Our Taxi

Most of the taxis in Dakar are circa 1970, beat up and broken down.  Thankfully, our team had the same taxi and driver - Guy (pronounced Gee) - every day.  There was no air conditioning in the car, but at least we felt safe with seatbelts! 

Here's the gear shift of probably the worst taxi we rode in.  Our client was in the front passenger seat and didn't think a thing about it!  This is just one example of how different life is (and safety standards are!) in Senegal versus the United States.

 

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Happy Buses (Public Transportation) in Dakar

There are loads of vehicles on the roads here in Dakar and most of them are taxis or buses.  Public transportation on these colorful buses is a way of life here.  People hop on from the always open door in the back where they pay a nominal fee to the attendant who hangs on the back of the bus.  There are always men hanging off the backs of these buses or sitting on the top where luggage would normally be stowed.  There's no OSHA here!  Goodness only knows how old these things are, but these buses always look happy because of how colorfully they are painted and the very colorful people inside!!

It's also really common to see these white buses (below) around town which seem to be the preferred mode of transportation from Dakar to the small villages in the rural areas.  I was able to get this picture, but for the most part, the Senegalese do NOT like to have their pictures taken, so sometimes it was difficult to capture the scenes of normal life in Senegal.  It's also another great example of the colorful dresses the women wear!

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Senegalese Women: their dresses and hair

The women here in Senegal are beautiful with their colorful dresses and matching head scarfs or the amazing braids they have put in their hair. We've learned that, culturally speaking, men have the traditional role of providing for their family (or families, as polygamy is legal here).  And the women who work basically keep all the money they earn for themselves to spend on their hair and beautiful costumes.  We've even heard that some women will spend their money on themselves for beauty and go hungry rather than using the money for food.  It seems on every street corner you can find a "couture" shop where women's dresses and men's Bubas (pronounced boo-boos -- the long sleeved shirts and matching pants) are custom made.  I've purchased 2 "every day" Kaftan's which are long, loose fitting dresses (very inexpensive!) of the popular tie-dyed fabric which are perfect to keep cool in the oppressive heat.  (Well of course I've done my fair share to improve the economy while I've been here!). 

Here is Matti from USAID.  The detailing of her dress was incredible with all the small cut outs around the neckline and the peplin style of the sleeves, waistline and hem.

Stella Monkoun works for our client (H&C Business Technologies).  She spent over 2 hours getting a new braid pattern put into her hair.  I don't think the picture can do justice to the intricate pattern that was woven into her hair...stunning!! 

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Friday, November 1st - Water Still Not Fully Restored

We're making due with the water shortage here in Dakar.  It's been 4 days now and the routine is to have a trickle of water in the sink and shower from around 6AM - 8AM which is time enough to make myself presentable for the day.  This morning, the trickle was so light that I wondered if I could really get the little bit of shampoo out of my hair...but I managed.  Whoever invented baby wipes is a total GENIUS!!!  Those have been a lifesaver!!  We're all in the same boat and tolerating it well.  Speaking for myself, I don't ever think I'll take a hot shower for granted again. 

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A bit of OH and KY in Africa?

Check it out!  The longer I stay here, the more I feel like I'm at home!!

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Petit Déjeuner (Breakfast)

Our breakfast meal is always served in the open air restaurant at the Fana Hotel.  Even in the early morning, the overhead fans are on to move the hot air around.  The food is served buffet style and resembles a European breakfast without the meat.  The croissants are yummy...especially the chocolate ones!  There are always slices of pound cake, plain crepes and hard rolls.  Brown eggs are hard boiled for peel and eat.   Diced fruit - mostly apples, pears and oranges with an occasional mango - plain yogurt and a box of corn flakes round out the menu.  And of course, orange juice, tea, coffee and even cocoa powder for hot chocolate.  Some of the guys in our group are missing bacon and sausage from home, but for me, it kind of feels like what I would make for myself at home for breakfast...fruit, yogurt, toast, coffee...so this meal always feels comfortable for me here!

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Keeping Clean

My home for the past 3 weeks as been the Fana Hotel in the Yoff district in Dakar.  It's a hotel, but it has felt more like a large apartment building where everyone knows their neighbors by name.  I do believe living here has given me an experience of Senegal that a normal business hotel could never have done.  Just outside of the open air restaurant is this "washing up" station equipped with hand sanitizer and paper towels.  I've been kind of neurotic about using my own hand sanitizer and "wet wipes" to keep my hands and face clean..there's so much dirt, dust and sand flying around it's really hard to keep clean. 

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Peacock in the neighborhood

I'm amazed at all the animals (and now birds) that just seem to roam around this city.  Several of us were walking though our neighborhood the other night after work headed to the local grocery story when we happened upon this peacock just roaming around.

I'm not sure why these things surprise me anymore.  Seeing this peacock certainly seems much more normal than what we experienced last night in our taxi coming home...2 large, long horn steers (I'm not lying..I couldn't make this up!) were roaming though traffic and nearly side swiped our taxi with their huge horns as they decided to charge across the street.  It was getting dark so I didn't have my camera out to get the picture.  But I have my 2 teammates as witnesses!  This place is crazy!  More and more I'm beginning to chalk things up to the local expression "Welcome to Africa!". 

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