SWild in Senegal: Ndaali

I'm done? Junior year is officially over. Gross.
Today I gave my final presentation for my ISP project.
Now I have four more days in Mbor - a coastal town about 2 hours from Dakar. We're staying in the auberge Ndaali, one step away from the beach. And this is the type of ocean that people actually swim in. Coming from Oregon - it's a weird concept.
Tough week of finals.

Last Friday my first homestay sister invited me to a Sabar for a celebration at her banking school. Although there were a lot fewer people and a lot less dancing than the Sabar in the Mouit village - it was still incredible. Somehow I stood out in the crowd (weird, right?), so was picked out by the lead drummer and asked/forced to dance.

My sisters/cousins/nieces...(never quite figured out what to call them)...Rose on the left and Ndeye Marem on the right. Fortunately Rose recorded me dancing on her cell phone so that special moment can always be remembered...
She showed it to me the next day, when she came to our final party. Ouch.

This is not the Sabar. This is the Fete Final we had on Saturday at the SIT office. All of our families, project advisors, friends and teachers were invited. Amy is leading the way - our homestay coordinator.

Souleye Diallo in the blue is our Academic Director, and resident crazy man. Honestly, he can tell the most random, pointless lies with the straightest face. He's my idol. Moutarou in the Obama t-shirt was a Wolof and French professor. He also had a vespa - was another idol of mine. Behind them was the incredible food table - nems (Senegalese Chinese rolls), pastries, cookies, veggies, pizza, the best juice that I will miss so much (bouye, bissap, gingembre).

My dance instructor - showing us what dancing really looks like. I doubt I ever looked so happy when I was dancing. Behind her are the drummers that taught us during the music workshop.

Bouna Fall. Mayor of "Bounaboro" in Brattleboro, VT, where the SIT headquarters is located.

Amadou - the SIT guard and best way to start the day with his greeting at the gate. King of ataaya.

Papis - if you were ever so kind enough to send me mail, he's the one who got it from the post office (while doing many other things to help us survive in Senegal - such as getting us cell phones and phone credit and telling us how to take a car rapide).