Ramadan Mubarak!

As we head into the final week of this research endeavor the stress and pressure is high to not only complete the research project but to also make a presentation and possibly write a 20 page paper. Since I started my research a week late I’ve had to catch up with the added hurdles of language barrier and limited supplies. While at times these hurdles have seemed unsurmountable I’ve been able to persevere by picturing the finish line. Nevertheless it has been exhausting to essentially complete 4 weeks’ worth of experiments in less than 2 weeks. Coupled with my exhaustion has been frustration as I have had to repeat several measurements over due to errors in calculation and preparation which has set me back a couple of days. However, one silver lining of these failures has been the support I have received from the Senegalese researchers. If it wasn’t for their dedication and patience I would be weeks behind and not days. For that I am forever grateful and know that despite all of the hurdles I will be able to finish my research project in a timely manner.

Aside from the struggles with research we were treated to a lot of cultural experiences this week. Ramadan is a time of religious fasting in the Islamic world that began on June 7th. This religious observance requires adherents to fast from sunrise to sunset for one month. As a result, we’ve had a couple of issues with finding reliable food as most of the restaurants we frequent are either shut down or have limited food supplies. Nevertheless we’ve been able to navigate through these challenges and learn more about ourselves in the process; such as always trusting our first instincts. We learned this lesson on Thursday when we decided to venture out in the city for dinner. All of our troubles could have been avoided if we had called the restaurant beforehand but alas it was still an interesting journey to reach a satisfying end. Our next cultural trip happened on Saturday when we visited Kawsara a local village about an hour drive from where we are staying. This was a very enlightening visit as it gave us the opportunity to learn more about sustainable living and consider the role of environment in food production and the spread of disease. This was also a great chance to see life outside of Dakar away from the bustling streets to a quiet peaceful Sahel. Our last cultural exchange for the week was a return to Sandaga and a boat ride to Goree Island. We had a much more pleasant experience in Sandaga this time around as we had a guide, a plan, and a budget! I was able to find all I wanted and more and for a great price all thanks to our great Senegalese guide! After we took a lunch break we boarded the boat for Goree Island. Goree was once a slave port during the Atlantic slave trade. This beautiful island was the source of unexpected occurrences such as meeting the mayor of Goree Island, seeing sand art, being haggled by vendors, and standing at the point of no return. Overall this was a very powerful experience that I will never forget! I’m sad for this trip to end next week, but until then Fanaanal ak jamm (Wolof for good night!)