By Olivia Wolff

In America, we often forget or overlook the little things in life because we just want more of the big and exciting things. Something I’ve realized being in a small village on the side of the highway, is that you really do need to treasure the little things – whether it’s playing hand games with a little kid who you can’t communicate with because you don’t speak her language and she doesn’t speak yours, riding on the top of the van in niokolo Koba National Park talking about how you need to try not to get hit by a branch, or even having white toilet paper instead of brown toilet paper. (Even having toilet paper in the first place.) Our brains are wired to think about the new and exciting, bigger things while those things only make us happy or excited for a little while. On the other hand, the small things last forever – they’re part of everyday of our lives.

Senegal has taught me to notice everything you can so that you don’t miss the beauty in the world around you. It’s a beautiful life.