Wow! I’m in awe. This morning, right after breakfast, we headed out to our host communities. Our driver had to stop several times to ask directions to our hotel, but we made it!
Our hotel is incredibly secure, and has a collection of animals at it (chickens, monkeys, ostriches, horses, etc.). I’m pretty sure I will be awoken by rooster tomorrow morning! It is very beautiful here! I’ll share pictures of it when I leave the area (just to be safe). We had to pay in cash for our hotel, as it does not accept credit card.
For this portion of the trip, we are broken into smaller groups, so I’m now traveling with Sara and Nikki, who both teach English classes at high schools. We were served hibiscus juice while we waited for our host teacher and driver to arrive at the hotel to take us to school.
It wasn’t a very long drive to the school (20 minutes, maybe?), but this area is much different from Dakar. Dakar feels like a big city you could experience anywhere- where I am now is much more unique. We saw cows in the road, goats and pigs wandering around, and sand as far as the eye can see. Sophie, my host teacher, told us that it is the dry season here. In two months, everything gets very green and trees have more leaves.
When we got to school, we arrived in time to watch our host teacher lead professional development activities for her ‘cell’ (like our departments). All of the English teachers were holding their monthly meeting, and today’s was on encouraging students to speak English in class. Sophie gave two lessons to about 80 teachers for them to try in their classrooms. It was fun to see the similarities between professional development in Senegal and professional development in the US…lots of passionate debate! That wrapped up at the end of the school day for the students.
After this, Sophie gave us a tour of the school, and it is so much hotter in Diamniadio than Dakar! I miss the breeze off of the Atlantic! I am fascinated with the school! It is so fun to meet the students, as they giggle and smile at the Americans.
We were treated to a dinner given by the English club. We got to eat the national dish of Senegal, and it was delicious!!!
After that, we received a welcome ceremony. We were treated like royalty! We got a performance of the National anthem of Senegal and a welcome song performed by the English club. A gymnastics team performed for us, followed by a traditional dance. Nikki, Sara, and I were invited to come up with the dancers a few times. We got quite a few laughs, but it was so much fun. Important members of the school staff gave speeches, and we gave speeches as well. We even had our own interpreter to let us know what the words of the songs and speeches meant. I now know what it feels like to be a celebrity!
The English Club sang this beautiful song (among others…this one was just the shortest, so it has the best chance of making it through the upload process!)
After that, it was time to go back to our hotel. Nikki still had to change her money, so Sophie found a shop in town that was willing to do it. Everyone was outside talking and hanging out- it looked like what a block party looks like back home, but I get the feeling that it is like this every day here!
Well, I am exhausted, so I’m going to shower and go to bed! It’ll be an early morning for going to school tomorrow! I can’t wait to observe the classes!!!
Car Full of Harmony 
hope you get to try an ostrich egg!
LikeLike