So Ill tell you more about school...I have about 3 classes each day and I go for a stright 9 hours. Ridiculous I know. THere are required classes that all the students in my program have to take together and those are mainly about the country and customs. Im learning more and more about the Koran and the Muslim culture. LIttle things that may be strange to do at home but absolutely necessary to do here.Lord knows Im trying my hardest to do the right things here so I dont offend anyone! Learning two required languages for a country is insane! My mind is swimming all of the time. So other than WOlof Im taking Education which is for my internship and Im also taking Public Health. I think soon we will be talking about prevention and care for specific diseases here in Senegal...like malaria which is as common as the flu for us and they even call it that. One girl on my progam already got hit with the malaria bug!
Ok Ill tell you about my amazing day that I had yesterday! MY roommate and I met up with a bunch of friends at a beach called Ngor. From there we took colorful low riding wooden boats across the bay to Ngor ISland. There wasnt too much there besides little shack restaurants and people trying to sell you stuff as you try to tan. It was an amazing day doing nothing and swimming in the ocean. Once we got back onto shore there was a huge traffic jam and no one was allowed to even step foot on the road. All of us realized it was because the president was about to drive through...right after we said that 6 huge SUVs and polic cars zoomed past! We tried to catch a taxi but it was too expensinve..you have to barter for everything here even taxi rides. So we all jumped on a Car Rapide. ITs this crazy painted bus which is as big as a VW bus. Everyone just piles in from the back door and when you need to stop, you knock on the side of the bus or start hissing and then they will pull over. The transportation here is crazy! And since there is so much development and construction going on, its almost a headache!
For breakfast I usualy have a piece of French bread and make instant coffee with this crazy instant milk...definatly not the coffee Im used to getting at Leroys or the Purple Onion but I can handle it. For dinner we all eat around the bowl..where there is one big plate and basically everyone digs in but stays in their designated area...my host parents throw more food onto my side so it seems like Im eating so much but I think Im loosing weight here...who knows. But I did just try my host mothers donuts and they are so good so maybe I wont be loosing any weight here! ha ha
Last night Lani (my American roommate) and I went to a party with our host father. We didnt leave the house until midnight and we danced the night away! I totally got the hang of dancing here...its kinda like salsa dancing so I fit right in and I was dancing with my host father a lot and then I would join circles of Senegalese women. The whole time I was smiling and laughing and moving my feet! It was an absolute blast.
THere are so many little cultural things that I learn every day. Like when two men are talking together they hold hands or it is custom for you greet everyone in French or Wolof in your neighborhood when walking to school.
Im buying lots of African jewelry here to look more hip! haha and next weekend Im going to go to the fabric market where Ill buy fabric and then take it to a local tailor to have it be made into shirts or a dress. Im extremely excited about that!

Im trying to figure out how to show you all my pictures but that part of my blod is under contruction! I hope all is well! Now Im off to an afternoon party in my neighborhood that is hosted by a church. I think its in celebration of Mardi Gras which is this coming Tuesday!

I love you all!