Crazy Adventures in the Life of a Redhead

I am going to start with the end of my journey, which made quite an impression on my résumé of adventures and recount in reverse. So here it goes: For those of you who were alive in the 70’s, I am sure you remember the hatchbacks of that era. Have you wondered what happened to all those vehicles once in circulation? I’m sure that some were junked, but the rest ended up in West Africa, in Guinea in particular. I had the pleasure of riding in two different bush taxis as they are called in Guinea on my way out. A testimony to the ingenuity of man, these vehicles stand the test of time and circumstances, much like the Guinean mechanics, swarthy men and tough kids. It seems as if travel by land in Guinea (and Africa in general, but to remain close to my personal account, I will be precise in saying Guinea) is indelibly memorable due to its extreme nature and harsh conditions, particularly the roads. Guinean roads are poorly if at all paved. The paved roads have so many potholes that you h...

I adore couscous and I love to dance in the street, but I never considered there exists an event that combines these two dissimilar items. They actually go perfectly together in the religious and deeply traditional world of Senegalese culture as the markings of the Muslim New Year celebration Tam Xarit. The Muslim calendar, which announces the dates of important religious holidays, follows the moon, comprising about 354 days per lunar calendar, whereas the western calendar—standard calendar—follows the sun. Roughly one month after Tabaski, Muslims celebrate the turning of the New Year with enormous quantities of couscous both for the household and for sharing with your neighbors and family members, and with prayer, fasting, and masquerade. As with every holiday in Senegal, there are two sides that dictate the behavior of participants: religion and tradition. In terms of its religious aspects, Tam Xarit is an opportunity for prayer and fasting for the year to come. Routine prayer c...