Meeting the host family

So much has happened in the past few days it is hard to believe it is only Friday. I have been so busy getting moved in to my host family and starting classes at the Baobab center that it has been hard to find time to get to an internet café. There is one right down the block from my house, but my older brother informed me that we should be getting internet at their house sometime next week. I’ll start with my family, the most exciting part of these past few days.

I am living in the area of Mermoz, pretty much smack dab in the middle of Dakar. My host family is pretty well-off; apparent from the super nice living room/dining room that they have, and the fact that everyone has/had a job. I have my own room which is small (compared to mine back home), but is perfect for the amount of stuff I have. I share a bathroom with my older brother, Douds (pronounced, “Dudes”). My family really consists of Maman and Papa and Douds. My parents are both grandparents, their two oldest daughters have small kids. Their oldest lives in Washington DC with her husband, who works for a big bank. Salimata (Sally) is in her 30’s and is very pregnant with her second child. Her first, Abdoul Aziz is 17 months old, and the cutest little boy I have ever seen. The two of them don’t live at the house, but they are there for most of the day, every day. Sally is the one who helps me with my French the most, correcting me when I say things wrong, something I really appreciate. Douds is 30, and works for a computer company making websites for other companies. He has been the most helpful and is always trying to make me feel at home. The first night was not as awkward as I thought it would be. My French is terrible, and my family was rather surprised when I told them I took French for 5 years, but I think they understood a little better when I said I took a break for 2 years. The kids and Papa are all fluent in English, so in a pinch I am able to ask what the translation is in English. We looked at my photos and then ate dinner together around the bowl on the ground. They have a nice deck/patio on the second floor where everyone eats and hangs out. It is really nice at night because you can catch a breeze which cools things down quite a bit. Everyone is very patient with my questions, all formed in the worst way, but I am learning a lot about the relationships within a family.

Yesterday I got up for class and walked to the Baobab center by myself. It is about a 10-15 minute walk. I really enjoy walking to school by myself as it gives me a sense of independence in this big city. We started Wolof on Wednesday so I now know the basic salutations. Being able to greet people is really important in Senegal and people are still surprised and pleased when I can say hello and ask how they are. We had our first cultural session yesterday where we started to learn about different Wolof words which convey a Senegalese value. They all are charged with such meaning that it is interesting that there is no straight translation for any single word. For example my favorite word yesterday was Jom, which is loosely translated as hardworking, perseverance, and the courage to be strong. We all had lunch together at the center around the bowl, only with our hands. We learned the correct practices and manners for when you eat around the bowl. It feels like you are going back to when you touched everything as a little baby. Our teacher explained it in a better way though, that eating with your hands is more natural, and actually the oils in your hand break down food easier. Interesting to say the least. Unfortunately by lunchtime I had started to feel a little under the weather; my stomach region was starting to react to the new environment. When we commenced the afternoon session I was having a hard time of things and so left to lie down for a while. I ended up getting sick a few times, the first one of the group! Thankfully we had a late lecture with a doctor, so while I was delirious and going in and out of sleep, he was able to prescribe me with Peridys, a medicine that helped with my nausea. When I got home (after two of the girls brought me back in a taxi) Douds went and got the medicine for me and so I just rode out the sickness for the night. My family was really nice throughout, trying to make sure I had everything I wanted. Even though I know it was their job, I was so grateful for their hospitality.

Today I slept in, hoping to give my body some more time to adjust. I missed my Wolof lesson, but I know it was better to get the rest. I made it to the Baobab center in time to go to the Downtown sortie. We took the bus to get to the heart of Dakar. What a trip! First off, I realized on the ridiculously crowded bus that I perhaps was not fully recovered. I was able to get a seat for most of the trip which helped matters ten-fold, but wow, think of how you would feel pressed up against either heavily perfumed, or total B.O.ed sweaty people in 90 degree weather in a confined space, not good combinations. It seemed only appropriate that our first public transportation experience ended in our bus breaking down in the middle of the road and so we had to wait for about 15 minutes until we could get on to the next one. Downtown reminded me of any other big city, lots of people, tons of sellers trying to hawk their wares on the side of the street, and cars everywhere. The taxi situation here is somewhat comical. Horns are used for everything, whether to just say, “I am behind you” or the equivalent of a catcall, the air is always filled with the noise. While we were downtown we stopped by the huge market that Dakar is famous for. A little intimidating, but I’m excited to go back when I feel a little bit better.

Tonight I am going to go out with the other girls in the program for Megan’s birthday. We are going to find a restaurant and then afterwards there is a free play we heard about through the Babobab center that we are going to try and go see. First night “out on the town”…hope all goes well.

Alxamdulilah.