I cannot express how weird it is to say I've only been here for 2 weeks, it feels like I've been here forever. After one car and two planes, we arrived at 1am in Dakar, the capital of Senegal, and despite the late hour, we felt the heat immediately. We spent a day in Dakar, which was great as we met our Project Trust representative, Mr T, went to the beach, ate the main dish of Senegal, Ceebu Jen (spicy rice and fish) and learnt a bit of Wolof. The first phrase Mr T jokingly decided to teach us was 'Am na jekker' (I have a husband), which has actually become quite useful!
After a great first day in Dakar, me and my partner, Precious, took a sept-place (taxi) to Kaolack. The 4 hour journey was far from dull: saw a wall on the outskirts of Dakar covered in graffiti (some political, some artistic and one which I remember well read 'Sante pour tous', health for all), I realised that beeping was not a sign of road rage but of letting people know where you were (I spent a good 30 minutes thinking our driver was the angriest driver with the calmest facial expression), saw lots of Baobab trees and also went along a road which surely wins the prize for the road with the biggest and most pot-holes in it. The cars and lorrys were crawling along it, having to drive on both sides of the road to avoid the craters in the road; definitely something I will always remember.
So, after being in Senegal for a day and a half, we arrived in Kaolack and I cannot tell you how happy I am. I feel relieved that after so many months of fundraising and waiting, I have finally made it. This is the friendliest place in the world, my host family is the best, the project (fixing computers at the moment) is challenging but I am loving it, and I can tell that this is going to be an amazing year!
With love from Senegal,
Aissatou Kane (my new Senegalese name!)
Legui legui!
After a great first day in Dakar, me and my partner, Precious, took a sept-place (taxi) to Kaolack. The 4 hour journey was far from dull: saw a wall on the outskirts of Dakar covered in graffiti (some political, some artistic and one which I remember well read 'Sante pour tous', health for all), I realised that beeping was not a sign of road rage but of letting people know where you were (I spent a good 30 minutes thinking our driver was the angriest driver with the calmest facial expression), saw lots of Baobab trees and also went along a road which surely wins the prize for the road with the biggest and most pot-holes in it. The cars and lorrys were crawling along it, having to drive on both sides of the road to avoid the craters in the road; definitely something I will always remember.
So, after being in Senegal for a day and a half, we arrived in Kaolack and I cannot tell you how happy I am. I feel relieved that after so many months of fundraising and waiting, I have finally made it. This is the friendliest place in the world, my host family is the best, the project (fixing computers at the moment) is challenging but I am loving it, and I can tell that this is going to be an amazing year!
With love from Senegal,
Aissatou Kane (my new Senegalese name!)
Legui legui!