Dakar, Sénégal

Why I chose to go to Sénégal: Fear and apprehension: these are the initial feelings evoked in most Americans when the word Africa comes to mind. Therefore, when making the decision to travel to the continent most commonly associated by the media with AIDS, disease, poverty and political unrest, I had to take every aspect of myself, my adaptability, and my goals for the study abroad experience into consideration. I did a lot of research, and thought a lot about what life would be like living in Senegal, a predominately Muslim country where I would have to speak an indigenous language, Wolof, as well as French. I then realized that what scares me the most about going to Senegal is also what I look forward to the most. I have known comfort and safety for 20 years; now I feel it’s time to experience the lack thereof. In creating a new life for myself in an African community, I anticipate feeling insecure, lonely, and uncertain. Yet I know I'll also feel pride, independence, and confidence when I come to see that I survived the negative parts of the journey. After all, only through attacking fear and apprehension can one conquer them.

Another intercultural experience I had: Ten years old, looking down on Paris from the top of the Eiffel Tower, thousands of miles away from my family and friends with a new French family to take their place for three weeks, I was too young to be overwhelmed. Although at that age I could neither understand nor appreciate the aspects of French culture that makes it so, well, French, I had enough sense to realize for the first time that not everyone in the world is the same. With my 5-foot body full of curious innocence, I explored France from the Mona Lisa to Notre Dame, unsuccessfully trying to speak French to strangers along the way, sometimes receiving smiles, other times glares. It was this experience in particular that instilled in me the desire to know the world and its people.

How this class helped me prepare for study abroad: To be completely honest, when I began this course I found myself constantly reading and listening to lectures with one thought in my head: “yeah, yeah, I know.” I now realize that it is exactly this kind of ignorance that this class was set up to combat. One book in particular, The Art of Crossing Cultures, made me see my own unawareness. There was one quote I particularly appreciated: “The Message of this book is not that you must uncritically embrace all local behavior no matter how strange or offensive, but only that only that you should not reject behaviors before you have understood them. In other words, always try to understand before you judge, but once you have understood, you must judge. Otherwise, you risk compromising your own identity” (Storti 94). I know the most important thing for me to remember during my six-month trip is that, although I can embrace other cultures and identities, it is not necessary for me to compromise or doubt my own.

What I identified as the greatest challenges facing me as I began my study abroad program: Roughly 94% of the people of Senegal are Muslim, and I think it will be extremely difficult for me to adapt to the beliefs and practices of that religion. In particular, I'm worried about adjusting to the ways in which women are viewed and treated, the methods of showing respect for elders, and the ways in which religious devotion is shown. Religion's influence on everyday conduct in Senegalese life will require some adjustment. And I know it will take time for me to learn even small customs such as shaking others' hands when entering a room; not using the left hand in practices such as eating, handing things out, and greeting others (it is considered unclean); and not walking in front of people who are praying. Altogether, becoming familiar with the signs of respect for religion in Senegalese culture will be one of my greatest challenges.

Another challenge will be being patient with my own mistakes. Having a very self-critical, perfectionist personality, I can already predict the mental fatigue and frustration I will undergo when I recognize that there’s no way I can just automatically fit in. Everything that is common and routine to me in my American culture that gives me a sense of comfort and identity will be changed, from brushing my teeth to communicating with others. The fact that I won’t even be able to speak without putting forth extreme mental effort is an extremely exhausting thought. I know I will just have to keep in mind that mistakes are inevitable, swallow my pride, and, when necessary, ask for help.

See contact page to arrange a speaking engagement.

Read excerpts from my letters home.