I AM IN SENEGAL!
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| The Disco Hut, PC Training Center in Thies |
It's only been three days? It's been a pretty massive three days, but I'm going to give one highlight. It's the moment that I first nearly broke down over this whole experience. It sounds like I missed the 'crying at home' boat because I was in a bit of a rush.
So here's my highlight so far (copied and pasted from a more immediate email which retains some of the excitement):
There was a group playing drums for us during a break, and we were still confined to our little commune. No random people in, and none of us out, it's a logical safety thing.
Some of the people working with us were showing us dances and there was a few guys drumming and we were all having a great time. It was turning into an impromptu dance party and we had attracted a crowd of children at the gate.
After what I'm guessing was at least an hour of dancing, just when we were all realizing how little sleep we had, they opened the gate and let the kids in. As soon as they opened my thoughts turned from "Holy Cow, Africa!" to "Just keep it together now, don't break down the first day." I managed to keep it together. It took about 30 seconds of coaxing on our ends to get them to warm up to us, but we managed... then they started teaching us the moves.
A favorite move (of mine and theirs) was one that resembles pulling back a bow (as in "and Arrow") and making direct eye contact. Kind of awkward to react to, but totally worth it. There was some nice moves with the hips, and another one that reminded of the week I worked with inner city Chicago youth at CWES.
It was really interesting - we were trying to copy them, thinking "they're Africans, they can dance." We were right, they were fantastic; but then I noticed that they were copying us too, cultural exchange on the first day!
It was the most entertaining little mob I've ever been a part of, and my-o-my were we kicking up the dust.
UPDATE: Someone posted a video! Click Here.
So here's my highlight so far (copied and pasted from a more immediate email which retains some of the excitement):
There was a group playing drums for us during a break, and we were still confined to our little commune. No random people in, and none of us out, it's a logical safety thing.
Some of the people working with us were showing us dances and there was a few guys drumming and we were all having a great time. It was turning into an impromptu dance party and we had attracted a crowd of children at the gate.
After what I'm guessing was at least an hour of dancing, just when we were all realizing how little sleep we had, they opened the gate and let the kids in. As soon as they opened my thoughts turned from "Holy Cow, Africa!" to "Just keep it together now, don't break down the first day." I managed to keep it together. It took about 30 seconds of coaxing on our ends to get them to warm up to us, but we managed... then they started teaching us the moves.
A favorite move (of mine and theirs) was one that resembles pulling back a bow (as in "and Arrow") and making direct eye contact. Kind of awkward to react to, but totally worth it. There was some nice moves with the hips, and another one that reminded of the week I worked with inner city Chicago youth at CWES.
It was really interesting - we were trying to copy them, thinking "they're Africans, they can dance." We were right, they were fantastic; but then I noticed that they were copying us too, cultural exchange on the first day!
It was the most entertaining little mob I've ever been a part of, and my-o-my were we kicking up the dust.
UPDATE: Someone posted a video! Click Here.
