Sept 1

nna nga def!! je suis ici in Senegal! yeah, i'm actually here. its crazy. we got off the plane this morning at 5 am here time (5 hours ahead of you).... and i've been up since the previous night... and we had a full day today. so basically i'm exhausted... but a rundown of the day: -got off the plane, spoke first french to customs. -MSID coordinator Josaphine met us at the airport - she's super nice and speaks french, wolof, and english.-it was 6 am and we were all sweating profusely.-we get on this crazy bus thing after a bunch of wolofians chucked our bags on top of it. as they were saying "americans! welcome to senegal!"-bus ride to hotel... we have air conditioning in our hotel... but right down the street people are living in these little 'shack' things made out of wood posts and metal. way more third world country than i thought because we have yet to go to centre ville (downtown)-a herd of goats walked across the highway on our bus ride to maman honorie's house.-we met our 'assistants' and coordinators... who danced with us, gave us some senegalese food (which we ate with our hands... very messy - cee bu jen - a traditional rice and fish dish)- Wally qui parle francais avec un accent africain took us to the beach... the ocean! many of the girls complained about the fishy smell... but it was amazing. bustling with people, and tons and tons of boats and people playing football on the beach and children running after us yelling toubab (white person) and asking us to take their pictures in wolof.- we stick out like sore thumbs. people mainly stare and say toubab with other things in wolof. its great.- one girl was sick all day and crying and is saying she wants to go home. it's been an intense first day.-i meet my host family tomorrow. should be exciting. ramadan started today... so fasting for the muslims all month. heard my first calls to prayer.-alright, i'm gonna pass out soon. hope all is well in the states. beaucoup de braiser.ba beneen yoon.licia