So what is it about Senegal that you like so much?
Yesterday I was asked this by a co-worker. When I opened my mouth to answer, it was as if my vocal chords were frozen.
I finally said, That's a hard one to answer. There's just so many reasons... And she was satisfied with that :)
But it got me thinking. So I decided to actually make a list of what it is that makes me like this country I called "home" for 5 years. And this is what I came up with...
It's terranga - hospitality at its finest.
It's hot and sweet attaya, served with conversations and laughter.
It's a round of greetings that seems to last forever.
It's brightly colored boats hauling in the catch of the day.
It's "flame trees" lining your path.
It's coke from a glass bottle, served with a lime wedge.
It's your neighborhood butik owner keeping an eye out for you and your co-workers, helping you to feel safe.
It's a burger with fries and a fried egg as two of the main ingredients.
It's a colorful ice cream shop that serves a cool refreshing treat on those hot, hot days.
It's fresh fruits and veggies from the vendor down the road.
It's directions containing landmarks such as the french fry store, the guy selling goats for Tabaski, the big pile of watermelons, and the Nescafé cart.
It's a trip to the Fukki Jai, buying clothes for less than a dollar.
It's the sound of goats and sheep constantly announcing their presence.
It's grass huts with mud floors.
It's a crowded market with each vendor asking you to visit his/her shop.
It's lots of dust. ...AKA - nature's natural exfoliant :)
It's a Saturday spent at Ebbetts Field watching softball.
It's baobab trees lining the road.
It's nems, meat stick sandwiches, and bowls of cheb from vendors down the road.
It's obama. ...the ice cream version :)
It's buying fruit, out the window of the car, while going down the highway.
It's a trip through Sandaga. ...on a good day because otherwise this would so not make the list :)
It's losing weight from walking everywhere.
It's finally learning how to cook something from scratch, using all the necessary substitutions.
It's making the taxi driver smile when you barter for a good price.
It's dinner at the Brazilian Restaurant with a group of friends.
It's a trip to a hotel for the day for a yummy burger and swimming in the pool.
It's little bags of water sold by kids on the street.
It's meeting neighbors, grocery store workers, pastors, and others and carrying on a conversation in French.
It's an appreciation for another culture.
It's car rapides whizzing by, packed to the brim, yet still stuffing in a few more people.
It's a plate of brochettes de lotte avec frites from Le Receif.
It's getting a handmade outfit back from the tailor, made for a fraction of the cost of one from the store.
It's a ride in a horse cart.
It's that smell that hits you the minute you get off the plane.
It's a church no bigger than your living room, overflowing with BELIEVERS hungry for more of God.
It's sitting around a common bowl eating with your (right) hand and having a lively conversation.
It's cute little dirty feet.
It's friendships that stand the test of time.
It's an international community of friends and neighbors that become like family.
It's worshipping with multiple cultures (who don't speak your language) and feeling the Spirit moving like never before.
It's that first church service (done in French) that you actually understood.
It's the Musl*m call to prayer happening 5 times a day. Why? ...because it's a constant reminder to me to pray to the ONE TRUE GOD for the lives of all listening to the call to prayer.
It's the Talibe boy, with nothing, sharing the little you gave him with 10 others.
It's the first time you lead someone to Christ in another language.
It's the hugs.
It's the smiles and the nods.
It's the thank you's and the I love you's.
It's a feeling of being home.
It's feeling homesick when you're away.
It's excitement over going back. ...even if only for a short vacation.
