I've learned...

- Friday is the day every one wears their best boubous for the mosque and that all commercial venues are closed the entire afternoon;
- The currency is called Central African CFA franc(for short: say-fa) and is shared between 6 countries in West Africa. Nobody ever really knows the current exchange rate but it balances around 500 cfa/ $1 USD;
- A banana is around 100cfa, 50cfa for a sm. cup of oddly spiced coffee, 25cfa for the perfect size bag of sugared peanuts. I always have a 25cent piece in my pocket!
- Mamadou is the name of the man who sells me a banana everyday on my way to school. We always share a thumbs-up as I walk home from class;
- The post office, the only place you can buy stamps, runs out of them;
- How to eat/pick-apart an entire fish with just a spoon;
- Taxis honk at me because I’m white, therefore I must not want to walk. Or perhaps they think I can not see them despite the fact there are always at least 5 that pass you at the same time and they are bright yellow;
- A taxi is a taxi even though: its missing the entire inside door panel, any door handle, there’s a whole in the floor (one lady shoes fell through the whole and at the end of the ride she had to walk barefoot to her destination!) the turning column is broken thus all turns are three point turns and you have some sort of animal tail attached to the exhaust pipe;
- If time schedules exist they are rarely heeded;
- Deggnaa Wolof (I understand a little bit of Wolof);
- Everyone must listen to the mosque prayers projected over loud speaker 5 times everyday, despite the mixture of religions;
- Senegal has one of the lowest HIV/AIDs rates in sub-Saharan Africa; nonetheless there is a lot to be done;
- It takes approximately 5 days for a card to arrive to Dakar from the US. I strongly encourage all to try! Ellen Miller
Villa 509, Sicap Baobab
Dakar Fann
Dakar, Senegal BP 5270
- If you give one exchange student a hug, you’ll find that everybody wants one;
- Everybody needs hugs and if you give one, you also get one! Please hug someone today;
- Tubaab means ‘white person’ in Wolof. I hear it a lot of the streets., especially from li'l kids;
- A couple of jumping jacks and push-ups prior to a cold shower makes it much more “refreshing”! Ei!
- Senegalese music is very similar to Brazilian music but danced like Mexican music. My body is confused;
- There is a lot of need in the world and it is difficult to know where to start;
- All prices are negotiable;
- You get a much better price if you start every conversation in Wolof by offering peace (saying hi), asking how s/he is, asking how is the family and then thanking god that all is good-- even if its not really, you don't say so. You should start every conversation with this progression or could be considered rude. It’s tough stuff for a direct person;
- Religion in Senegal: 94% Muslim, 4% Christian, 2% other religion, 100% animist;
- Due to animistic beliefs of demi-gods constantly floating around, you should not comment on how cute/adorable is a baby. The gods could latch on to the baby’s soul and then you are cursed with bad luck and most likely harshly ostracized from the community. In a culture based around family, this is severe. Try looking at a baby and new mother and not issuing compliments!
- How to control emotions when a man looks me in the face and tells me that women are less logical than men but not have the desired grammar or vocabulary to respond… Then to kick his butt on the volley ball court!
- There are various kinds of anti-malarials (meds to prevent malaria). Lariam (generic Mefloquin), Doxycycline, Malorin and several more. All have different side effects. Mefloquin robs me of sleep from 3-5am every Wednesday night and bizarre dreams frequently invade. If you must take them be sure to do your homework first, you’d be surprise that a lot of US medical clinics don’t know their malaria facts;
- Ocean waves crashing against the rocks have interrupted every single one of my runs on the beach. I love it;
- Rotary members are similar around the world;
- Everything in Senegal is pas grave (French: not a big deal)
- daily cuts in electricity— pas grave
- no change in any store or at any street stand so that some times you can't buy something or must you forfeit your change— pas grave
- Amuma jekker ak doom (I don’t have a husband or kids in Wolof) Though it usually comesout something like, “Yes, I’m married. He’s works with the Peace Corps in Dakar. He is very strong and jealous.”
- If you can’t communicate, a smile and high five says a lot.
- Even in Africa, there are still only 24 hours in a day and I only have one heart and two hands.
- I have a lot to learn…