Dakar, Senegal 🇸🇳

We’ve officially arrived in Dakar, Senegal! 🇸🇳 After a long travel day from Boston to New York and finally to Senegal, I made it to the other side of the Atlantic Ocean. We made it through security and passport control relatively smoothly (even with my 54lb suitcase) and were greeted outside by our in-country consulate. 

The drive from the airport to Dakar gave us a small glimpse into life here. We saw streets filled with cars, taxis, buses, and kids, mostly boys, playing soccer. We also saw lots of coastal views as Dakar sits on the Atlantic Ocean.

After a quick rest, we jumped into our first programming session with an introduction to Senegalese history and culture. We learned about the country’s thirteen regions, traditional holidays, and explored key moments in its history and political landscape. We also learned that French is the official language of Senegal, but the majority of the population speaks Wolof. Because of this, it was important for us to begin learning a few common phrases. We practiced greetings like asalaam alaykum, and the response maalekum salaam, which translates to “peace be with you.” We also learned about culturally appropriate ways to greet others, especially as women, and the importance of taking time for conversation. What we might call “small talk” in the U.S. is anything but small here. It’s a meaningful and expected part of daily interactions. 

We ended our first day with a beautiful dinner right along the ocean. I ordered Thieboudienne, the national dish of Senegal, which is rice and fish cooked with vegetables and rich flavor. I definitely ate some things that I have no idea what they were, but it was delicious! As the sun went down, it actually got a little cold, which is not something I expected to be saying while in Senegal, as it only sits 14 degrees from the equator.  It's hard to believe this was only day 1, as it was filled with lots of learning, listening, and experiencing life here in Senegal. Can't wait for more tomorrow.