As salaamu alay kum!

I’m already halfway through my stay in Dakar, and it’s been an incredible two weeks of continuous growth and cultural immersion. These past two weeks have been truly wonderful and eye-opening. I arrived with no expectations, ready to embrace whatever experiences awaited me.The Senegalese people are incredibly kind, funny, and intelligent. While French is the language of education here, Wolof, their native tongue, is also widely spoken.

I’ve begun taking Wolof classes, and though fluency remains elusive, I can now greet people and ask for basic information.Learning Wolof has fostered a sense of connection with the locals. Greeting them in their language demonstrates a genuine interest in their culture, and this care is reciprocated. Living with a host family has also been an enriching experience. Senegalese culture is all about sharing and mutual respect. One of the highlights of my study abroad program so far is returning home to my host family’s warm welcome after a day of classes.There’s still a language barrier, as I’m not yet fluent in either Wolof or French. However, my host family is incredibly patient and makes a real effort to communicate with me. My French skills have also improved significantly through daily conversations. Everyone I meet is kind enough to correct my pronunciation errors or remind me of forgotten words.

The cultural aspects of Senegal have blown me away! The music and art here are amazing, and I particularly enjoyed the dance classes. During the first week, we had two sessions: one focused on Sabar, and the other introduced us to a different style. While my dance moves leave much to be desired, I relished learning the steps from the instructor and witnessing the joyful coordination between the drummers and the dancers. Our group also learned a more modern dance called “Souss,” which I managed to pick up much more easily! It’s been a delight to hear the unique drumming rhythms and move to the music. We even had a drumming class where we learned to play the Jembe. My arms were definitely sore afterwards, but it was an afternoon filled with laughter and learning.

Thank you for reading about my adventures so far! I’ll be sure to update you again soon with more about my trip.