So, mired in the murk of endless clothing, papers, and toiletries packed and still to pack, I don't have the time or the energy to write about much tonight. However, since it is my last night at home before going off to DC, NYC, and then Senegal, I felt that I should share a song with you, my avid readers.
GOKH-BI SYSTEM "Mission Of Music"
Friday, January 16, 2009
Sunday, January 4, 2009
Bonne année!
So, two weeks from today I will be heading out of Dulles on my way to Dakar, Senegal. As the days pass, figuring out what to pack and finding climate-friendly clothes is becoming increasingly daunting. One day I think I want to bring my laptop and the next, I convince myself that it's a bad idea. I recently found three lightweight long sleeve shirts at a good price, but I still need a pair of lightweight pants, since mostly I just own dark jeans. On top of it all, I still haven't decided what I should bring as a gift for my host family. The orientation aid suggested a photo frame, but I need to see what Josh Davenport, my Dakar housemate, is going to bring.
In the meantime, my brother just pointed out this article on lead poisoning in Thiaroye Sur Mer. Please read it and leave your thoughts and comments. It reminds me a bit of a chapter I read for my Violence in Francophone Literature course on the experience of globalization and development from Le viol de l'imaginaire by Aminata Traoré. The article can be found at http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28484477/.
Since I'm on the topic of globalization, here's the clip from the Senegalese film Hyènes that was on my previous blog.
In the meantime, my brother just pointed out this article on lead poisoning in Thiaroye Sur Mer. Please read it and leave your thoughts and comments. It reminds me a bit of a chapter I read for my Violence in Francophone Literature course on the experience of globalization and development from Le viol de l'imaginaire by Aminata Traoré. The article can be found at http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28484477/.
Since I'm on the topic of globalization, here's the clip from the Senegalese film Hyènes that was on my previous blog.
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Bienvenue à mon nouveau blog et joyeux Noël!
Hello again (or for the first time) and welcome to my new blog about my experiences in Senegal. Sadly, I forgot the account name and password to my old blog, riceinsenegal.blogspot.com, and had to start over again. Maybe this time I will remember to write down that information.
The other night, if only for ten minutes, it sank in for the first time that I was actually leaving for Senegal next month. What a strange feeling. I think no matter how much I read or research about Senegal it won't quite be the same as being there (yes, I know that sounds obvious). Still, maybe when I learn more about my internship or classes I'll feel less like I'm stepping into an abyss of the unknown.
I have gleaned some information regarding my housing, and it sounds pretty promising. Apparently I will be staying with la Famille Rokhaya Niang: a retired anthropology professor, his wife (a teacher), and their family. They have four "kids" in their twenties, one of whom is in Belgium, and two nieces, one of whom is a teenager. A part of me was looking forward to living with a slightly more average (socioeconomically speaking) Senegalese family instead of a family of intellectuals, but staying with this family should offer me a different perspective of Senegal from that of the family I will be staying with during my internship. I am also interested in education and Senegalese perspectives of it, so their scholasticism will be interesting.
I'd better get back to the orientation reading packet; it's quite long.
Until next time, here's a video featuring Orchestra Baobab:
.
Joyeux Noël!
The other night, if only for ten minutes, it sank in for the first time that I was actually leaving for Senegal next month. What a strange feeling. I think no matter how much I read or research about Senegal it won't quite be the same as being there (yes, I know that sounds obvious). Still, maybe when I learn more about my internship or classes I'll feel less like I'm stepping into an abyss of the unknown.
I have gleaned some information regarding my housing, and it sounds pretty promising. Apparently I will be staying with la Famille Rokhaya Niang: a retired anthropology professor, his wife (a teacher), and their family. They have four "kids" in their twenties, one of whom is in Belgium, and two nieces, one of whom is a teenager. A part of me was looking forward to living with a slightly more average (socioeconomically speaking) Senegalese family instead of a family of intellectuals, but staying with this family should offer me a different perspective of Senegal from that of the family I will be staying with during my internship. I am also interested in education and Senegalese perspectives of it, so their scholasticism will be interesting.
I'd better get back to the orientation reading packet; it's quite long.
Until next time, here's a video featuring Orchestra Baobab:
.
Joyeux Noël!
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