In her own words my bestie and guest blogger Amber, aka 'gee-low', shares her experience in Senegal. A big thank you to her for being a wonderful visitor: patient, willing to eat anything, and always ready to laugh at whatever situation in which we found ourselves!
Being a PCV for a Month
What does a twenty-something do when they suddenly
find themselves with an abundance of free time? Well, I decided to take a four
week trip to West Africa to visit my best friend, Lisa. As Lisa mentioned in
her post, she and I went to UCLA together and we’ve become very close friends
in the years since. Lisa was wonderful enough to host me in Senegal and share
some of the awesome things she’s experiencing as a PCV, which now I’ll try to
pass on to you.
After spending a week in Sierra Leone, we were back in Dakar to experience Senegal. We jumped in an 8-seater station wagon to our next destination, the delta in Toubacouta. Lisa and I were in the eco-tourism side of Senegal which included mangrove walks, morning kayak trips and luxurious bars with a view. It was beautiful and a lot of fun to see a wilder side to West Africa. The mangroves were a wonderful example of the diversity of types of ecosystems present on Earth and the unique ways nature will adapt and utilize it. During our short time there we saw mangrove crabs, oysters, monkeys, pelicans and dolphins, but it wasn’t all glamorous because being by the delta meant more mosquitoes. Fun fact: Africa is itchy. If you’re not being eaten alive by mosquitoes or spiders, the humidity will turn you into a hot chafing mess. Itchiness aside, the delta was a perfect start to my time in Senegal.
Following
the vacation within the vacation, Lisa took me to Kolda to immerse myself in
her everyday life. Being on the road so long on our scenic route out of Dakar
makes you appreciate the comforts of sharing a meal with a welcoming family,
even if it’s not your family. The Diallos were very kind and eager to open
their home to me and patient with my small repertoire of phrases in French, Pulaar,
and Wolof, which included key phrases like “I know very little Pulaar,” “I only
speak English,” “That was delicious,” “I’m full,” and “No, really, I can’t eat
any more.” When we weren’t being fed delicious cheb (rice) by Lisa’s family, we would bike around Kolda, browse
the local market or swing by the regional house to meet other volunteers. We
even spent one afternoon making lunch, including fresh salsa, homemade
tortillas and beans! It was sad to have to leave Kolda; I felt that I had found
another family, but it’s neat to talk to Lisa now and be able to picture the
people and places that make up her life.
The last
leg of the journey was back where it began, in Dakar. After spending three weeks
in village settings, the city known as the “Paris of Africa” was a huge treat.
I mean Wifi AND hot water – now this is living! Lisa hasn’t spent much time in
Dakar and didn’t have any set plans, so we mostly just ate our way through the
capital with brief touristy distractions, which was fine by me! Being in the
big city together reminded me of the fun times Lisa and I had with our UCLA
family exploring the urban expanses of Los Angeles. It was very sad to leave
and I almost didn’t; my flight was cancelled due to reduced visibility from the
dust storms but my adventure had to come to an end.
Lisa told me one reason she
wanted to be a PCV was for her own self improvement. After my short four weeks
in West Africa, I felt I’ve changed and grown in a small way. I can only
imagine how Lisa’s Peace Corps experience will shape her or where it will take
her, but I’ll be sure to visit so I can live vicariously through her again.
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