Journal Entry from 2/18

I really haven’t been up to much this weekend. I think I am still in recovery mode after being sick for a few days. It really takes a lot out of you.

However, I did get out and about on Sunday with a teacher from my school called Sorna. She came to my apartment to pick me up this morning at 11:45. Of course, like most Senegalese, I hadn’t even begun to get ready for my day out so I scurried without too much effort to get ready to leave Grand-Yoff for the day.

We took the “Rapide” to a gas station where we jumped into what seemed like a random guy’s car. This was actually the second time I have taken this form of transportation, at the same exact station. It is a random guy’s car and its cheaper than a taxi.

Sorna lives in a town called Yoff which is on the beach. This is a very popular town for foreigners and after spending the day there I can surely see why.

We walked around the town for about an hour. The town is very calm with few cars on the street. Because the town is on the beach, the dirt roads almost appear to be an extension of the beach. This was quite a change from Grand-Yoff which is bustling at all hours of the day and one has to be very careful not to fall victim to one of thousands of obstacles in the street. Last week I was lucky enough to get hit by a horse (hauling wood) and walk away with only a massive, ugly bruise on my arm. In case you were wondering, it looks much better this week.

Sorna took me to the area on the beach where the boats catch the fish. Walking there was a sad sight considering the amount of pollution on the beach. There was one area we passed that had piles of rags and tattered clothes in a giant heap. This is the time when you keep your flip-flops on.

The boats are massive banana boats painted in all different bright colors. It is quite a site to see all the boats lined up on the shorefront. After catching the fish, the fish are taken directly to the women who sell them (about 50 feet from where the boats park.) Talk about fresh.

One has to be very careful when walking in this area and beyond because it is very likely that you will step on a fish-head if you are not paying attention. This isn’t too difficult with the pungent smell of fish everywhere.

After eating a massive meal of chubajai (sp, the traditional Senegalese dish) Sorna and I returned to the beach for some R&R. Walking in the opposite direction from where the boats are parked, we found a nice spot on the beach, paid the man who is in charge of the umbrella and mats, and spent the rest of the day lying horizontal. Sorna helped me practice my Wolof.