Welcome to Dakar! Day 1

As we made our way to their house, I learned that the rules of the road mean nothing to the Senegalese. The lines on the road do not designate lanes; they are merely for decoration, and the traffic lights are suggestions. Sidewalks are also often used as places to drive on. The drivers honk more in Dakar than in any other city I've been to. Honking can mean a variety of things including, "here I am, get out of my way!!" or if it's a taxi, "may I give you a ride?" The garbage trucks will honk too so people know to run out and drop off their trash.

In Dakar the power and water come on and off every few hours. So when we arrived at their house in the dark, the power was out, of course. Scrambling to find flashlights and lanterns, they gave me a tour of the house: the basement with a bedroom and a shower; the main floor with a kitchen, a living room, and a bathroom; and, the top floor with a master bedroom/bathroom, an office, my room, and my own bathroom! They have a bucket of water in every bathroom so we can still wash our hands if the water is out. 

the bucket of water in my bathroom

That afternoon Kari took me to the American school in Dakar: Dakar Academy or DA. This is the place where I would go if something went wrong or I got lost. Kari introduced me to a good friend of hers, Demba, who gave me a Senegalese name. To give Senegalese names, they do not translate your English name into their language; they name you after someone. Kari's friend named me after his sister. My Senegalese name is now Aminata Dione. 

Kari and I then went to a grocery store where I bought Oreo's (which are new in Senegal) and CHEERIOS!!!! We also bought some fruits and vegetables from vendors on the street. We passed by a man making and selling coffee on the side of the road. She says the coffee is extremely strong and sweet and costs only about 10 cents! I have yet to try it! 

the grocery store where we buy our groceries