Catherina Leipold People gather on Goree Island in Senegal.

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Catherine Leipold Getting close to a zebra in Senegal.
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Catherina Leipold People gather on Goree Island in Senegal.
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Catherina Leipold The writer poses for a picture with some of her “siblings” in the West Africa nation of Senegal.
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Catherina Leipold The writer poses for a picture with some of her “siblings” in the West Africa nation of Senegal.

Catherina Leipold People gather on Goree Island in Senegal.

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The following are experiences and impressions recorded during a three-week service and immersion program with Walking Tree Travel in the small West African nation of Senegal. This trip is easily among the most meaningful things I've done in my life and it's changed my outlook a lot. I want to take every chance I get in the future to travel and experience different cultures. I'm also very interested in the Peace Corps after this trip.

July 2, 2011

Dakar

This morning we took a ferry to Gorée Island, located right off the coast of the bustling capital city, Dakar. En route, young locals tried to teach us some words of Wolof and eagerly asked to have their photo taken. Gorée was a prominent post in the Atlantic slave trade and we took the opportunity to learn about the rich history of the area.

After a big serving of delicious Yassa Poisson (grilled fish, onion sauce, rice), we headed down to a nearby beach filled with hundreds of African kids playing in the gentle waves. They crowded around us and playfully dragged us into the water among cries of “toubab, toubab” (foreigner). They stroked our hair, rubbed our skin with sand, and asked us to sing for them in English.

Now, I’m wet, sandy and exhausted, but I’ve rarely felt happier; the children’s joy was absolutely contagious.

July 4, 2011

Mbour

Instead of watching the fireworks on this American Independence Day, we became up-close and personal with giraffes, zebras, ostriches, rhinos, monkeys, snakes, crocodiles and antelopes among the endless lines of impressive baobab trees.

After our successful safari at Bandia National Park, we’re now back at our beachside hotel to relax before our work in the village begins in a few days. The hospitality and friendliness of the Senegalese people continues to amaze me. We’ve become friends with the hotel bartender, who didn’t hesitate to invite one of our group leaders to stay with his family after our program. Whether I’m speaking with our van driver about his Muslim beliefs or listening to the safari guide explain the significance of the native flora and fauna, it’s become clear to me that if you are eager to learn, most Senegalese are happy to share almost everything about their way of life.

July 18, 2011

Dindefelo

Ever since my host family gave me my Senegalese name (N’Deye Diallo) on my first night with them two weeks ago, they’ve treated me like their ninth child.

From sharing a bed with my host sister to gutting fish to carrying water from the well for my bucket shower, I feel completely integrated into family life.

With the help of my host siblings, I’ve mastered bits of the local language, Pulaar, and quickly learned that passing a villager in the road means a lengthy conversation, usually about our service projects. While the repetitive rice and couscous and the small variety of accompanying sauces might leave a food connoisseur unimpressed, I’ve come to love mealtimes. Eating out of a big bowl as a family with only one or two spoons to go around is an indescribable feeling.

My favorite time of day is just after dinner when we hang out as a family, drinking sweet Ataya tea, braiding hair and dancing to both Senegalese and American music by starlight. There’s so much love and laughter in our compound and I’ve grown more attached to the villagers than I ever thought possible. Leaving my host family and driving the thirteen hours back to Dakar tomorrow is going to be incredibly tough … Ba beneen, Dindefelo!

Leipold, 17, is a senior at Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School. She is the daughter of Knut and Kathleen Leipold and lives in Somerset. She applied for the trip with Walking Tree Travel (walkingtree.org) because she wanted to travel, serve the community and practice French.

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