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Salaam Alaikum!! Welcome to my blog! If you've found your way here you're probably up to date on what I'm doing during this year out, however for those who've had the, ahem, fortune to stumble across it or who've been living under a rock the last year, here's what I'm up to…
I first heard of Project Trust four years ago, an educational trust which sends school leavers abroad on twelve month placements all over the world to work in capacities of social care, outward bound activities, and teaching. After a week-long selection course on the Isle of Coll in the Hebrides where Project Trust is based, I was selected to go to Joal, a small fishing town on the coast of Senegal in West Africa, to teach as part of a British Councils' programme to re-energise English teaching in the area. I will be living with a Senegalese host family along with my Project Trust partner Katie and teaching in two schools, as well as getting involved in community activities and taking some time to travel around until August 2013.
Myself and the 7 other volunteers (all in pairs around Senegal) arrived at Dakar airport on Friday night, and were met by our rep in Dakar, Mr. T. Anticipating a scrum at the airport, I was EXTREMELY prepared with money/passport/other valuables strategically hidden around my person, however to our general relief (and my slight disappointment, having spent close to half an hour on the flight refining my anti theft strategy) there was no scrum to be had, just a lot of people milling around. He took us to a flat a short walk from both the beach and his home where we'll be staying until Monday, which is in the area of Apecsy, Yoff - seemingly Dakar's answer to Western surburbia.
On Friday we headed to Mr. T's for breakfast and chilling (a popular Senegalese pastime) before taking a walk on the beach, where the majority of Dakar's population seemed to be running, working out, swimming, surfing, playing football, washing their goats/sheep/horses in the sea, fishing, gutting and selling fish, and generally having a blast of a Saturday morning. We did some more chilling in some shade whilst Mr. T got some fish for lunch, then went back to our flat and chilled some more. I'm getting good at this…
Had lunch again at Mr. T's - our first traditional Senegalese meal! We all sat on the floor and ate fish and rice out of a communal bowl made by Mrs. T whilst watching the National Geographic channel dubbed in French…evidently Mr T's program of choice. Headed back to the flat for the obligatory chill period before our next outing, interrupted only by the regular prayer call from the local mosque.
Went for a 'city tour' a la Mr. T with the other volunteers, which first involved a trip to the coastal monument symbolising 'La Renaissance Africaine.' I imagine some presidents have dreams of alleviating poverty and strengthening their countries' economy, Abdoulaye Wade (previous president of Senegal) apparently had a different idea; he 'dreamed' of building a monument taller than the Statue of Liberty (52 metres, one for each African Nation - what happened when Sudan split?!), to stare down the Americans from the other side of the Atlantic ocean, and with assistance from North Korea, Robert Mugabe and the like, he realised his dream in the form of a 7000 tonne copper sculpture of a family, 'rising from the depths to the light above.' Great. We paid an ungodly amount to climb up to the top and enjoy the, er, view, accompanied by an enthusiastic guide who talked us through all these facts and more, gleefully proclaiming 'Senegal 1, America 0.' I may be wrong, but I reckon the Americans have bigger fish to fry... After plenty of appreciative smiling and nodding we headed back down the 192 steps to place our feet back on solid ground, and concluded our brief tour with supper chez Mr. T.
A xx
- comments
Lucy I have a feeling I'm gunna love these blogs :) Glad you've arrived safely and I reckon you should make the most of the chilling time after a pretty crazy summer! Keep enjoying the new experiences, you traveller you. LOVE YOU! xxx
M. Myer This was so interest and well written, Ames! Loved your critique of Mr. Wade's waste of money! Enjoy yourself!
Caroline The chilling sounds awesome man, Amee 1, England 0. Cannee wait for the next installment, miss you already! xxx
Sarah Let the jealousy begin! I'm going to be following this religiously :) Have an incredible time xxxx
Ben Sounds like a lot of chilling has taken place, glad to hear you've arrived safely! Looking forward to hearing updates throughout the year!! xxxx
Mel Amee, Brilliant! of course... wouldn't expect anything less!
Jonno G Love this Amee, well written too. Once I'm out there I definitely won't be as good at keeping people up to date. Where abouts will you be in February? Also, when will you be returning? xxx
Amee Heya, thanks so much for messgaes its awesome to hear from home!! Jon, back mid august, February...no idea!! Will have to look on the Islamic calendar to see if on school holidays or not. Amee xxx