As I prepare to leave on Sunday, I am incredibly infused with emotion. Of course, I will get to see my family, vacation in Europe, and visit with friends. But I will also be returning to a culture entirely different than the one I am currently living in.
Horsecarts share busy streets with cars. I went to the butcher with my sister yesterday and watched him chop up a fresh animal and place the meat in a plastic bag. Everyone here speaks Wolof and listens to mbalaax. Women wear bubus—elaborate flowing floor length sundresses—accessorized by every piece of jewelry available and a matching headdress. I sit in gardens with large groups of young men as they wrestle and play cards. There is a power blackout every day, and an occasional water blackout. It is about 82 degrees everyday, and our worst weather is cloudy. I live with a conservative Muslim family in a conservative Muslim-majority country.
It is so difficult for me to describe my life here because it is the intangibles which count. The way everyone in the country lights up when listening to the new cool music single. Their smiles as they dance. Sharing as the most important cultural value. In particular, gender roles are far more important. It is true that the Senegalese women have far less freedom than Americans, and my behavior here is certainly restricted. But I also think I am going to come home and thoroughly greet every loose acquaintance I see, a more patient person with stronger relationships as a result. The past few months have been a completely immersive and consuming experience.
It sounds silly to say, but sometimes I can’t remember going to a restaurant to eat and not having to wait two hours, or having to charm taxi drivers to get a good price, or going to work and actually working. It is an entirely stress free country, but certain simple interactions can be extremely frustrating and confusing. It is unbelievably beautiful and peaceful here.
America offers, quite simply, development—with all its goods and bads. I know that I will miss the friendships I’ve made here and the way of life. But, as they say in Senegal, life is birth, marriage, and death; all experiences come to an end, and I will never forget this.
1 Comment to "Summing Up Four Months"
Hey Jennifer,
It seems like ages ago that you, Kathryn, and I were sitting in OIP getting a quick orientation on the OIP Blog and enjoying Wisey’s. Just wanted to say I enjoyed reading your blogs throughout the semester and from the looks of it you had an amazing semester. I thought this closer was particularly good in how it laid out all your whole experience in a simple but strong manner. Hope you have a great summer!
Dave