Saint-Louis, Senegal

Today I left Dakar for my host community of Saint-Louis (pronounced San-Loo-ee here in Senegal). Saint-Louis is about a five-hour drive from Dakar, so my partner teacher and I set out for our road trip bright and early. Despite being tired, we couldn’t keep our eyes off all the sights along the way. The terrain, landscape, and views were so different from what we’re used to—stretches of dry land, herds of animals, roadside markets, and glimpses of daily life unfolding in ways that felt both unfamiliar and fascinating. Here is a glimpse into what we saw…

Our host teacher met us at our hotel to greet us and get us settled in. We are staying at the historic Hôtel de la Poste, a place that feels like stepping back in time. Built in the 19th century, it was once a gathering place for pilots delivering airmail across Africa and has hosted notable figures over the years.

After settling in, we had a few hours before meeting our host teacher again for dinner, so I set out to explore the island of Saint-Louis. The city itself is incredibly rich in history. Once the capital of French West Africa, Saint-Louis is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, known for its unique blend of French colonial architecture and West African culture. The narrow streets, colorful buildings, and ironwork balconies give it a distinct character, one that feels both vibrant and reflective of its past. It honestly felt a little bit like New Orleans.

As I wandered, I crossed over toward the Langue de Barbarie, the narrow peninsula that separates the Senegal River from the Atlantic Ocean. What I found there was striking. The beauty of the coastline was undeniable but it was impossible to ignore the visible impact of erosion and the overwhelming amount of trash along the shore. It was jarring. A reminder that alongside the beauty and history, there are very real environmental challenges facing this community.

In that moment, I had to consciously take off my “Western lens” and instead try to observe with curiosity and humility. There is so much complexity here, history, culture, environment, and daily life all intertwined. Today was not just about arriving in a new place, but about beginning to understand it, even in small, imperfect ways.