SO. There’s a lot to take in during the first 3 days, I’ll give you some snapshots. Literally.

Here is one view from the roof of the SIT building (our office and classrooms for the semester), which includes the famous yet controversial statue of the Renaissance (located on a hill in the neighborhood I now call home: Ouakam). As you see, they make everything from cement. There is a ton of construction in Dakar. People living on the side of the road with piles of bricks to one day build with, and large buildings underway.

Me looking uber poster child for pamphlets proving American students want to broaden their cultural knowledge by studying abroad in “non-traditional” countries. Note the egg and potatoes. 6 meals in, apparently the only vegetarian option at this restaurant. 

This is cëbujën the national dish of rice/couscous and sauce with fish. You eat on a mat without shoes and only with your right hand out of a large shared dish. It’s hard to defy everything your mother’s told you about eating with your fingers when you’re being told to submerge your hand in saucy food and lick your fingers! Fun :)

There are lots of stands on the side of the road, or people sitting and selling fruits.  Lots of people gathered under trees as well. There’s so much contrast in the city. Big new buildings next to those that are half built or run down, people in traditional clothing carrying iphones past those living under a wood stand on the road.  

It’s a lot to take in and I have very little understanding of how it all works so far, but I’m excited to explore it.

Asalaa malikuum! (peace to you)