Village life was amazing, and definitely my favorite part of the trip. I got up and drew water from the well with my friend Andrea in the mornings. It is hard work! I even learned how to carry the water on my head, which I thought I would be better at, but usually ended up half-soaked by the time we got back to the hut. We got up so early to draw water from the well that it was still dark and we couldn't take pictures, but I drew an extra bucket for some ladies during the day so Aaron could take my picture. This is hard work, people. It's no wonder the women in this village have massive arm muscles!
Village life was pretty great for me, because there are no clocks, no watches, no phones, no electricity. There's no deadlines or rushing to get anything done. Things just get done when they get done. And to come from time-focused America into that was a very refreshing change. VERY refreshing! Plus all the people were very nice and treated me so kindly because I was their guest. They helped me learn the language, gave me a Mandinka name (Salimata) and even had a dance circle two nights in a row with a drummer from out of town. That was lots of fun, and the second night I even worked up the nerve to dance in it myself! The first time I made a complete fool out of myself by trying to imitate their dancing. After that I just jumped in when the ladies would sing and dance and clap as they walked around in circles. Seriously, how many people can say they danced in a genuine African dance circle? I didn't know it was on my bucket list until I did it, but I'm so glad I did! Below is a picture of the head of the household. The lady I was named after, Salimata, is his first wife.
On Tuesday, the day before I left Senegal, we went to Goree Island, a very popular tourist destination. It was beautiful, with lots of Portugese-looking buildings and beautiful flowers and beaches. Plus there were lots of little souvenir stands... LOTS... and you know how it is when you travel to touristy places. There are 30 or 40 stands that all sell exactly the same thing, only the owners of each stand claim their stuff is different and so much better than everyone else's ... right ... So this lady grabs my arm as we're walking down a row of stands and says, "Sister, Sister, you must come see my boutique!" I am just too dang nice to say no (but apparently not too dang nice to talk about her behind her back here), so I agree and walk over to her hut that contains lots of jewelry that looks just like the jewelry I passed at 5 other huts on the way to hers. If I had wanted any of the things in her shop I would have bought them at one of the others already. So she shows me several different pieces and then picks up one that she finally decides is the necklace for me."I give you good price. I give you Senegalese price for this because you are my sister. Only five thousand!" Five thousand is about 10 bucks. This necklace was nice for sure, but it was something that I looked at and, in my jewelry wisdom, realized that most of the reason it was pretty was because it was in Africa. When I got back to America, I guessed that I would wear the necklace once to show everyone what I got in Africa, then it would sit around collecting dust for years until I passed it off to someone else or just got tired and decided I would throw it out. I know this about me, people. And I know that 10 bucks is more than I want to spend on a piece of jewelry I don't want or need. So I politely refused and tried to walk off. Well this lady, like most of these people, is used to having to work for a sale. She wouldn't let me leave and kept pestering me. "Five thousand too much? Make me offer, we'll talk. This necklace is perfect for you. What, you don't like my necklace? Make me offer. Come on, it's real Senegalese material. Make me offer!" I continually refused and tried to slip away back to where my friends were. Finally, she got in my face and said, "IT'S A FRICKIN MARKET, YOU BARGAIN!" I busted out laughing, as a Senegalese woman saying the word frickin in her broken English was just about the funniest thing I've ever heard. So I bargained with her, got the price down to about half of what she was asking and bought the necklace. I am reminded of the persistant saleswoman every time I look at my frickin necklace.
I don't know where my next trip will take me, but my love for travel is definitely still there. I'm looking forward to exploring even more of the world and seeing what unique beauty each country has to offer. Any suggestions to where I should go next? Anyone want to come with me? Let's make a new adventure!
5 comments:
Hahaha awesome frickin story!
Hello. America and africa's time difference is quite big right?. Here, I'm going to Bratislava for a choir festival in june and I think I'm going to get massive jet lag. I suggest you visit Singapore. The sun may be scorching here but maybe you'll get to visit more places than I've actually visited. Singapore's a fun place, living here all my life :)
Come to frickin' Tibet!
-Shelli
I don't know where we should go, but I am FOR SURE up for going with ya!! How frickin' fun would that be?!! And it made me chuckle that you thought you would be awesome at carrying water on your head. I mean, you are totally right. You don't ever get taken out by stationary barriers while you're running or anything. Carrying water, while in motion, should have been incredibly easy for you. :)
Very cool, Corrie! Glad to hear you had an exciting trip!
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