Teranga. This word means the world to the Senegalese. Roughly translated to ‘hospitality,’ it is the mantra of the Senegalese people. However, I think teranga means so much more than hospitality, based off of what I saw.
Teranga is greeting people – all people – with a smile. Differences in religion and skin color are respected and encouraged. Muslims and Catholics are married regularly in Senegal, and it is not uncommon for families to have Catholics and Muslims both.
We had just arrived to the school and these girls called us over – they wanted to meet us right away!This is a picture from our welcoming ceremony – people were seated behind us and standing, stretched out on both sides of the canopy! The community came out to greet us!
Teranga is sharing your meal with anyone who needs it – whether you have a lot or not. This includes the neighborhood children, friends, family, and people you have just met a few hours earlier.
This is how meals are shared – all together in one bowl. Meals are a community event!These cute girls joined us for lunch one day, as my host teacher usually invites them to eat lunch when they come aroundThese fishermen invited us to dinner one night as we walked past.The fishermen eating their day’s catch, and sharing it with us!There is no possible way that fish could be any fresher than this – eating it fresh off of the fishermen’s boat, grilled on the beach while sitting in their fishing hut.
Teranga is giving gifts to an American even if your family doesn’t have much to give.
Snacks to try and bracelets from multiple studentsA different day of bracelets from other studentsThis group of girls gave Sara and I makeovers. Then, we held a dance party, and they were so respectful of our space – they would always remind each other not to crowd us too much. They would grab our phones to take videos and pictures of us having fun. It is one of my favorite memories, as these were students we did not get to teach during our time at the school – they were from the middle school side of the school. They were not comfortable with their English, but we all understood fun and the joy of being together.
Teranga is acknowledging someone’s strengths, particularly if they are different than your own. Students would often point out the really good musicians in their classes once they heard I was a music teacher, and encourage their classmates to sing for me.
This artist used his gifts to create an original piece of artwork for each of us!This music class met on a day it wouldn’t normally, with a teacher who came in special just to show me what music looks like in Senegal schools (because my school placement did not have music). The teacher isn’t even their music teacher – he is the president of the country’s music teacher association, and he ran class with these students he didn’t know just for me!
Teranga is welcoming foreigners into your closed building for a tour. We toured so many buildings that were closed, just because we were from the United States. Can you imagine how we would react if someone from another country wanted to get into one of our locked buildings? The police would be called; it would make the news!
This is the room where the president of Senegal meets with VIPs in the Dakar International Congress Center (where the president makes all of his public addresses). The building was closed when we toured it.
Teranga is helping others – whether you know them or not – with whatever they need, just because you are right there.
These two students traveled to Dakar to attend the English Day event we were going to be at!Our wonderful host teacher told me at the end of our stay that she doesn’t like water. She told me then that she was really not a fan of being on boats, either. I was surprised by this, as she took us on this incredible sunset boat cruise in a bird sanctuary, and she took us on a boat tour of Pink Lake. That’s an incredible amount of teranga to do something you don’t enjoy in order to show your guests everything your country has to offer!
Teranga is SEEING someone – truly seeing who they are, what makes them happy, what type of person they are. Although I only spent 2 weeks in the country, there were people who figured out what my beliefs, strengths, and style were better than people I’ve known for years in Wisconsin.
This boy wrote the sweetest poem to me, and wrote one for each of my travel companions, too.Wow.
Teranga is always greeting someone when you meet them. It is rude not to smile and offer a lengthy greeting each time you arrive, pass someone, or want to talk to someone. This was an important part of our school day – each morning, we greeted the other teachers and the headmistress. If you have a simple question for someone, you must first greet them and take an interest in them – not just walk up and ask your quick question, no matter how hurried you are.
The mayor of the city wanted to meet us when he heard we were in his area.These two sweet girls came running up to Sara and I to give us hugs. We then danced with them for a while.
Along those lines, teranga is having a smile for everyone. I know I have been back to the US for a while, but I really meet all of those smiley greetings and friendly faces! Senegalese people understand the importance of building relationships!
These boys heard me playing the trombone for one of our classes, and hung outside the classroom door watching. Music always brings people in….
Car Full of Harmony 
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