Arriving early in the morning in Senegal, we hop on a bus to head north towards St. Louis, where we spend the first few days of our program in a small seaside community located inside of one of Senegal’s national parks. On the sandy shores of the nearby beaches and in the shade of the local trees, we begin to learn about one another, connect as a team, and explore Senegalese culture, religion, and history. We practice new Wolof greetings, and learn how to take care of our bodies and minds as we travel through this new and exciting country.

Here we learn about local environmental activism and efforts to resist coastline erosion, protect sea turtles and other marine life, and more from local park rangers and community activists. We taste our first Senegalese dishes around shared bowls in daystays with local families, and begin to put our newly-acquired Wolof language skills into practice.

We travel onward to the colonial city of St. Louis, which offers us our first glimpse into urban life in Senegal. As we explore the vibrant streets of the historical capital of French West Africa, we learn about the histories of colonialism that still shape Senegal today, giving us context for the rest of our time in the country.

Traveling south from St. Louis, we make a pit-stop in Touba, the center of local Mouride brotherhood and site of one of the largest mosques in West Africa. In Touba, we learn about the various practices and traditions of contemporary Islam in Senegal.

From Touba, we travel to Thies, where we begin a multi-day homestay with local families in this bustling urban center. In Thies, we learn about Senegalese history and politics, gender roles, educational systems, and more from local guest speakers and youth activists. In homestays, we learn to prepare delicious local dishes, practice our language skills, and sink into the slow rhythms of daily life. In the afternoons, we have the opportunity to study music, dance, art, with local artists, or to pursue an independent research project with the support of local experts.

We will also take a day trip to Dakar, where we will visit the Island of Goree and learn about the history of the Atlantic slave trade, and the Museum of Black Civilization, which celebrates history, culture, and art from across the continent.

We conclude our travels together on the fabulous cliff-side beaches of Toubab Dialaw. During this Transference Phase of our course, we reflect on our experiences together and process what we have learned in Senegal, from new languages to new insights into the beautiful and complex world around us and into ourselves. We come together as a community to celebrate our final days together, and prepare to take home our new passions, new skills, new friends, and a love of this unique, vibrant, and dynamic place.