i'm in dakar, first blog post.

15 Jan 2010
Salut! Je suis à l’aeroport et je sui strop fatirue… blah. We arrived in Paris around 10ish in the morning. Went through security – well we first had to find out where we were going… got on a train to security and then found our gate. This all took about three hours. I realized that I should have though more thoroughly on what I should have packed/done to prepare. First, I should have packed food. I totally forgot it was okay to bring food on the flight. This would have saved me some cash. Second, I shouldn’t have brought cash with me and instead just pulled it out of the ATM in Senegal. Third, I also should have remembered to try and call my bank again. Forgot after I called.. blah. Need to tell them I’m out of the country soonish. Also, I need to find out if BoA lets overseas withdrawals happen. Last, I also should have brought an adapter with me in my carry on. Gah. No internet. Oh well. It’s 2:20 pm Paris time. The flight leaves around 3:40ish or boards around then. Tired- might nap. Eyes hurt. Can’t wait to sleep in a bed and take my last show in an actual shower for four months. CIAO.

12:35 am 16 Jan 2010 Dakar, Senegal
We’re here! I’m here! In Africa! In Senegal! À Dakar! The flight was five hours long… but we had like a nine hour layover in Paris. I feel like what I’m about to say is expected, but it’s totally different here than what I expected.. ha. I wonder where I’m going to live. Tomorrow we have our first orientation and we are constantly doing things from 9:30 am til probably 10 pm at night. Have to go- very tired. Ciao.

C’est 20h45 et je suis fatigue… En anglais, it’s 8:45 pm and I am tired. Forgot to mention that the plane lost my luggage along with four other’s. It’s okay though. I have all my clothes- packed them in my carry on. I just wish I had my face wash and soap and lotion(s!). So anyway, today was my first official day in Dakar. It started off waking up at 8:30 am to eat le petit dejeuner. We’re in this apartment called Coumba Ndao. It has three bedrooms, a hall, a kitchen, a livingroom/diningroom and two bathrooms. One of the bathrooms is attached to the room I’m sharing with two others: Rebekah and Leia. There’s also this funny wardrobe thing in our room and our room only. Also, we have a balcony.
My head hurts so bad. Not because I’m sick but because today I’ve spoken and listened to the most French I have ever in one day. I started off really nervous at the first orientation and I’m pretty sure I said so many things that were not correct. It’s okay though. My French improved throughout the day. But back to breakfast. It consisted of pain our des baguettes- huge ones- probably bought from the bakery across the street, jams, REALLY GOOD cheese, and this chocolate stuff that’s like Nutella but more chocolate and less hazelnuts. I also had instant coffee for the first time- Not Bad, rather tasty. I took my malarone during breakfast and started feeling woozy during the first orientation. I have a feeling it was a combination of just eating bread and cheese for breakfast, jetlag, having to comprehend really good, fluent French, and the fact that I was so so nervous. I had chills and my stomach felt like it was turning over and over.
- - - -
1h45 pm Sicap Liberté 2, no. 1222 ( my new home )
I arrived at my host house. I accidently fell asleep when I was trying to write… So I’ll continue. So anyway, I was really nervous at the first orientation when we had to introduce ourselves. After that we decided to go out and explore the city and surrounding neighborhoods of ACI Baobab ( my school ). We split into two groups- each with a guide. Ours was Fatim. We set off to go to one end of the proximity and then visit our host families. It was interesting seeing everyone’s host family. I’d have to say that Katia’s mom was the most excited. When I got to m house, we all entered and I met my host mom and two others… can’t remember who they are. My host mom seemed really serious and somber and somewhat intimidating. Nevertheless, it was nice to see where I’ll be living. There are three bedrooms, a common space/livingroom, a kitchen and a toilet with a bucket for bathing. The walk around the neighborhood was very long. Man, it’s so hot here. Il fait très très chaud. I’m tan already. After we saw everyone’s home, we started to head back to ACI Baobab but our guide Fatim seemed to be a little lost. I think we ended up walking in the wrong direction and because of that we were a little late and had to take a taxi. So then, the first taxi only held four people and I was the last in line. So I ended up taking a taxi with Fatim. This is the kind of thing I would be extremely scared of, but it wasn’t that bad. A lot of Wolof was spoken so I just listened and looked out the window to where we were going. We got to ACI Baobab first and apparently the other taxi got lost. So there I am, waiting in front of ACI Baobab along because Fatim went to go ask about the others. A little ways away was someone named Mamdou. He’s very nice and was happy to practice Wolof with me. I’m not sure what he does. He seemed to be keeping guard of ACI or just sitting there. Je ne sais pas. Then someone else came up.. I think his name is Boxy Jaams…or something like that. He started talking in Wolof, French and English. It was very funny because I was like “What?” The girls from last year told us about him- apparently he’s totally harmless but quite annoying. I dunno. It was interesting. But yea, we went back to the apartment and ate. I fell asleep for three hours and then was awoken immediately because our bags had arrived. I stumbled out of a very deep sleep only to realize I was still in Africa and had to speak French immediately in order to get my bags. Gah! I was awake and forgot that we were invited to go to this nightclub which is right next to the apartment. It’s called Thiossane and is owned by a famous Senegalese singer. I think his name is Youssou Ndouga. Probably not though- I can’t quite remember. So, I took a shower- my last official shower for four months and got ready to go to the club. Our friend Saamba- who picked us up the first day and brought us to ACI Baobab, bought us tickets to the club. It was fun and packed. Ther was a live band and African drumming. The drummer on the regular kit was only okay. I guess he was sort of the time keeper. The singer Youssou was good. Everyone seemed to know his songs. We left around three because we needed to get up early the next day. So the next day, I was really nervous. We were to meet our families and officially stay with them. We had to family orientation and then departed in a van to each family. Mine was 6th. When I got out there were about 5 little boys playing in the courtyard. They all ran out and snatched my bags from me to bring them inside. They’re so cute! And super nice. I found out that they’re actually the nephews of my host parent’s children. My host mom’s name is Astou and the family name is Gandega. I haven’t quite figured out the family situation but I’ve met Mohamed who is around my age and also lives in the house. He’s either a son or a cousin. The house is really neat. There’s a salon (livingroom) and three bedrooms with a kitchen and bathroom. Behind the house is a courtyard and next to it is a coiffeur, a hair salon. Apparently there are 2 cats (chat) but I’ve only seen one. When I got to the house, they just showed me my room and no one bothered me for about an hour. It was a little nerve-wracking because I thought I was doing something wrong but I guess it was okay. We had lunch- djeeboudjenn. Not sure how correct that spelling is. But it was soooooo good. Mmmm. The rice.. man. Delicious. Then I awkwardly watched tv- they love soccer or en francaise- le foot-ball. C’est super chouette!
Learned some Wolof too. Again not sure on the spelling so I’m doing it as close to what I think it is and phonetically. Saalam malekuum- the formal for Hello, how are ou. Then the response is Mallekuum Saalam. Something a little informal is Nangadef. The response is Margne fe- again a greeting. Here I Dakar if you ever want something you have to do a greeting first. It’s customary. Anyway- all is good. I’m rapidly learning French and some Wolof. ACI Baobab has bought cell phones for us- so I don’t have to go to the trouble of getting one. The only thing I still need is a converter adapter for my comp. Apparently I bought the wrong one. We’re going downtown on Wednesday so maybe I’ll get one then. À bientôt. –Katrine (enfrancaise)

10:30 am 18 Jan 2010 Baobab Center
Got up around 7:30 but was woken up at 7 from loud clanking of pots and the sound of running water. I thought it was my host mom but apparently it was my Bonne. I think her name is Aby and she’s my most mom’s niece. She works for the family to clean the house. Maman Astou, my host mom, knocked on my door at 7:30 so I could take a shower. And it was an actual shower. But a cold one. I found out that we have a shower head, so I used that this morning. Will up date soon. Ciao.