By Yujia Chen The bees don't understand why the river keeps pouring water into their nest because they didn't see me swaying the boat - blame it on God. You didn't pray hard enough. No worries, for us, human, vini, vici, vichi. This trip, to me, is about acceptance, breaking down all the preconceptions and … Continue reading Question mark looks like a hook
Category: Senegal 2016-17
African Animal Preconceptions
By Hunter O'Malley During the safari a moral question came to me: is it responsible to play into U.S. American preconceptions about Africa rather than showing what Senegal is actually like? In the 1500 hectares enclosure, nonnative animal were kept in an environment where they do not naturally belong. To me it had an artificial … Continue reading African Animal Preconceptions
So Excited
By Egecan Tezcan I was so excited to go to Africa because I was wondering what other Muslims do, their lives and their business, etc. It was our second day in Senegal and we went to Hakuna Matata. There we had a really good discussion about home. And the next morning I woke up with … Continue reading So Excited
On the Road
We happy travelers are in this region's capital city, Tambacounda, gassing up [and grabbing enough baguettes for the road] to make our way to Dakar. We've had an incredible few days in the village, culminating in last night's harvest celebration of mask and dance. You'll hear from more students later today; they're still polishing their … Continue reading On the Road
Moments
By Eva Jasinski Moments are an interesting thing. They are almost impossible to capture in their unposed genuine state and even harder to recreate. But unique moments are what we live for, the ones that stick with us for the rest of our lives. This trip has been a constant continuum of those moments. Walking … Continue reading Moments
Giving Thanks
Every morning I've woken up in Senegal to the sounds of joy: soccer balls bouncing off feet, chat in at least three languages, women grinding grains, and laughter. Lots of laughter. I'm really grateful for that, this country, and this village. Since it is Thanksgiving in the U.S., we travelers thought we would share what … Continue reading Giving Thanks
Awake
By Sydney Pitts i am awake and aware of the presence of color. white butterflies fly over the red earth- two forms of purity; one known and one natural. connections of passion enhance the soul... the pathway to understanding. the sky bleeds into the sea creating a horizon outlined by immensity. nature is upon us … Continue reading Awake
There’s Always More
By Kelsey English The more that I have come to know, the more I realize that I know absolutely nothing. Through every experience, I become increasingly aware of new and unknown aspects of life, which exist both tangibly and just above my realm of understanding. This magnificent place, surrounded by nothing but water, mangroves, and … Continue reading There’s Always More
Redefining Family
By Charlie Lange As the days of my independent research slip into the African horizon, I think about reuniting with the group in the coming days. On the outside, it’s a connecting with my friends, the English language, and inside jokes I had forgotten. On the night before we returned to the Dakar airport, I … Continue reading Redefining Family
Culture of Happiness / Contentment
By Jack Corson When first flying into Senegal, I saw what looked liked thousands of building stacked into one giant cluster in Dakar. For an oblivious American like myself, you expect savannah with various exotic animals roaming throughout it. This first image was only the beginning of shattering the stereotypes built around countries in Africa. … Continue reading Culture of Happiness / Contentment