Senegal

I visited Senegal in the summer of 2021. It will forever hold a spot in my heart. The food, the people, the culture, and so much more...Senegal felt like home the two weeks I spent there. Senegal was a visa free entry for Americans at the time, so I was easily able to get in. However, when I went to pull out money, my bank detected fraud and shut my account down, which made for a stressful ordeal. I had no cash, no working cards, nothing to my name other than my backpack. Luckily, with the help of Chase Banking and my mother in the States, they quickly remedied my

situation. I was able to withdraw cash and search for a taxi. Upon walking out of the airport, there is a huge crowd of taxi drivers fighting to get your business. In these scenarios, I try my best to pick out of the crowd someone who I feel I could connect with. It is something of instinct, and it worked out well for me. I found a driver who was so excited to show me his country on the way from the airport to my airbnb. We took many detours along the way. We stopped to meet his friend who lived in a small hut off the road. There, we

shared music, stories, and coffee, home-made. Our next stop was in his village. There, we listened to music, dance, and shared some beers from the local shop. It truly was an incredible experience. Anyways, we made the long drive to the airbnb. The next day, I explored the city of Dakar, visiting the tallest statue in all of Africa, built by North Korea interestingly. I also visited local markets, mosques, and museums. Dakar has so much to offer. After my sightseeing, I caught a ferry to the island of Ngor. There, I enjoyed wonderful views of the city and ocean over some great food and drinks. I walked around, exploring

the beautiful island before heading back for the night. That night, I had to make a stop at the gas station by my airbnb to get some food and such. As I walked out, a man sitting on the curb invited me to join him for some conversation. I went back to the store, bought a couple of beers, and talked with him for a couple of hours. The man was a self proclaimed rastafarian and shared his beliefs and life stories with me. The next day was likely the most important day of my time in Senegal. I visited the island of Goree, an infamous historical landmark of the

atlantic slave trade. I visited and saw many somber sights while there. However, the thing that really stood out to me was the stories of resilience and the spirit of the people who endured so much, historically and currently. I will never forget staring out the door of no return, the last door slaves stepped out of before crossing the Atlantic to begin a cruel journey. It truly leaves one speechless, that and the chambers where they were held before going through the door. Aside from the obvious historical relevance to slavery, Ile Goree was also an important military base in World War 2. We got to see bunkers, artillery

weapons, and learn so much about the past. However, the most lasting impression from my time on Goree was the people I met. There, I met someone that transcended any difference between men, who transcended language barriers, and quickly became one of my most cherished friends--Pap. He is a Senegalese man with the biggest heart. Following that day, we spent two weeks hanging out. I have never met such a true and kind man. I do not speak French and he did not speak English. With the help of our mutual friend, Andrea from France, we were able to communicate and form a deep bond. By the end of our

trip, Pap and I were nothing short of brothers. Pap, Andrea, and I ended up getting dinner at a wonderful beach side restaurant. The next day, I spent time at the local beach swimming and immersing myself into perhaps a more local experience-a Saturday at the beach playing football, swimming, and more. Later that day, I visited the famous Pink Lake in Senegal. We rode out onto the water in our boat flying the Senegalese flag. It is truly a marvelous sight. After some time on the water, I went on an ATV ride through the surrounding area. It was a long but wonderful day. Over the course of the

next week, I spent lots of time with my new friends, all with such different backgrounds. Sadly, the time soon came back around to have to leave Senegal. I was embarking on my next journey, to Gambia, during which I crossed the land border after riding through a large portion of Senegal. Sadly, I was unable to say goodbye to Pap before going to the huge bus station. I boarded my bus and we took off. As we are gaining speed and I am looking out the window, I see something straight out of a movie. Pap miraculously found our bus, ran it down and jumped on to say goodbye

to me. With his goodbye, he left one of his most prized possessions with me, his watch. It is something that leaves me speechless to this day, yet emotional. No matter how far away I am from Senegal, my heart will always be there and so will the friendships I made there.