By Coco Durant

Connection. It can come in many ways. It can happen with people of all ages, nature and animals. It can happen when you least expect it.

I was not expecting much of Senegal. I have traveled to 14 different countries across the globe and I felt like I had probably already seen everything there was to see here. I expected that the people would be drawn off from tourists, as they are in many of the other places I’ve visited. I wasn’t expecting to connect much with this trip.

Connection is something I have always struggled with. Having ASD affects how I communicate and perceive directions and interactions with other people. Thinking about this trip, I kept focused on the thought that for two weeks I would be traveling to a new country with people from my school that I was not close with. The thought of that feeling was daunting. My typical solution in daunting situations is to put one my air pods in my ear and listen to music to calm down and to recharge my “energy’’. Ironically, or unfortunately, for these global Ed trips, it is not allowed to listen to music with AirPods. We are meant to connect with the experience. The purpose is to be present in the moment, engage in conversations, and even look out the window instead of at your phone to take in the environment, how it differs from our homes in America. On our first moments in the trip, I suddenly realized that I would have to engage in a country away from home, with people I never met or was close with without my normal comfort. I was not looking forward to the rest of the journey. 

I will admit, the first few days were tough. I had to really tune in to make sure I was following directions in a loud setting. I found myself suddenly without the coping mechanism of hiding through music. However, as more time passed, I got to experience community in ways I did not expect. Slowly, a new coping mechanism showed itself.

At Hakuna Lodge, the locals and workers were either form Senegal or European countries, but they were happy to talk to us and seemed to enjoy being welcoming, something that is uncommon in America. Another example was on the first day at Hakuna Lodge, when the second group was late. When our group heard that they were arriving, a lot of people were devising a plan to surprise them, as well as not overwhelming them, since they had been stuck in New York for 48 hours, even with some people not having their luggage (Chase). This expieriece showed how even if someone is not there, their presence is appreciated, and when that second group arrived, the energy shifted to everyone being happy to seeing each other.

From there, community became more and more in the middle of everything. We got to live in a small village where I learned and saw a lot. Language became a big thing. You see, the people of Senegal speak in French, so you can imagine that English is not their strongest language. There was no common language to speak with the people we were living with. Despite not being able to speak the same language, I felt connected with the residents of the village. Specifically with a young girl named Fatoumata. She always waved to me, wanted to play hand games (like the ones at recess), and she even invited her peers to come get to know me. She helped me give bracelets out as gifts to everyone. Overall, the people of the village made me feel more human. I have spent my whole life around people who speak the same language as me, but here I felt more human than I have with many people I speak the same language with.  Even without my headphones.

In Senegal, there is a proverb where a person is not an island, that people are a person’s medicine. No person is an introvert here, and community is vital. When you come to this country, you can see how it plays a huge part to really be a member of the communities. I discussed this with Kaia, who was the leader go the day with me, and how in Senegal when it comes to friends and family, everyone really focuses on helping each other with supplies, food, business, etc. They even help raising each other’s families. In America, community as a whole doesn’t seem to really exist unless you have something specific in common with people. Normal community without those common things (interests, race, friend groups, etc) diminishes. If people see someone that is more or less then them in their eyes, they can feel the need to separate from that person, even isolate them. This as a whole can take anyone apart. I have felt that in my own life. Being here has made me think about the very basics of being a human.

In the Bible, the book of Genesis tells the story of God creating Eve for Adam. For context, Adam, the first human, was in charge of tending to the garden of Eden and helping the animals. Adam had all the resources he needed and ever wanted, but there was an emptiness inside. God then took the rib from Adam, and created Eve. For God knew that man cannot thrive alone. They will feel empty without others. Many people will use this story to their own benefit. Some stating that men need women, or that women depend on men. In reality, it shows that us as people do need each other. That we are only human when we are with others. This is why many therapists and doctors recommend those with depression to be with others, not isolation, which can worsen anyone’s mental state. That is how humanity thrives – together. From the beginning, when a human baby is born, it is not quiet or able to walk immediately. It instead cries out for its mother and needs time to walk and talk, and depending on others to thrive. Even as we grow up into adulthood, we need the company of others to help us and change as a person, the same how we are part of someone’s life.

Coming to Senegal changed how I viewed the world and community. The reality is that I need people the same way everyone else does, but my mind makes that difficult sometimes, which is why I use the tool of my AirPod in my normal life. Unlike me, the people of Senegal do not have access to a lot of tools or social media that I use as a tool. On this trip, we lived that like. They do not have “everything”, but they show that they still live a fulfilling life of hard work and connection of friends and family. I believe America can learn from community. From connecting with others, and appreciating our planet.

Even with my disability, I got to experience humanity here. Fortunately, it turns out, I couldn’t use my AirPod all the time. When I come back to America, I plan to imitate the hospitality, connection, and kindness from the people of the village and of Senegal as a whole. I also plan to not listen to music as much, and to appreciate the environment, as much as it is hard to break that habit. Luckily, when I go back for another global ed trip, Mr. Alter won’t have the need to call me out to take my AirPods out of my ear, as much I tried to hide them with my hair on the first day of this trip. I know I am a human now, and I know that is all I need.