Day 1 I've Arrived!

Im in Senegal! I made it alright despite all the shit Delta was putting us through. I just wanted to let you know. I spent my first day at the beach and this place is amazing!!! There are these little lizards that are everywhere!! I've decide to try and catch one... The culture here is also very unique. But the poverty level here is staggering and despite the weather and location you cant help but notice it. Really sad but these people are hard workers for the most part especially when their trying to get your attention so you will buy something! Its been very exciting and HOT here like i got a sunburn when i got off the plane hot. (lol) I have also discovered that my french is not that great but i hope being immersed in the culture and language here it will improve. Corey is off for the whole week so hes going to show me around and make sure i dont get snagged. ;P So dont worry about me.

Day 2
Today I went to the Markets in the very heart of Dakar. There are several that wind their way through the dusty streets of the city. It was so crowded! And it wasn't the worst they have ever seen it because it was a weekday. There are too many cars and usually you are trying not to get run over when walking in the streets (the sidewalks are the parking lots and stores here) they wiz by not even a foot from pedestrians.
Its a really interesting system here the only non-negotiable prices here are the bus fares. The buses are an adventure of their own as well. They will cram 40 people in this small van that is brightly painted (5 across and 6 rows and 2 benches sometime people hang onto the back). All the markets are on the bartering system. And they go nuts trying to sell you things. The people won't hesitate to follow you around with their wares and offer you the most ridiculous things! I got offered a child's snow suit in 85 degree weather! (lol) Some of the venders can be very demanding and persistent.These venders love whites...love to target they hiss at you to get your attention but the general rule is not to look because they see that as an invitation to shove things in your face. Sometimes they will wait for Toubabs (white people) at the entrance of the market and guide you through the market even when you tell them politely that you don't need their help. What they really want is to take you to their makeshift stands and try to guilt you into buying their wares. If you refuse they may still demand payment for showing you the way but you really don't have to pay them if you don't ask them too yourself.Another thing here is the abject poverty the chokes this place. It really is very sad and it makes the veracity of the stand owners understandable (still annoying, but understandable). The garbage is just as overwhelming, there are literally piles of trash everywhere. At night you can smell it being burned but the many homeless camps and house squatters. This place is just so full of absolutely everything that I cant even begin to wrap my head around it.


Day 3
I've been really sick since Tuesday night we think it was food poisoning but you can't really know for sure here. It sucked!! But yesterday I decided that it was worth the discomfort to go out as planned to Bandai which is a free park with 15 thousand acres that the animals roam around in. On the way I checked puking out the window of a moving car off my things never to do again list. Our guide at the park was this very nice African woman and she found 9 out of the 10 animals that are sheltered in the park. It was a lot of fun! I got to get really close to the rhinos and I touched the tortoise and I made friends with a warthog who didn't like the orange I was trying to feed it. My favorite part was the warthog because that wasn't actually part of the tour he just showed up at the parking lot and I tried to call him over and he made a b-line towards me and gave me a big kiss! It was awsome i loved every minute of it...except the puking (lol)