Senegalese

"Nit, nit ay garabam" [Wolof proverb: man is man's cure to warn against one's own isolation]

  

            "Oekkandoo, jamm a ci gen" [Wolof proverb: in neighbors peace is better]

There is a term used here in their native language {Wolof} to represent a hospitality and a sense of community teraanga. Teraanga represents the Senegalese culture. It is the culture of caring for others and for providing hospitality. There is teraanga throughout the air I breathe in and ground that I walk on, I feel as though although I am an outsider I am welcomed and accepted and looked out for, it is a feeling of home away from home, its peaceful. It's comforting. I have been writing down adjectives about Senegal over the past week and have come up with following I hope between the pictures on my Facebook and the descriptions below I can capture a taste of the world I am living in, it is truly so special. Following this post I will hopefully share a video of city life and the Senegalese lifestyle. For now some of the greatest people I have every met --- the people of Senegal: 

Compassion. There is compassion for each other, for things, for life, for every square inch of Senegal. A passion for learning, for getting to know others, and for helping others out. I wish America had more compassion, the level of compassion over here is so hard to describe, but it is pure, it is genuine, it is toxic in a grand way. Compassion followed by love, its so great!

Pride. Green, yellow, and red represent the countries flag and along with it comes a sense of pride and glory for their country and all the people who bind together to create suck a community. Every single person I have interacted with have asked where we are from and they are so intrigued with the United States and they share that they would love to visit, but not one person has shown interest in leaving Senegal. Most people say they want to visit but strictly visit, they would never leave their country. I find this so inspiring and heroic, they are proud of the people and the place they come from even though many would view their conditions as something you would want to abandon, but that is a characteristic about being here I love, they are so proud of who they are not only their country but their language and their lifestyles, they are proud and it shows.

Resilience. The children here and really all the community have a such a resilience embedded in them, I guarantee that if many people I know back home could not handle to live in the conditions in which people here are living. The students I am working with do not know that what services they are receiving are just, however you would never know because they are full of light and carry on throughout their days. They have the abilities to care for one another like it is normal but five and six year old children should not have adult responsibilities however the children never question a classmate in need of anything.

Beauty.Whether it is in their eyes or in their smiles there is a radiance that shines regardless of any circumstance. Their skin shimmers of a German chocolate cake with a radiant polish as the sun catches the color it shines a caramelized golden. Their skin is the color of true beauty and shines one of perseverance, hard work and dedication.

Their land holds beauty too, below are two pictures of one of my favorite places there is the most amazing people that live in this city. I will forever hold the Angela Davis school in my heart and the city.

 

Language. Between Wolof and French the make up of languages spoken here in Senegal is beautiful, it is like music to the ears and everyone here is so happy to hear that we are learning their native language. They have such an urge to learn English here too, the other day we went to Angela Davis' English club performance and they were so happy to show their progress with their English, and all I want to do is to tell them to stay true to themselves and not to conform to what they think is so ideal, they are beautiful inside and out and their language helps mold them into that.

Hospitality.The Senegalese people know how to welcome and take care of guests. I can not tell you how well we have been taken care of while abroad. Not only the hotel staff but the staff at Angela Davis and the University. They are a prime example of how others should treat others. They will make so much food that it would feel a small nation and there are only 12 of us, however it is what their culture is about and we will eat until we are full to the brim and the leftover food is given to the students or anyone really, not a drop of food is wasted. This has led to feeling guilty from time to time and has really made me eat less, to be able to share more. I like that about this country, they share and offer anything to everyone and that is something so admirable to me.

Value. Not only do people here know the value of a dollar because they are few and far between but people in Senegal value their education. Yet another thing I am in awe over and respect them so much for. Below is a picture of university students waiting outside of their dorms to see their class postings and their grades, they value education so much more than Americans do. They study seven days a week, they fight for the financial support they deserve and they question their knowledge and strive for perfection, every single student I met has these qualities and it is so inspiring and makes me want to work harder and learn more. They have a vast amount of knowledge and a competitive edge to create their vast amount of knowledge, its amazing. Yet again students here believe that in the United States school is harder and that we work harder but the reality is that they are working ten times harder and diligently to get the results they know and deserve, its truly something so special to be able to observe.

Amidst it all and despite the pity and sadness I feel all around me I am so amazed and awed by their ability to live life to the fullest and to rebound and overcome so much. They are truly happy and while we sit at home and complain about our jobs, bills, etc., people here are working at their shops until it is too dark to view the items in their shops, and going home to care for families, to help their neighbors and to pick up right where they left off the next and continue the grind. 

Each day I am here I am continually amazed at the beauty and the grace of the community of wonderful people I am surrounded by. Just by walking throughout the streets and working at the places we are working in I have already been humbled and will forever hold a place in my heart for this country and the people who make this place so wonderful. I am truly so blessed by this opportunity despite the heartache, break downs, I know that I am supposed to be here and will leave a mark somehow and for that I am happy and can go to bed at night in peace.