Crazy Adventures in the Life of a Redhead

Outside the Madeleine Cathedral: Paris Background of the Museum of Classic Art: Lille In the wet portion of the Marais-Poitevin: Niort Our last night: Nantes By the riverside with the old city in the background: Angers Flying into France felt almost analogous to flying back to the States; I consider this country my second home because I feel at ease with the language and have developed such delightful friendships with those I encountered in 2008 during my study abroad experience. I made the same circuit of visits—Paris, Niort, Nantes and Angers—as last August, but with a bit more rapidity than my last stay. Fortunately I made the most out of my two days in each place to visit my dear friends and to share in their lives as they shared in vicarious excitement with my stories from Senegal. In one week, I caught up on my cousin’s Parisian affairs, met Cheikh’s wife (whose marriage took place in Dakar three weeks after I arrived), walked through the Marais-Po...

When you utter the name of Casamance, you are likely to hear the same warning, “Be careful, the are rebels over there!” In spite of the many news stories alerting potential voyagers of the imminent danger due to rebellion skirmishes, the hardy and the adventurous continue to venture forth in order to see the incredible beauty of Casamance. Tree-lined streets, abundantly verdant mangrove reserves and outstanding beaches categorize this unique region of Senegal that has seen its share of turbulence and remains economically depressed by the rare outcropping of violence. As I have stated in previous blogs, I have been blessed with a cornucopia of contacts here in Senegal, covering practically every region. The grandmother of one of my friends in Dakar lives in Ziguinchor with her daughter-in-law and a couple other family relations. When his grandmother received the news that she was going to host one of her grandson’s friends from the U.S. she was delighted. My friend’s aunt picked me u...

This small pierogue is used to harvest the oysters from the roots of these mangroves. Called the Senegambia, Senegal and The Gambia form one land mass, but they are two different countries with two dissimilar colonial-imparted languages: Senegal is a French-speaking country and The Gambia is an English-speaking country. They each possess their own currency and have separate cell phone networks. What is bizarre is their proximity to one another: The Gambia is practically an enclave within Senegal, surrounded by Senegal on three sides, with only the ocean construing the fourth border. Separated on the basis of colonial appeasement, the French took Senegal and the English took The Gambia: small and fertile with an extensive port, which was extremely important for trade. Subtle are the differences between the two countries and inter-mingled are the inhabitants of both places. Serre Kunda Marketplace Commerce flows freely between the ports and the hands of industrious people attempting...