Welcome Back

After six weeks traveling, Senegal felt like home. I felt in my element once again. I could negotiate in my crappy Wolof, rather being dependent on my Arabic speaking friends. Moreover, I actually had an idea as to how much things should cost. The first thing we did after settling in, in Saint Louis was to get some beers. I liked Morocco but I missed just being able to sit down and have a cold beer when it got really hot. I loved all the tea, but sometimes only a beer will do. I also appreciated seeing people smiling and looking happy again. But then I also returned to all the negatives of my stay here in Senegal. I once again gave up my anonymity to become a highly visible symbol of wealth and privilege in a deprived country. I had to get used to the constant harassment from vendors and child beggars, although the vendors weren’t as insistent in St. Louis as they usually are in Dakar. Seeing the children is as always heart-breaking. It was also just hot as fuck, which makes it even harder to be patient, keep walking briskly and mumble “non, merci” 20 times before they get it that I am not buying their Senegalese soccer T-shirt.