Kedougou

I'm back in the lovely Dakar. It actually feels cold to me now that I've spent a week in 100 degree weather in Kedougou. Despite the overwhelming heat, I had an AMAZING time. We spent 2 days in Kedougou at a hotel and then went to our respective villages for 3 nights and 4 days, then returned to the hotel for 2 more days in Kedougou. I never thought I could get so attached to a people and a place so quickly. A few quick recaps of the week, I plan to write out some interesting stories from the week later:

Swimming and bathing in the Gambian river (which I later discovered has alligators and hippos- neither of which I encountered, alxumdullilay)

Sleeping under a beautiful night sky filled with stars and a full moon- all shining brighter than I've ever seen. It really didn't matter that there was no electricity, because the moon was so bright.

Beautiful banana garden, along with several other gardens. Most everyone in the village works in and contributes to these gardens.

Chickens, goats, ducks and cows. EVERYWHERE (The first day, I opened the door to my hut to be greeted by a hen and her chicks pecking about the room)

The people were so warm and enthusiastic to have us coming to learn about their life and their language. Constantly telling me to get out my notebook and write down Diallonke words.

So many children! I loved playing with all of them and attempting to communicate through smiles, facial expressions and hand motions because most did not speak French, along with most the women in the village. The children were so fascinated by my hair and skin seeing as how they don't see toubabs very often in the village (toubab is the word here for white person, or foreigner. I hear it almost on a daily basis, mostly little children on the street. You'll just be walking and here "toubab, toubab, toubab" and usually some giggles to follow it). The children in the village were much more curious rather than teasing about it, as is the case for many of the kids in Dakar. Some of the kids would rub my arm and then look at their hand to see if my color came off.

Learning Diallonke dance and song!

Making a fool of myself attempting to do things like help wash the clothes in the river. Looking like a complete weakling compared to these women. Their strength and ability to multi-task (carrying a baby on their back while scrubbing clothes on the rocks in the river, or while carrying a heavy load of laundry on their head) was amazing to me.

Lastly, I FINALLY GOT A TAN!