Today we got to co-teach 2 classes and meet with the English club. Sara and I taught the classes the “Hokey Pokey,” and surprisingly the oldest students liked it the best! It is really fun now, as we have made connections with the students- knowing their names and a bit about their family lives. One student I talked to today was nervous for her baccalaureate exam and she wants to become a nurse. Another student really wants to be a famous singer in America (and she sang for me- she definitely has the voice for it)! Her two friends want to be her manager and her wardrobe specialist. Another student wants to move to Canada after his exam because his brother moved there. I have always liked listening to the dreams for the future that the students I work with have, and I can’t wait to share with them how similar their dreams are to the Senegalese students.
English club was lots of fun! They sang a lot of songs for us, and since they were singing the “ABC song,” I taught them “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star” since it has the same melody. I handed out more of the stickers and letters from the students at my school, and we gave them American flag pins, as well.
After English club, we got to go to Sophie’s house for lunch. She had one of her student’s moms make lunch and clean while we were at school, so it was all ready when we got there. We had mafe, which is a delicious beef, peanut butter, and tomato sauce stew served on rice. It’s very delicious!
With full stomachs, it was now time to venture back into Dakar for some exploring. First, we visited the Museum of Black Civilizations, which had some great exhibits from all over Western Africa.
Then we had a special treat- we went to the National Theater. It is named after a Senegalese drummer- Doudou Nolaye Coumba Rose. I have to check out his music when I get a chance. When we walked up to the theater, they were very clearly setting up for a big event. When we walked in, we learned there was an energy conference- there were exhibits being set up about solar panels and wind farms. As soon as we got in the building, we heard drumming and I got excited! We climbed up some stairs, wandered around some twisting corners, and found a drum group practicing for a show they have tomorrow night. It was FANTASTIC! Then we watched a dance group practice for that same performance and they were amazing, as well. What a treat!
We then stopped at the Cathedral in Dakar. It was so beautiful, and it was great to see it!
For our final adventure of the night, we went fabric shopping. Some of the other Fulbright groups have been posting pictures of traditional dresses they’ve had made while they were here, and we had thought we’d try our hand at that, too. Fabric shopping is intense. There are shops set up one after another after another, all in the same area. You really can’t tell where one stops and the next one starts. The shops all are super full of fabric, with tiny aisles to walk through and many people trying to get by. It did not take us long to get overwhelmed! Sara found some fabric, and I got a ready-made dress since that seemed much easier. I now understand why no two dresses in Senegal are the same!
Car Full of Harmony 
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