Well, I'm back for another semester! New country, new region of Africa, new languages, new perspectives.
I have been in Senegal for three weeks. I haven't blogged much because I have spent these past three weeks trying to get to know Senegal before I let my first reactions color my accounts. I didn't react to Senegal negatively, per se, when I arrived. I just became so overwhelmed with all the different sights and sounds that appeared nothing like anything else I had witnessed before, that I shut down a little. I even had the stereotypical study abroad moment of "what have I gotten myself into." Twice: my first day in Senegal and my first day in my only French and Wolof speaking family.
While I don't feel at ease in my surroundings yet, Senegal is slowly steeping into my subconscious without my mind blocking the sensation overload. I have definitely had a harder time assimilating into this culture more than I did in Uganda and Rwanda. But I am open to liking Senegal and feel that, once I shake the remnants of last semester and once I get to know my way around Dakar, I will flourish here.
So that's where I am currently at: confused, out of place, and in general culture shock. But my experience will be a result of what I put into it - and I am ready to put in the energy for a great semester!
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Yay! I was waiting for you to start posting again. The show opens tonight so I will be really busy again soon but I want to Skype some time this weekend if you are available. Facebook me what time works for you. It's really cold and rainy here. You wouldn't like it. So, I hope you are having fun on the beach at least every once in a while :)
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Zorica
I love how open you are about how you feel overwhelmed at first in a new place , but then you are open enough to embrace the differences and come to value them. 15 pages writtne in French will certainly be an accomplishment. Your aunts and uncles were talking about you today. Did you feel the love? Aunt Eileen had a hip replacement on Monday and is doing well.She'll be back on the courts way before expected. Her orthopedist said she wouldn't play again. Sh'll show him! Aunt Marcie
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