These are a few of my favorite things...











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Checklist

Wow!  There is so much to do!  This exchange is teaching me so very much about organization and planning!  The thought of being gone for a year is quite daunting, and thinking of all of the things that need to be taken care of is a bit overwhelming.   I'm thinking about... -UK visa -car insurance -driver's license -home insurance -bank accounts  -transferring money -cell phones -ways to stay in contact -home repairs -finding ways to ship items -places to visit -what I'll be teaching -what to pack!! There's so much to do and plan for!  I know that things will still through me for a loop, no matter the amount of planning I do, but I hope to be as on top of things as I can be.  I'm also very thankful for the communication and comradery from the other Fulbrighters as we share thoughts and tips to help each other through this checklist (and all the things I'm forgetting about!).
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Importance of Religion

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Senegal has been settled and heavily influenced by the Arabic nation coming from East Africa. As in many cultures, religious beliefs strongly impact the everyday lives of the people here, and so you see the Islamic faith deeply rooted in the people and in the culture. Ideas of non-violence, peace and hospitality are at the heart of the people in Sénégal. A sense of community and sharing amongst each other is a way of life here. These ideas are all emphasized in the Quran. As an outsider, not only of nationality, but of religion, I have been welcomed with open arms, and absolutely no judgment nor trace of hopes to convert me. I am so impressed by the people of Senegal. When you have the privilege of traveling to a Muslim country, you have the privilege of hearing the call to prayer multiple times throughout the day. Sometimes it awakens me at 5 AM, but it is a calming, gentle way to awaken. His voice, speaking a language, unknown to myself, calls the people of faith to take time to turn...
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Gandon's Welcome

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The small town of Gandon, just outside of Saint Louis, was where Brenda (my fellow Fulbrighter) and I spent much of our time while in Saint Louis.  It was here that our host lived where we were treated to several excellent, generous meals.  It was here that we were taken to a tailor and fitted for our own dresses.  And it was here that we got to visit even more schools. From my previous posts, you may have already gotten the sense of how different the schools were to our own schools, so I won't spend too much time focused on that.  But I will say, the shock of what they get by with remained with each classroom that we walked in.  We visited the high school where our host taught.  There were 6 - 8 classrooms, set in two different rows on the expansive sand with goats wandering freely, a small building for the teachers and a small canteen where students could purchase meals.  Classrooms were bare with desks and a chalkboard with often 60-80 students in a...
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