. She is quite the character. She just recently got air conditioning in her bedroom and let me tell you, I don’t think I have ever been so jealous! Just kidding, now I make up excuses to go into the living room and relax in the air conditioning, (even if it’s trying to understand an Arabic Islamic television station) hahaa. But unfortunately, at my host mothers grand party the other night, someone decided to take off with my favorite pair of flip flops. I’m still in the process of finding the culprit but until then, I have found other means of transportation.
"leggi leggi" Until next time,
Mariah
Sorry it has taken me awhile to write, there has been so much going on. Since we have fall break starting weds of this week, all our professors are having us turn things in and take test before we all vacation for two weeks. And on top of that I have been a little sick. I went to the doctor the other day and she said it’s the heat (that’s the answer to EVERY problem here) and that I’m dehydrated and I have low blood pressure, so I’m taking a bunch of pills…. but I feel better, so I’m not complaining. I am pretty proud of myself because I made my first doctors appointment in Africa all by myself in French!! I am very lucky to have my host brother, Pape, he comes and checks up on me every couple hours to make sure my temperatures not too high and that I’m doing ok. He took me to the doctor the other day and then to the pharmacy, he is definitely an angel.
Last weekend we (the exchange program) all went to Toubab Dialow, which, if you EVER go to Senegal, you NEED to go there. There’s an amazing resort there where we stayed. A very “honeymoon” type of atmosphere, hammocks hanging everywhere, a beautiful private beach, and the rooms where we stayed we very cute with misquote nets hanging over the beds and simple showers in every room. It was indeed very relaxing, just what we all needed.
Many students are going on various trips over the break but I plan on visiting some very nice beaches here in the area and work on this amazing tan of mine!
My host mother had a religious ceremony last weekend. It was pretty intense; there were many religious leaders there. A couple years ago her husband and son passed away and ever since then, they have had this ceremony every year. It started at 11pm and lasted tell 5 in the morning. With speakers, worshiping and a lot of loud noises, of course in a language I didn’t understand. After some people were starting to cry very heavily and fall to the ground, my brother decided it was time for me to go to bed. I was quite excited that he made that decision for me, because I didn’t have any idea of what to do after my host mother fell to the ground thanking god hysterically. I felt I was a little out of my comfort zone but after a couple of days my host mother and I started to laugh about it. I told her that she could probably do the “superman” dance pretty well if she tried it! She thought that was hilarious and now every time she says “thanks be to God” in Arabic she puts her hands in the air and whispers “superman” to me! Lol. Hahahaaa. She is quite the character. She just recently got air conditioning in her bedroom and let me tell you, I don’t think I have ever been so jealous! Just kidding, now I make up excuses to go into the living room and relax in the air conditioning, (even if it’s trying to understand an Arabic Islamic television station) hahaa. But unfortunately, at my host mothers grand party the other night, someone decided to take off with my favorite pair of flip flops. I’m still in the process of finding the culprit but until then, I have found other means of transportation.
"leggi leggi" Until next time,
Mariah
*the picture is of me and my brother at my host mother's religious ceremony.
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Alhumdulilah
On Sunday, we went to Goree’ Island which is right off the coast of Dakar. It was about a 15 minute ferry ride to the Island. This Island had so much information and historical artifacts on the Slave trade from Senegal. We went inside the Slave House on the island, it was incredible! There is a door that opens from the slave house to the ocean and it’s called, “the door of no return”. This is because when the slaves left that door onto the ships, they would never return to Africa ever again. We also walked around the gorgeous island and I swam at the beach for a good couple hours, I am really getting a beautiful tan here! We played Frisbee in the water and jumped off the docks. It was a good little get away and the ferry ride is only 1500 CFAs/ about 3 dollars! I’m sure we will all be back at least a couple times this semester!
I’m starting to miss little things of home, like peanut butter, Chipotle trips, my roommates, CLU, and my family. But I realized that I am making good friends here with the other students of the program and the locals! Now when I walk around in my neighborhood the people say “Hi Toubab” which means “ hi white person” in Wolof! Last night I went with my host mother to an Islamic musical dance prayer gathering. It was definitely and experience, women on one side of someone’s roof and men on the other and I was fully clothed with a veil. My mother was really happy that I volunteered to go with her and some of her friends, it definitely made her day. I was glad to make her happy. Even though I had no idea what they were saying because the ceremony was in Wolof, I understood how faithful my host mother is. She is very happy that I’m such an open minded person and she is too, it helps us both understand each other and each other’s religion.
Something interesting, our bedroom door has this gross looking yellow fungus growing out of it. Don’t worry, I googled it, and it’s not harmful but it just looks very disturbing, even our maid, Maryam wouldn’t go near it… and when a local wont touch it… you don’t go NEAR it. But the most important thing I have learned in Africa is, “en Afrique, c’est pas grave” translated- in Africa, it doesn’t matter or it’s alllll good! Being here has taught me to be very easy going to many unexpected difficulties that will come into your path, like power outages which happen probably 3-5 times in a day, flies, mosquitoes and bugs that you’ve never seen in your life, mold growing in places you wouldn’t expect, and just unexpected happenings. I have a weird “burn” looking thing on my hand, don’t know where it came from… maybe the yellow fungus? Ha! Just kidding… it’s probably the heat and the humidity! Don’t worry though… I’m insured!
Life is good. Life is different. Life is complicated. But I’m still being the crazy little Mariah in Africa, and people are giving me the same weird looks as they would in the states. People aren’t as different as some seem to think. I don’t have classes on Fridays but I’m starting to volunteer at many different places. Well that’s all I have for now but I’m sure this weekend will bring some stories!
Today is September 11th as most of you may know. There’s a weird feeling among some of the students here, because in the past seven years we never spent this day abroad and there are always memorials or something in the states for today, but here… nothing.
Just remember…. “c’est pas grave” for the difficult or misunderstanding times, because as i have learned in Africa, life could be so much worse.
Love,
Diare'
(my senegalese name)
I’m starting to miss little things of home, like peanut butter, Chipotle trips, my roommates, CLU, and my family. But I realized that I am making good friends here with the other students of the program and the locals! Now when I walk around in my neighborhood the people say “Hi Toubab” which means “ hi white person” in Wolof! Last night I went with my host mother to an Islamic musical dance prayer gathering. It was definitely and experience, women on one side of someone’s roof and men on the other and I was fully clothed with a veil. My mother was really happy that I volunteered to go with her and some of her friends, it definitely made her day. I was glad to make her happy. Even though I had no idea what they were saying because the ceremony was in Wolof, I understood how faithful my host mother is. She is very happy that I’m such an open minded person and she is too, it helps us both understand each other and each other’s religion.
Something interesting, our bedroom door has this gross looking yellow fungus growing out of it. Don’t worry, I googled it, and it’s not harmful but it just looks very disturbing, even our maid, Maryam wouldn’t go near it… and when a local wont touch it… you don’t go NEAR it. But the most important thing I have learned in Africa is, “en Afrique, c’est pas grave” translated- in Africa, it doesn’t matter or it’s alllll good! Being here has taught me to be very easy going to many unexpected difficulties that will come into your path, like power outages which happen probably 3-5 times in a day, flies, mosquitoes and bugs that you’ve never seen in your life, mold growing in places you wouldn’t expect, and just unexpected happenings. I have a weird “burn” looking thing on my hand, don’t know where it came from… maybe the yellow fungus? Ha! Just kidding… it’s probably the heat and the humidity! Don’t worry though… I’m insured!
Life is good. Life is different. Life is complicated. But I’m still being the crazy little Mariah in Africa, and people are giving me the same weird looks as they would in the states. People aren’t as different as some seem to think. I don’t have classes on Fridays but I’m starting to volunteer at many different places. Well that’s all I have for now but I’m sure this weekend will bring some stories!
Today is September 11th as most of you may know. There’s a weird feeling among some of the students here, because in the past seven years we never spent this day abroad and there are always memorials or something in the states for today, but here… nothing.
Just remember…. “c’est pas grave” for the difficult or misunderstanding times, because as i have learned in Africa, life could be so much worse.
Love,
Diare'
(my senegalese name)
Thursday, September 4, 2008
downtown, car rapides, and a new family!
Well hello all!
I am adjusting quite peacefully here in Dakar. My roommate, Johanna and I moved in with our host family last Friday. It has been an experience! We only live with a mother (mama Sadiou) and her maid Maryam. Maryam speaks a little broken French but mostly she speaks Wolof with Sadiou. We have a decent size house, although half of it has been rented out because our host mother’s husband passed away a couple years ago so she didn’t need the extra room. Mama Sadiou has “adopted” a son named Pape Cham. He is very nice, he doesn’t live with her he lives down the street but he comes by a lot to heck on all of us to make sure we are doing fine!
Ramadan has started and some kids from the program are fasting but you all know me… I love my food too much! Ha! Our host mother is a very devout Muslim, she prays 5 times a day and now she is fasting. She is a sweetheart, she takes care of us and makes sure she can make us feel at home as much as possible. Johanna and I share a room with our own bathroom that has a shower. I have been finding a lot of different insects here, that I have never seen in the states. It’s quite an adventure.
This weekend we (the program) are going to Goree Island which is off the coast of Dakar. It’s an island that has a lot of historical museums and artifacts from the slave trading period. I will take lots of photos and put some up!
Last Sunday we went into downtown Dakar, let me say the closest I can say to describe it would be a mix of the west side of Fresno, T.J-Meixco, and downtown LA. It was an experience for sure! On our way there we were taking a “Car Rapide” which are short buses painted with extravagant art work. We were driving on our way to downtown when all of a sudden a little boy, about 7 years old ran out to cross the street and the Car Rapide hit him! It was so horrible! I was sitting in the front of the bus and saw him run out! He was able to stand up and his mother was there to help him, he turned out to be ok with some bumps, bruises, and scrapes, but it could have been much worse! Remember…. Look BOTH ways when crossing a street!
Children are so tough here, they hardly complain, most of them are taking care of their little siblings, and there are a lot of children on the roads begging for money and food to get through the day. The other day a little baby boy was hanging on to his uncle and he saw me and he started to cry because had never seen white skin before… it was something I had never experienced before, a child being scared of me because I looked different. But then he came around when we offered him some candy! :D That’s what doesn’t change with children… no matter where they are from they all have the love for candy in common!
Love,
Mariah
I am adjusting quite peacefully here in Dakar. My roommate, Johanna and I moved in with our host family last Friday. It has been an experience! We only live with a mother (mama Sadiou) and her maid Maryam. Maryam speaks a little broken French but mostly she speaks Wolof with Sadiou. We have a decent size house, although half of it has been rented out because our host mother’s husband passed away a couple years ago so she didn’t need the extra room. Mama Sadiou has “adopted” a son named Pape Cham. He is very nice, he doesn’t live with her he lives down the street but he comes by a lot to heck on all of us to make sure we are doing fine!
Ramadan has started and some kids from the program are fasting but you all know me… I love my food too much! Ha! Our host mother is a very devout Muslim, she prays 5 times a day and now she is fasting. She is a sweetheart, she takes care of us and makes sure she can make us feel at home as much as possible. Johanna and I share a room with our own bathroom that has a shower. I have been finding a lot of different insects here, that I have never seen in the states. It’s quite an adventure.
This weekend we (the program) are going to Goree Island which is off the coast of Dakar. It’s an island that has a lot of historical museums and artifacts from the slave trading period. I will take lots of photos and put some up!
Last Sunday we went into downtown Dakar, let me say the closest I can say to describe it would be a mix of the west side of Fresno, T.J-Meixco, and downtown LA. It was an experience for sure! On our way there we were taking a “Car Rapide” which are short buses painted with extravagant art work. We were driving on our way to downtown when all of a sudden a little boy, about 7 years old ran out to cross the street and the Car Rapide hit him! It was so horrible! I was sitting in the front of the bus and saw him run out! He was able to stand up and his mother was there to help him, he turned out to be ok with some bumps, bruises, and scrapes, but it could have been much worse! Remember…. Look BOTH ways when crossing a street!
Children are so tough here, they hardly complain, most of them are taking care of their little siblings, and there are a lot of children on the roads begging for money and food to get through the day. The other day a little baby boy was hanging on to his uncle and he saw me and he started to cry because had never seen white skin before… it was something I had never experienced before, a child being scared of me because I looked different. But then he came around when we offered him some candy! :D That’s what doesn’t change with children… no matter where they are from they all have the love for candy in common!
Love,
Mariah
Thursday, August 28, 2008
eating around the bowl
Salaamaalekum (meaning peace be upon you in Wolof),
Today we all as a group ate as a community with 5-7 of us around a bowl (kind of like a community pizokeee!) but with dinner and you eat with your hands! You put the rice, fish, and/or veggies in a little ball and put it in your mouth! The fruit here is AMAZING!!! I could really get use to eating fresh fruit everyday… but we only have it once in awhile. Dinner manners are much different here in Senegal than in America. There are a lot of differences but it is still beautiful! I’m definitely improving my French bit by bit… and also learning the native language Wolof!
I move in with my host family tomorrow, we only know a little about our families, so when I do move in I will update you on them! The week of orientation has been really busy and consists of lots of water and lots of naps… as for most of you know, my favorite thing to do! And might I say naps in Africa are so much better for some reason!
I have been making friends, “Tantes” with the older women of Senegalese families and I love their insight on everything and we laugh and joke like we’ve been friends forever! Being part of an extended family is very common here, you will find that lots of people are “related” either they are your “aunts, cousins, brothers or sisters!”. It is a very good way to network families and friends!
I haven’t been bitten by many mosquitoes really but I have been taking my malaria medication religiously! Speaking of religion, Ramadan starts next week, this is the holy week for Muslims! Although I will not be fasting, Muslims all around the country will spend this next month fasting after sunrise and before sunset. It’s beautiful here, the people are very nice, and I am learning so much everyday about new things I would have never known, if I wasn’t where I am right now.
♥ Mariah
Today we all as a group ate as a community with 5-7 of us around a bowl (kind of like a community pizokeee!) but with dinner and you eat with your hands! You put the rice, fish, and/or veggies in a little ball and put it in your mouth! The fruit here is AMAZING!!! I could really get use to eating fresh fruit everyday… but we only have it once in awhile. Dinner manners are much different here in Senegal than in America. There are a lot of differences but it is still beautiful! I’m definitely improving my French bit by bit… and also learning the native language Wolof!
I move in with my host family tomorrow, we only know a little about our families, so when I do move in I will update you on them! The week of orientation has been really busy and consists of lots of water and lots of naps… as for most of you know, my favorite thing to do! And might I say naps in Africa are so much better for some reason!
I have been making friends, “Tantes” with the older women of Senegalese families and I love their insight on everything and we laugh and joke like we’ve been friends forever! Being part of an extended family is very common here, you will find that lots of people are “related” either they are your “aunts, cousins, brothers or sisters!”. It is a very good way to network families and friends!
I haven’t been bitten by many mosquitoes really but I have been taking my malaria medication religiously! Speaking of religion, Ramadan starts next week, this is the holy week for Muslims! Although I will not be fasting, Muslims all around the country will spend this next month fasting after sunrise and before sunset. It’s beautiful here, the people are very nice, and I am learning so much everyday about new things I would have never known, if I wasn’t where I am right now.
♥ Mariah
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Day 1..slept threw most of it!
I’m here and all in one piece! After 24 hours of traveling, 100lbs of luggage (at least), and a 12 hour layover in New York, I am officially in Dakar, Senegal. So far I seem to like it very much! Very hospitable and kind were my first impressions of the Senegalese. On the 8 hour flight from New York to Dakar, I sat next to a very sweet Senegalese mother of 3, who by chance lives in Ohio now, her name was Binta. We talked quite a bit about our families, Senegal, and life in general. She was on her way to Dakar to visit her husband who works here; she hadn’t seen him in a whole year (although they talk almost everyday!) Amazing!!!
For this week we are staying at the Suffolk University in Dakar. This is to help us get to know each other and bond. So far everyone seems very nice! Today I slept a lot; I took a nap for an hour or two and then after lunch I took another nap which turned into almost 6 hours…sleeping straight through dinner! Haha.
The food here reminds me of the food in Tunisia, lots of baguettes, rice, beef, and water. We went for a walk to the beach, it’s only a 10 minute walk! It was so nice! It is weird being on the other side of the world and still having a west coast. The waves remind me of California but the water is warm like Hawaii (not as clear though). There were a lot of children at the beach today playing, it’s so amazing how content they are just playing with whatever they can find; no buggie boards, shovels, and most didn’t even have towels but they were having the time of their life! I’ll try and get pictures up soon!
Until next time!
Mariah
For this week we are staying at the Suffolk University in Dakar. This is to help us get to know each other and bond. So far everyone seems very nice! Today I slept a lot; I took a nap for an hour or two and then after lunch I took another nap which turned into almost 6 hours…sleeping straight through dinner! Haha.
The food here reminds me of the food in Tunisia, lots of baguettes, rice, beef, and water. We went for a walk to the beach, it’s only a 10 minute walk! It was so nice! It is weird being on the other side of the world and still having a west coast. The waves remind me of California but the water is warm like Hawaii (not as clear though). There were a lot of children at the beach today playing, it’s so amazing how content they are just playing with whatever they can find; no buggie boards, shovels, and most didn’t even have towels but they were having the time of their life! I’ll try and get pictures up soon!
Until next time!
Mariah
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
I'll be heading back to LA pretty soon and then flying out from there on Firday the 22nd of August. It's getting closer!! For those of you who would like to send mail or packages... I have the address that you can send mail to!
Sending Mail:
Mariah Moston-Lilligren
c/o CIEE Study Center
BP 16423
Dakar, Fann
Senegal
Sending Packages:
Mariah Moston-Lilligren
c/o CIEE Study Center
Km 6, Avenue Cheikh Anta Diop
BP 16423
Dakar, Fann
Senegal
Nothing else is new here... just starting to get ready and figure out how to use my water filter!! lol. :D
♥ Meee
Sending Mail:
Mariah Moston-Lilligren
c/o CIEE Study Center
BP 16423
Dakar, Fann
Senegal
Sending Packages:
Mariah Moston-Lilligren
c/o CIEE Study Center
Km 6, Avenue Cheikh Anta Diop
BP 16423
Dakar, Fann
Senegal
Nothing else is new here... just starting to get ready and figure out how to use my water filter!! lol. :D
♥ Meee
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Started a blog!
Hello!!
I decided to start a blog so that you can keep up with my journeys in Senegal, West Africa! I leave August 22nd and return December 21st and however short this time may seem, it will be the longest I will be away from all my friends and family. I may not be able to update this everyday or every week for that matter but when I get the time (and internet access), I will. I encourage everyone to post, reply, and share your adventures with me! This will be a good way to keep me in touch with my friends and family while I am abroad!
p.s. WARNING: I may miss spell words from time to time... :)
I decided to start a blog so that you can keep up with my journeys in Senegal, West Africa! I leave August 22nd and return December 21st and however short this time may seem, it will be the longest I will be away from all my friends and family. I may not be able to update this everyday or every week for that matter but when I get the time (and internet access), I will. I encourage everyone to post, reply, and share your adventures with me! This will be a good way to keep me in touch with my friends and family while I am abroad!
p.s. WARNING: I may miss spell words from time to time... :)
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