Back to School

This past week has been focused on academics. With eight hours of class three days a week, and four hours of class the other two days, it’s difficult to find time to get out and explore.  We have either Dakar in Transition or Senegalese River Valley from 9-11, Wolof from 11-13, a 2-hour lunch break, then Seminar from 15-17, and finally History of Islam from 17-19. That gives me about two hours to relax and get home before dinner, which is usually served around 21 (9 pm).  After dinner I usually spend some time with the fam and doing my homework before heading to bed at a time my Pappa finds amusingly early.  We did, however, manage to discover an outdoor bar conveniently located just around the corner from school and I was able to find a Church not too far away that I will be observing as part of my research of Catholicism in Senegal.

Classes in Senegal are very different from what I’ve become accustomed to at K. In addition to being in French, they are generally an hour and fifty minutes of our professor talking at us, followed by fifteen minutes were we are supposed to share observations and ask questions. This particular style of teaching makes more sense when put in context. Senegalese students focus on memorizing facts and figures, whereas in the States it is more common for professors to emphasize critical thinking.  I have to keep this in mind when I find myself wondering why a lecture lasted close to two hours rather than twenty minutes.

That being said, we’ve had some very interesting discussions, generally spurred on by our professors’ desire to know how things work in the States.  I sometimes find I am more shocked by their perception of the U.S. than by how things run here in Senegal. My History of Islam professor, quickly becoming my favorite, is always making us laugh with his comments about the U.S. One day he was explaining that Muslims are obligated to donate 2.5% of their saving to the poor. After having given us all a hard time for emphasizing our need to save, being students and all, he ended the discussion by saying, ‘If Bill Gates were Muslim, WWOOOOWWW!! Imagine how much he would have to give!’ What with his animated teaching style and laid-back personality I am glad he teaches our last class of the day.

That’s about if for now. Tomorrow my mom is helping me talk to the tailor. My French is coming along, but not quite at the point were I can articulate what sort of dress I want made. Particularly not the traditional Senegalese outfit I am having made for Tabaski. (Tabaski is a Muslim holiday coming up in about a month, in which people get dressed up and slaughter a goat. That’s pretty much all I’ve heard of it so far but I’m sure we’ll learn more as the date gets closer.) Thankfully tomorrow is Friday, only a half-day of classes, and some exciting weekend plans ahead.

Hopefully I’ll have some more exciting news and pictures after the weekend.