Wanderlust and Broken Suitcases: Jamm ak Jamm

My school!

My home! The window to my room is on the left of the balcony

I finally made it to Dakar, Senegal on August 26th, after almost two months in France and Germany. That was the easy part.. I am in a group of 40 students from all over the US and the first week we stayed in a small hotel right next to my school CIEE Study Center. Orientation was great but when I moved in with my host family things started to turn sour.. It wasn't the family that was the problem it was the other member of the household: cockroaches and mice. If you know me, you know I am terrified of bugs but this went wayy beyond my phobia. They needed to fumigate their household. There was some drama and a lot of me hassling the housing coordinator but I was finally moved to a new family during the third week. I had been living with a friend's host family for a week, but I absolutely loved them so it worked well. Although I am completely happy with my new family, I am still getting to know them whereas most of the students have been living with their families for two weeks and have already adjusted pretty well. So I am still in the process of getting in the swing of things but it shouldn't take too long!

The view from my rooftop!

One day I heard a goat baaing upstairs. Most people have goats here especially since the big holiday tabaski or "fête du mouton"is coming up. Families will kill a goat and then eat the meat and share it with the rest of the community. I haven't experienced it yet, so we shall see. Anyway, I go up there expecting one goat and instead there is practically an entire farm, including 5 goats, rabbits, chickens, and pidgeons. I guess I know where my dinner has been coming from now...