By Khoudia Diagne

Coming back to CCS this year, I took some decisions to do what’s best for me and not what I want – to reclass as a junior. I was not sure how this year was gonna go but it has been a great time to learn. This trip in Senegal has made me learn a lot from my friends and also my country.  Even though I live here my whole life, I learned new things that I never knew. 

The only things I use to focus on and care about was my family, school, and basketball nothing else.  I couldn’t see my own country until I came to visit with friends from CCS.  Senegal is a beautiful and wonderful country of teranga, some people don’t know that until they got out of their comfort zone. Including me.

Coming back to this trip in Senegal after not coming for a year and I have, I realized I made lot of progress.  Yes it’s fun having your friends but it’s also important to know about the story of Senegal. I was happy when I see all this people who I call my second family, not just friends. We travel all the way here. 

Going to Bandia and Kecouta I was really excited I remember some faces of the kids and the places. I was really sad about the story of Kecouta and his village and I thought what would happen to me and my family if we were in his position. They were moved out of the park by the government without any choice. If my life was like that, I wouldn’t be in USA maybe, I will not have the chance I have right now. 

Due to a lot of reason, I could not see my family on this trip.  I was sad that I come all the way in Senegal and not seeing my family and my niece that I promise that I will see her in 2 weeks when I spoke to her on the phone.  But I change plan and she was sad she’s my whole life and I feel bad. I was sad and lot of things was in my mind but thanks to Mr. Alter, Mrs. Valadez, Mrs. Olsen, and all my friends, I decided to tell them and they were there to support me and give me so much love. 

Today is the first day of Ramadan and it has made me think about a lot of things about who I am.  Ramadan is a month when Allah tests your belief, your willingness to sacrifice, and your respect of others above yourself.  It is a time when you have to trust yourself not to eat or drink during the day, not to look at something you shouldn’t look at, or touch other people’s things.  It is one month that god has to forgive you.  One month to change what you’ve done in the past, to make up for it.  But it is not just about fasting, it is also about prayer.  If you only fast, you’ll just think about being hungry.  But if you fast and also pray and think, you will not feel the hunger so much.  It is also to remember the prophet Mohammed.

Ramadan in Senegal brings people together and gives them a time to forgive each other.  People spend most of their time together because during the day you can’t do as much, so you talk together.  Also, after prayer times at the mosque, you spend time thinking about the words of god and the ideas.  It’s a time for praying together like a family.  Sometimes people also keep a sheep in their house and raise them like a family member.  After one month, the end of Ramadan they have to sacrifice this sheep.  It is hard to do because you become so connected to the sheep but this also brings the family together to support each other and think about life.  

We have learned a lot about Ramadan on this trip and some of us even spotted the moon tonight that show us that it starts today.  Some of the group tell me they are going to try to join me for a day of fasting.  I almost cry when they tell me they going to try to do the fasting.  Call me sensitive but I’m not I’m just caring and I care about this people just like they do about me. They respect me and the way I know is the first day of RAMADAN they do everything not to eat or drink in front of me and I was really happy. 

Thanks to Lucia ( Rodriguez & Castillo), Becca  they hug me all the time just like they know how I feel. I developed a really good friendship with Luis since we’ve been here he’s funny and caring, we joke around and make laugh at each other.  Namiyah and Ian who just like siblings and not going to forget my Mami Chula( Jarlyne), yaya, cece, Elizabeth, Anson and Chloe I love you guys and always be there for you just like you we there for me when I need it.  You guys I don’t know how to thanks y’all for trusting me to come visit my country even though it’s really hot you guys survive and just like Mr Alter say« are you proud that they come in Senegal?» I’m more than proud I don’t know how to describe my happiness for these two weeks.  I wish it’s like month. I love you so much Senegal and my powerful friends.