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Today is the last day of our orientation in D.C. We've had a couple talks, a tour of the African Art Big Small gallery (Smithsonian), and yesterday I wandered around with a couple of friends for a while. Today we've got a talk with a Peace Corps volunteer, a visit to an Islamic Center (all those scarves I bought in St. Petersburg are proving their worth!) and then leaving for the airport at 6.30 for a 10pm flight.

DC to Dakar

Nadja Wolfe
2006-04-25 15:20:15

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Today is the last day of our orientation in D.C. We've had a couple talks, a tour of the African Art Big Small gallery (Smithsonian), and yesterday I wandered around with a couple of friends for a while. Today we've got a talk with a Peace Corps volunteer, a visit to an Islamic Center (all those scarves I bought in St. Petersburg are proving their worth!) and then leaving for the airport at 6.30 for a 10pm flight.

I'm excited to be going finally. D.C.'s robbing me of my spending money (I have serious issues with the non-flat rate metro, I tell you). Anyway, we're flying through Paris, arriving sometime late tomorrow I think. I'm not sure what to expect. I'm staying with a host family, Catholic with six kids so it'll be very similar to home :).

I'm a bit apprehensive.. in St. Petersburg I could blend in-- not so much in Senegal. It's like that brief conversation in Live and Let Die when the African American CIA agent saves Bond in Harlem--

Strutter: "Kind of obvious you weren't coming out front. Not even with that clever disguise you're wearing."
Bond: "Hmm?"
Strutter: "White face in Harlem. Good thinking, Bond."

I hope I'm a little less obvious than that, but probably not, lol. There's a bunch of us going so we're going to stand out anyway. I really must learn how to haggle, though. I'd like to conserve money as much as possible, and not get taken advantage of. Not speaking the language isn't going to help, either, but maybe I can get them to write down prices, and then I'll just half or third everything.

I'm going to try to keep this blog much as I did the other-- impressions, etc. Don't know if I'll be able to get photos up until afterwards (although some from Russia are finally up-- check the gallery!). I may also try to teach y'all some Wolof, the local language. :) Next entry will be from Senegal (unless there's free internet at the airport in Paris). :)

bye for now!

~N~