Wolof
My second day here, in Dakar, and I have learned that Senegal is over 90% muslim and that there are 12 million people in the entire country about 3/4ths the land-mass size of Arizona with 2ce the number of people living here.
4 million of the country's population have flocked to Dakar, the capitol, in hopes of getting work, getting food, being able to survive and help their families survive.
There is a drought happening but people refer to it as a preceding harsh dry season and now a dry wet season thus far, although we have plenty of food that just suddenly appears for us upstairs on the top floor in Bah's apartment.
I have a room with an attached bathroom all to myself on the 3rd floor. The bathroom itself has the bare but luxurious essentials: a salmon-colored porcelain tub with a hand-held shower hose; a small sink, and a toilet with two flushing options: one water-saving handle for pee and one handle for more abundant water for poop.
Someone has rushed to provide us with toilet paper but next to the toilet is a pot that looks like a swirled earth toned pottery tea kettle - but turns out to be a plastic replica by some "do-gooder" from an oil-thieving nation, of the pottery kettles formerly locally made but now made in some factory who knows where, to force the people to accept this "modern" appliance.
It is interesting to by-pass toilet paper and instead rinse/wash with this kettle. I like it.
There is a huge king-sized bed with a large mosquito net around it, thank goodness, although these mosquitoes haven't been attacking me yet!
There are several other rooms on my floor, including a kitchen, where there is no evidence but I'm told other members of Bah's family actually do live here - although most of his immediate and long-term family occupies the first floor apartment.
Beautiful cinnamon, dusty rose, and farm-raised-salmon tile color most of the floors, steps, even parts of the outside of the building that Bah had built himself.
The most striking thing about this home - besides it's uneven stairs heights, whimsically crooked rooms, floors that vary by up to 3 or 4" between rooms or alcoves - is the scarcity of STUFF. It's really helpful for not loosing anything - there are no huge abundance of things to loose stuff in.
Yet, even without the things we in the U.S.A. consider 'necessities', most everyone appears content, easy-going, flowing, and strikingly beautiful with the contrasting brilliant color cloth with the deepest, brightest brown skins and black flashing eyes.
We are in the rainy season - and the middle of Ramadan - which means we have occasional thunder storms, warm rain, and no visible food on the streets during the day.
The children downstairs - two lovely girls that are 5 years old but seem much older - are playing with Jasi. It is amazing to watch them communicate, not knowing each others language. Of course, the girls figure out what Jasi wants & give it to him. He is very happy!
4 million of the country's population have flocked to Dakar, the capitol, in hopes of getting work, getting food, being able to survive and help their families survive.
There is a drought happening but people refer to it as a preceding harsh dry season and now a dry wet season thus far, although we have plenty of food that just suddenly appears for us upstairs on the top floor in Bah's apartment.
I have a room with an attached bathroom all to myself on the 3rd floor. The bathroom itself has the bare but luxurious essentials: a salmon-colored porcelain tub with a hand-held shower hose; a small sink, and a toilet with two flushing options: one water-saving handle for pee and one handle for more abundant water for poop.
Someone has rushed to provide us with toilet paper but next to the toilet is a pot that looks like a swirled earth toned pottery tea kettle - but turns out to be a plastic replica by some "do-gooder" from an oil-thieving nation, of the pottery kettles formerly locally made but now made in some factory who knows where, to force the people to accept this "modern" appliance.
It is interesting to by-pass toilet paper and instead rinse/wash with this kettle. I like it.
There is a huge king-sized bed with a large mosquito net around it, thank goodness, although these mosquitoes haven't been attacking me yet!
There are several other rooms on my floor, including a kitchen, where there is no evidence but I'm told other members of Bah's family actually do live here - although most of his immediate and long-term family occupies the first floor apartment.
Beautiful cinnamon, dusty rose, and farm-raised-salmon tile color most of the floors, steps, even parts of the outside of the building that Bah had built himself.
The most striking thing about this home - besides it's uneven stairs heights, whimsically crooked rooms, floors that vary by up to 3 or 4" between rooms or alcoves - is the scarcity of STUFF. It's really helpful for not loosing anything - there are no huge abundance of things to loose stuff in.
Yet, even without the things we in the U.S.A. consider 'necessities', most everyone appears content, easy-going, flowing, and strikingly beautiful with the contrasting brilliant color cloth with the deepest, brightest brown skins and black flashing eyes.
We are in the rainy season - and the middle of Ramadan - which means we have occasional thunder storms, warm rain, and no visible food on the streets during the day.
The children downstairs - two lovely girls that are 5 years old but seem much older - are playing with Jasi. It is amazing to watch them communicate, not knowing each others language. Of course, the girls figure out what Jasi wants & give it to him. He is very happy!
posted by Xan @ 1:17 PM
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