March 11th, 2013 – Eating Rules Gone Wild

Woke up kind of confused as to where I was. Ate breakfast at the hotel…a gigantic loaf of French bread and a croissant. Typical of a country colonized by the French. Then went on a colorful bus to at atm to exchange money. The currency here is called CFA, and it’s 500 CFA to 1 dollar. So it sounds like everything is incredibly expensive but it actually isn’t at all. After we went to our classroom, which is in a beautiful building with trees all around. We sat outside all day. It was super hot, but so nice to be outside.

We learned A TON about Senegalese culture. Some fun facts:

-       In Senegal, you are only supposed to eat with your right hand. Your left hand is for going to the bathroom and should not touch food. Everyone eats from one communal bowl in the center, and you do not use utensils. You drink after the meal is over.

-       It is rude to smell your food before you eat it

-       Many men will propose to you every day

-       You cannot give your underwear to your host family to be washed. You must do it yourself in the shower

-       Most people shower 2 to 3 times a day. Cold bucket showers, but many times a day

We learned a lot more than that, but that’s a good enough preview for now.

Our lunch today was incredible. We had rice, fish, eggplant, carrots, and some type of root. They are all together in a huge bowl and about 5 people sit around it on the floor. We all ate from it with our right hand. And you can only eat the food that is close to you or else you have to have someone pass it to the middle of the bowl so you can take it. It was an amazing eating experience.

After that we talked more about the Senegalese culture. At 5 our host families came! I am with Ana in a house of all women, which is pretty cool. Our host mom is 64 years old. She lives with her 55 year old sister, her 6 year old granddaughter, and her 24 year old niece. Their house is so beautiful. They are Christian, which is unexpected because 95% of the country is Muslim. They speak very little English. I guess my French will have to improve…aka I will have to learn French. Our dinner was absolutely delicious. Lots of vegetables, potatoes, yams, fish, and bread. So colorful and yummy.

Today was such an insane day. So much happened. Still jetlagged. More to report tomorrow.