100th Post! Riding Alone ☺
I have been blogging since June of 2008, and I have finally reached 100 posts. I cannot believe how much has happened in three years. Time has a way of surprising a person for the better and the worse; but with faith in Christ and the ability to preserve with love and understanding, life never crushes a person. As this week comes to a close, I am blessed to be able to say that I continue to find great adventure here in Senegal as I pass my time with some incredible people and delve into a culture rich in treasures to behold. I said goodbye to my dear friend, Cheikh, who returned to France last night. He was kind enough to assuage many of the bumps often encountered during a cultural transition. I pray many blessings over his life as he works for his family and his country.
When I think of my greatest accomplishment this week, I would have to underline the fact that I took public transportation by myself! I even hung halfway out the door of a filled-to-capacity Tata while it rolled away. Here in Pikine, the largest suburb of Dakar, people are always cramming into Tatas, Dem Dikks, Car Rapides, or Ndiaga Ndieyes to get to Dakar. The vehicle that I favor the most is the Tata because it is the most logical and functional of all the vehicles used for public transportations. Lines correspond to routes and the conductors are very helpful in assisting with where I should get off. The only trouble is that you must wait a long time to have a place to sit or you have to be willing to weasel your way into the mass of smelly humanity situated in the interior of this type of public transportation. No one finds this particularly comfortable, but who cares about comfort when you are economizing your money.
Having the knowhow to take public transportation may seem small, but getting around independently is a small example of autonomy of which I am quite pleased. I am still quite limited in this department and still rely heavily on other’s knowledge of the area to help me get where I need to go, but I am capable of following directions without a guide by my side. To behave like the locals and move about with a little more autonomy than when I first arrived feels quite liberating. After three weeks time I feel more comfortable coming and going. I am exhilarated by what comes next in my journey here in Senegal, more learning and meeting people who are dynamically changing the communities around them.
I began a new project this week with the University Cheikh Anta Diop’s Foundation in conjunction with Phelps Stokes (phelpsstokes.org) called Senetrust. I am helping them to prepare pamphlets and a powerpoint in English for a fundraising event that will take place in Washington, D.C. come November. Their goal is to reach and sensitize the Senegalese diaspora in US to the needs of the university. Although working with a foundation is not exactly where my interests lie, I am learning about the university, which is an institution that is significant for Senegal, Africa, and the world. What surprises me about this university are the lack resources, the absence of an alumni network, and the fact that former students rarely donate to their Alma mater. The fundraising potential is immense among the alumni that include presidents, ministers, and CEOs. My participation in translation and presentation will propel their efforts in the US, but I hope that Senetrust will also be a turning point in their outreach to the African community closely linked to the university. This week I will be able to finish my work for them before moving on to the villages, my main destination here in Senegal.
Tip #8 for Traveling on $25 a Day: Take a stroll through the local markets o find the best price for your purchases and experience a vital aspect of the native culture. Markets are the heart of commercial culture in the developing world. Not only can you buy a wide range of edible products, you can also find almost anything else you may need, whether buying from a stall or an itinerant salesman with his/her arms full of items to purchase. I love markets and always make a beeline for the produce and sundries market; however for those with a strong sense of curiosity, and a strong stomach, wander through the fish or meat markets, which are far more flagrantly interesting.
When I think of my greatest accomplishment this week, I would have to underline the fact that I took public transportation by myself! I even hung halfway out the door of a filled-to-capacity Tata while it rolled away. Here in Pikine, the largest suburb of Dakar, people are always cramming into Tatas, Dem Dikks, Car Rapides, or Ndiaga Ndieyes to get to Dakar. The vehicle that I favor the most is the Tata because it is the most logical and functional of all the vehicles used for public transportations. Lines correspond to routes and the conductors are very helpful in assisting with where I should get off. The only trouble is that you must wait a long time to have a place to sit or you have to be willing to weasel your way into the mass of smelly humanity situated in the interior of this type of public transportation. No one finds this particularly comfortable, but who cares about comfort when you are economizing your money.
Having the knowhow to take public transportation may seem small, but getting around independently is a small example of autonomy of which I am quite pleased. I am still quite limited in this department and still rely heavily on other’s knowledge of the area to help me get where I need to go, but I am capable of following directions without a guide by my side. To behave like the locals and move about with a little more autonomy than when I first arrived feels quite liberating. After three weeks time I feel more comfortable coming and going. I am exhilarated by what comes next in my journey here in Senegal, more learning and meeting people who are dynamically changing the communities around them.
I began a new project this week with the University Cheikh Anta Diop’s Foundation in conjunction with Phelps Stokes (phelpsstokes.org) called Senetrust. I am helping them to prepare pamphlets and a powerpoint in English for a fundraising event that will take place in Washington, D.C. come November. Their goal is to reach and sensitize the Senegalese diaspora in US to the needs of the university. Although working with a foundation is not exactly where my interests lie, I am learning about the university, which is an institution that is significant for Senegal, Africa, and the world. What surprises me about this university are the lack resources, the absence of an alumni network, and the fact that former students rarely donate to their Alma mater. The fundraising potential is immense among the alumni that include presidents, ministers, and CEOs. My participation in translation and presentation will propel their efforts in the US, but I hope that Senetrust will also be a turning point in their outreach to the African community closely linked to the university. This week I will be able to finish my work for them before moving on to the villages, my main destination here in Senegal.
Tip #8 for Traveling on $25 a Day: Take a stroll through the local markets o find the best price for your purchases and experience a vital aspect of the native culture. Markets are the heart of commercial culture in the developing world. Not only can you buy a wide range of edible products, you can also find almost anything else you may need, whether buying from a stall or an itinerant salesman with his/her arms full of items to purchase. I love markets and always make a beeline for the produce and sundries market; however for those with a strong sense of curiosity, and a strong stomach, wander through the fish or meat markets, which are far more flagrantly interesting.
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