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When Dreams Come True

Before you start reading this post I want you to take a long look at the picture above. Now imagine yourself standing there. Imagine the warm sun heating you up from the inside out while the salty breeze of the Mediterranean tickles the cheeks of your face. Imagine the freshest air you’ve ever breathed, filling every inch of your lungs. Imagine looking around you and feeling like you’re in a painting; looking at where the sea meets the skyline and asking yourself if you’re actually alive. Imagine feeling like you’re […]

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Goodbye, Fatick

  Coming back to Dakar and talking to the other students who spent time in rural areas has shown me that while each experience was unique, most of us have similar concluding thoughts. No one came back from the village and said, “It was awesome!” Personally, from Fatick, I learned that my morals and regards for human rights are not universal. What I feel is right, simple, neccessary for life, is not something that everyone feels. I value education, but very few people in Fatick did. I’ve concluded that development […]

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Bittersweet Chocolate

First, I apologize for disappearing. Writing has slipped away from as I have been extremely busy and caught up in exploring this beautiful city. There is so much I wish to catch up on, however I feel it may be best to start where I currently am then work backwards through my experiences. To be honest, unless I find I am unable to sleep during the night, I don’t believe I will be able to write until I get home. Eeeeeeek! Home. First of all, as it is December 9th […]

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I Came, I Saw, I Banya-ed

It’s so hard to believe I’m down to less than two weeks left in St. Petersburg. (Twelve days, to be exact.) I must admit, it’s a strange feeling knowing that I will be leaving this beautiful city so soon. I’ve grown used to my daily routine – buying my vanilla and chocolate флейнта at the Буше bread truck, the morning metro commute, walking the halls of the Smolny convent for class, heading to Счастье cafe to do some homework with Ryan, exploring St.P on the weekend – it is going […]

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The American in the Field vs. The American at the Podium

In the Diourbel region of Senegal (where Ngeme/Ndondol) is located), there is a radio station called “Gindiko FM”. It is funded by USAID, and implemented by World Education through ARLS (L’Association Rural de Lutte contre le Sida). The station tries to promote women’s rights through theatrical pieces and news reports by the “femme reportaires”, or rural women who serve as the voices of their communities. Now. If you asked the women in the Djourbel region of Senegal “Exactly what is Gindiko FM?”, the majority of them would not be able […]

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Back In Dakar

So I am finally back in Dakar. It is really weird how fast you go back to your old life. I was so eager to get back, and now that I am it feels like I never left. My internship experience was so much more valuable than my time in Dakar. It sucked most of the time and I always wanted to go home, but I got such a real exposure. I understand Senegalese culture so much more, and I understand American culture so much more as well. I never […]

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Turkish Baths & Communist Pizza

Of all of our destinations over my fall break, I would have to say that Budapest was my favorite. The city had a great vibe to it and it was absolutely beautiful. We arrived on Halloween night, and were amazed when we were taken up to the apartment that we would call home for the next few days. The apartment was huge, with giant windows looking right over the square of the main basilica in Budapest, which also happened to be one of the main tourist attractions. Needless to say, […]

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Lyon’s Lights, Art, and a German Friend’s Story

A $10 dollar trip to go to Lyon, France for the day. I at first had no idea why we were going for class because no one had said anything to me until a week before and my professor asked me if I wanted to come to the Lyon for a day trip. I assumed it was to visit some museums but then realized it was the weekend of the Fête de Lumières, which happens annually during a week in December with light shows all over the city, and assumed […]

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Melted Cheese During Christmas Time

When you live in France. It becomes a routine of eating cheese and drinking wine. However, the taste is never the same and always a new experience, because the people who surround the table are learning a little more about you and you are learning a little more about them. I was incredibly lucky to be invited to spend another afternoon in the country. This time, it was for the Raclette. The word “raclette” originates from the French word racler which means “to scrape.” It’s a type of cheese that […]

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Amie

My time in Fatick will come to a close Friday, although it seems like I’ve just now started to hit the ground running. Let’s not get that confused with the fact that I am happy to be leaving Fatick. The skin on face has completely dried out from the water, my feet ache from the bug bites, and I would be willing to pay a large sum of money for a coke and a cheeseburger. My relationship with Amie is rapidly advancing, although she may not realize it. I’ve made […]

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A Very Charlie Brown Thanksgiving

Since being in college I’ve only spent ONE Thanksgiving back home in Kansas with my parents. The other places for the feasting and giving thanks holiday I have been in Minnesota, New York City, and now France. I’d figure I’d go in order and try to tell you one funny thing from each and why this year was just very Charlie Brown feeling. 2010 – New York City My awesome cousin Rebekah and her incredibly talented husband Jason, they are both formidable actually. It was in a great apartment just […]

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5 Random Things That I Appreciate About Italy

Aperitivo: Around 5 o’ clock a wonderful thing happens at just about every restaurant in Florence, and it’s known as an aperitivo. Just what is an aperitivo? It’s a dinner deal where you pay 7-10 Euro for a drink (wine, soda, margarita, etc.) and a small plate, which you can use to get unlimited amounts of food from the buffet table. The food is set up in a small area and the table is arranged with numerous plates and dishes filled with local Tuscan fare. At my favorite aperitivo at […]

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Still Here

To all of my followers, and Mme Guyer’s french class especially, I am sorry that I have not been able to keep you up to date regularly. Internet here and traveling is not easy, but I hope to inform you all of everything that has happened here once I return to Dakar (Dec. 7th). I have lots to share!

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London Calling

This past weekend Julia and I finally took our long awaited trip to London. We had been so excited ever since we booked the trip over six weeks ago, and on Friday it was finally time to head to the airport. The flight to London was quick and easy and once we landed at Gatwick we took a taxi to our hotel. We managed to get a great deal on a really nice hotel by booking through STA and we had a great time relaxing and planning out how we […]

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German Play, French Cheese, and American Cinema

Tambours dans la nuit (Drums in the Night) is the French title for the German play I saw this past Saturday night. Yes I sat through a 2hr play with no intermission in French and actually understood what was going on; duly not though I probably actually only understood about 30-40% of the play. It was fascinating watching the French interpret this German production that was originally written just after WWI. The actors spoke with German inflections and used German mannerisms; at least that’s what I gathered. And got me […]

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On Excursions, Georgian Cuisine, and Those Holiday Blues

Боже мой! It certainly has been some time since my last blog post. I guess there is a bit of catching up I need to do! These past couple weeks I’ve had the opportunity to tour some of the most famous historical sites in St. Pete’s. (I know, you’re probably thinking ‘But isn’t all of St. Petersburg pretty much one famous historical museum or monument after another?’ The answer is yes. They seem to have an endless supply of museums, galleries, monuments, and memorials.) Last weekend I visted the island […]

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