Greetings

Greetings in Senegal are very important. Every time you enter a room you must shake every ones hand and ask some questions which shows that you acknowledge their presence. I have gotten much better at them, as long as the person I am talking to follows the script we learned in class:

Salaamaalekum! (May peace be upon you)
Maalekum salaam! (May peace be upon you also)

Nanga def? (How are you)
Maangi fi, rek. (I am here, now)

Sa yaram jamm? (Is your body in peace?)
Jamm rek, alxamdulilaay. (Peace only, thanks be to God.)

Naka waa ker ga? (How are the people in your house?)
Nunga fa. (They are there)

and so on and so on. There are so many ways to ask how someone is doing but I am slowly learning them ndank, ndank (slowly.)

For the first week I took the bus or a car rapide to and from school. Car rapides are small buses that are colorfully painted, I think partially to cover up how rickety they are. But driving in one is a very culturally rich, but overwhelming experience. You hold on to your seat with dear life as you fly over potholes and hope that the car rapide doesn't brake in two. But everyone in the car rapide goes through it together and they are great for people watching.

I have discovered that the walk to school is very pleasant. It takes about an hour and follows the ocean.

Ba beneen yoon