by Rophiat Bello
Salaam Maalekum (peace be upon you) and you respond Maalekum Salaam (peace be upon me too); this is the official greeting in Senegal. Senegal is a democratic West African country, and one of the top ten politically stable countries in Africa, it has never witnessed a coup d’état or a civil war. The official language in Senegal is French in addition to other national languages (ethnic languages) like Wolof which is mostly spoken. To be honest, transitioning between three languages (English, French, and Wolof) can sometimes require a subconscious mental surgery. But through all of these languages, Senegal is not just a beautiful country but a country with beautiful and hospitable people.
Senegal is a hub of history and culture depicted by the preservation of historical sites and statues that emphasize its history. The most important historical site that I visited is the Maison des exclaves (house of slaves) and the door of no return in Goree island. The house was built in 1786 but became a museum in 1962. It represents the history and operation of slavery in Senegal and in Africa and the resistance to slavery and the inhumane treatment of man by 
man. Close to the house of slaves is a statue of a woman holding onto a man with broken chains in his hands, portraying an end to slavery.
Dakar is the capital city of Senegal, the most populous city in the country and it is breezy but stressful. Outside Dakar is a calm and different scenery. On a trip to Tounbacounta, we visited the Sine-Saloum Delta (Mangrove Forest), a UNESCO world heritage site. It is a beauty to behold! There are lofty palms, big baobab trees, fishes, several species, and birds.
A strikingly interesting aspect of the Senegalese culture is the value of community. In Senegal, nothing belongs to you individually but belongs to everyone and it is shared amongst everyone, so you don’t get upset when someone takes your cookie or chocolate bar etc. In Senegal, saying greetings is very important and the style of greeting is different. Spending five minutes just asking how the other party is doing, their family, their day, their week, their health etc. is normal here.
The Senegalese have a way of neatly and nicely arranging a dish on a big metal bowl where everyone eats from. Bread, rice, and couscous are the most popular meals in Senegal. I think I have eaten enough bread in Senegal than I have in my entire life. Rice is served with a variety of sauces, most common is Yassa (onion sauce) with grilled chicken or fish. Ceebu Jen (rice with fish) and Ceebu Yapp (colored rice cooked with meat pieces) which is my favorite are like national dishes in Senegal. They, like most dishes in Senegal, are served alongside vegetables (stewed cabbages, lettuce, carrot, okra, cassava, potatoes), habanero pepper (squeeze some on your section of the bowl if you have a high tolerance for spice) and the burnt rice from the pot called Khogn. I eat from a big metal bowl with my host family, but I must admit it is sometimes a struggle to get really close to the bowl with my spoon. After such an amazing meal for lunch, you wash it down with some attaya (gunpowder green tea) or bissap (juice made from the hibiscus flower).
Overall my journey in Senegal has been worthwhile, and the classroom phase of the MSID program is over and the internship phase has begun. I am currently a legal aid for an association of women lawyers in Senegal 
that work towards the protection and promotion of human rights in Senegal but focusing on women and children’s rights. I have had my first-time kayaking experience here, danced on a drum, made friends with older women, and thanks to my host father(papa Ndiaye), I am a better football fan (soccer).
Cheers to Sénégal!
Rophiat Bello is a second year SIA student studying international development originally from Nigeria. She is studying abroad both in the summer and the fall and looks forward to sharing more of her experiences with you.