Its been a longgggg time :/

Hello world!

I know that you are very disappointed in my lack of blogging :( and sooooo much has happened in the month of March I don’t even know where to start. Well, here is a brief update/recap of what I have been getting into.

Went to the Gambia for a week during spring break (amazing) took public transportation (not so amazing)
The Gambia is a little country that is surrounded by Senegal on 3 sides and the ocean to the West, many people refer to this region as the Senegambia, and even in travel books that you find in the States Senegal and The Gambia are put together, so we thought that it would be relatively similar to Senegal. And since their national language is English, we were excited to be around people that we could understand. So last Saturday me and my 5 friends began our journey to The Gambia! We took a septplace, which is basically a car that hold 7 people and the driver, and headed to The Gambia at 8 am, 6 hours later, a couple of bathroom breaks (stopping on the side of the road so people could pee behind a bush) and a pit spot to buy some food we were at the Senegalese border.
Even though the ride was hot, uncomfortable, and long it was quite a memorable ride with my friends sightseeing the landscape of Senegal outside of Dakar.
At the boarder we went through customs bought a Visa for roughly $16 much better than buying one at the embassy which would have been more around 30 dollars. Converted our money from CFAs and US dollars to Dalasi and caught a taxi to the ferry where we would have to cross the Gambian river.
And then we were finally in the Gambia!!!! We bargained for another taxi after we go off the ferry to get us to our hotel and in 20 mins we were in our rooms. So our journey started at 830 am and ended around 5pm when we all jumped in the pool. I was really pleased with our hotel, we have a friend who is from The Gambia and found us a really nice hotel.

I was in The Gambia for five days, I went to two markets where I bought some post cards, bracelets, a shirt, and some sandals. The markets are not that different from the ones in Dakar, expect they had a lot more exported items for sell at the ones in The Gambia. We went to the beach everyday, and I must say the beaches our BEAUTIFUL! I would even say better than the ones I have been to in Dakar, we went wave surfing and played soccer on the beach. I went to a museum and a monkey reserve where I fed a peanut to a monkey (which my mom said I shouldn’t have done since I didnt get my rabies shot hahaha oh well)

Of course we went to some clubs, even went to a karaoke bar (lots of fun)and ate at a lot of different restaurants on the Senegambia strip. Which is a street full of restaurants, clubs, and cafes.

On the way back, crossing the border into Senegal we got stopped by the border police, almost got arrested and my friends laptop was almost confiscated. Oh the joys of people abusing their power!

Later in the month I stayed in Joal, Senegal for a weekend were I received an opportunity to work with an African American artist, Muhsana Ali, who founded an organization called "Portes et Passages du Retour" in 2000. Doors and Passageways of Return Association is an Association made up of artists and arts professionals living and working in Senegal with the purpose of promoting “holistic development” in Africa through the medium of art, agriculture, and social work to promote cultural awareness. Hopefully I will be back in Dakar this summer working with her this summer as well.


Last week I went on a field trip to a fishery in Cayar, Senegal.

And celebrated Independence, Senegalese style. April 4th was their 50th year of Independence and parties and celebrations happened all weekend. Their national sport is wrestling or "Lutte" and we went to the big Independence Lutte against Tyson and Yenikke. Now I know your thinking why wrestling? But you should look up Senegalese wrestling it is nothing like WWF smack down or your typical high school wrestling match. The ring is just dirt and the lutters are men dressed in only draper like cloth and gris gris (amulets attached to string worn around the neck, arm, and legs). The actual fight only last less than 5 mins but the festivities begin way before that. We arrived at the stadium around 2:30 and the match didnt start till 6:00 and we didn’t get out the stadium until a little before 7:00. It was exciting, interesting, and a bit tiring but I had a great time. And I got to see AKON!!! Akon, if you didnt know was born in Senegal and still has family here.
Hmmm….what else can I tell you…oh yea
There is a show here called African Star, which is just like American Idol but the contestants are from all over Africa. I was able to go to a taping of the show and had a great time. The live band, and singers performing on a big and bright stage were incredible. There are 3 regular judges and a guest judge every week, and since the show is in Senegal everyone speaks french (however some singers sang American songs like ones by Ne-yo and Sharika), well everyone spoke french expect one judge who spoke english and was translated by another judge. I found this odd and ask my friend where he was from and he didnt know. But my question was answered the next week when I meet the judge!
And next week my adventure continues with my trip to Kaolack where I will stay in a village for a week. Ill tell you all about when I get back.