My Ventures Away

This weekend 7 of us took a little trip back to a town we visited in the beginning of the semester called Thiès. It was our version of “sweet weekend traveling to other countries while studying abroad in Europe” only far less expensive and glamorous. We took a “sept places” taxi. AKA a half-broken wagon mobile from the 60’s with 7 seats. Saweeet! The drive was only 1.5hrs so not bad. 

It was awesome and good bonding, SHOPPING, and exploring time. 

Highlights:

-Our hotel listed as “a little gem” in LonelyPlanet also rented their rooms in 3 hour segments… ;)

-Spending all my money at the artisan village buying the best souvenirs, which some and most of you can look forward to! Hey Christmas!

-Getting kicked out of a taxi (cause we didn’t know where the hotel was) into the middle of a bus/vendor conjunction. Clinging to our recent bags of purchases, we were tapped and asked by 100 people “where are you going? what are you looking for? here, just get on the bus!”. We were so overwhelmed and helpless I just literally laughed, called the hotel guy and handed the phone to the nearest man to hash it out in wolof. Next thing I know he’s grabbing me by the hand and getting us in a taxi bound for the hotel…in the complete opposite direction naturally!

-Going out to dinner at the Croissant Magique which was…magical. Christmas (or fairy) lights, beer in wine glasses, pizza, ice cream, cookies and a live acoustic performer. I sang along joyously to Stand By Me and then because this was the only logical next part of the story, I ended up on stage, guitar in hands, butchering 2 songs and being oncore’d by a wonderful crowd of diners who came up to take pictures with me? hahah When in Thiès! 

-Our 20min arguing battle while swarmed by taximen at the taxi station trying to get a reasonable price to return to Dakar. Once again I couldn’t help but laugh as our group became increasingly flustered and demanding. I can’t do the shouting, demanding, bartering mentality here so I let others enjoy that when in large groups. I prefer calm reasoning, which can’t happen when 7 toubabs think they know what they want and how to get it via shouting in our feeble French. Or in Senegal at all really.

-Tired and broke, we discussed politics, international affairs and presidential happenings the whole way back. I loved it but my ignorance was conspicuous. What the heck university is about to qualify me with a BA in International Studies? That’s a joke.