It is Sunday afternoon here, about 2pm. I am sitting in the computer room in the back of the house with the tin roof. Usually, it is too hot to sit back here. However, the storm started about an hour ago so it is nice and cool. They don't really have down pours in the States like they do here. The locals say that there are normally about four big rains a year. This year is different though. This is the third or fourth already and the rainy season started early. I actually like it quite a lot. It cools things off and gives quite a different ambiance then the normal hot and sticky here in Dakar. When the rain started I had to go around the house and close all the windows because it rains so hard here that the water comes into the house if you don't. Also, there are of course no drainage systems here so the water gets pretty deep outside.
So my lovely roomie and new found buddy, Bronwen left for New York last night. It was actually quite sad. You see, Bronwen grew up here in Senegal. She has so many friends here and they are all amazing, fun, and nice. It's been wonderful to see what it is like to be young here living in Dakar. It truly amazing that this place is in West Africa. There are clubs (or discotheques), billards, beaches to chillax on-ya know? the normal things kids do. People in the States tend to think how bizzare it must be to live over here. It's really not all that different in someways and in fact quite cool as your world becomes inmeshed with all different cultures. You learn franglais, different music from all over the world, different slang, different food, and to chillax in a whole different way. So, back to Bronwen. She left for the States as I said, but this time for good. Her family is moving back to the States next year so this was her final goodbye. I couldn't imagine what she was feeling! Imagine leaving the place you grew up behind and it being so, so far away. Now I am here for another three weeks house-sitting. It's so nice to have this place to stay but I really do miss her already. I am glad it is raining though. It fits the vibe and mood I feel today. I have a good feeling about continuing to see her friends though. As short as the time has been that I have spent with some of them and attempting to speak my intermediate French with an American accent, I will miss them. One of the amazing things is I never feel left out as they always include me.
Well until next time-
Inshallah
Gabrielle
2 comments:
Maybe you said this, but will she be living in New York when you get back?
Rain on a tin roof in West Africa...sounds like an M.M. Kaye novel! I love the imagery!
What does your house look like? Did you post pics somewhere?
Hi! Yes-it was pretty esoteric if I do say so myself. I have not posted pics because it is kind of hard to see. It is inside a gate with a bunch of large mangoe trees. It is beige stucco. I will have photos when I get back though for sure. She goes to school in Minnesota so she leaves on the 25th of August. I will get to see her at least once though so that's cool. Thanks for all your comments! I love them.
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