Monday, June 25, 2012

Hey there,

My name is Chantelle Dallas. Maangi tudd Madina Tall (in Wolof). I have a Senegalese family and they renamed me 'Madina' so that I have a Senegalese name too! My family is Muslim and I live with my host mom, two host sisters and the maid. My family is really great and they feed me a lot - literally. Not that I mind too much.

Me about to enjoy a mango that an old lady vendor gave me for free when I was with my host mom. Mangue de pomme - Delicious!


After settling in with the family, I had to get to the meat of the matter - my projects here in Dakar. For those who may be wondering what exactly am I doing in Dakar this summer... Well, it's pretty simple. I am volunteering and getting language training as funded by a Fellowship from my school, Grinnell College. 


I work at an orphanage for kids between 0 and 12 months. The orphanage is called La Poupponiere de La Medina. It is a Catholic run organisation. I work with the youngest ones, from 0-6 months and they are so adorable! You can check out the orphanage here: http://www.dakarpouponniere.com/en/index.htm

What do I do? Well, just about everything. Playing with babies is all fun but the real work is when they all start crying. Don't even mention when it's time to change the babies - it's not my favourite part of the work day, but it's part of the job. Most of these babies don't have parents and the ones who do have parents are at the orphanage until the parents can afford to take care of them.

I don't have any pics of the babies as yet because we are not allowed to take pictures "pour le bien-etre des bebes" but I have plans to get some pictures in before I leave - with permission of course!

As for my language training, I am taking French and Wolof classes. Wolof is an ethnic language widely spoken in Dakar and totally new to me - but also really fun to learn, I have a really great Professor. French classes are a continuation of what I've done in school previously (high school and college) and I get to practice my French in communicating with others mostly, so it's all good.

My job and my classes take up 40 hours of my week, not leaving me with much time to see all that I want to see! But, I have 5 more weeks, so I hope that I will get to squeeze in more stuff... all which I will update you on.

1 comment:

  1. yay! ure finally on :D
    Pity u never go to the wrestling match but hun doa mek di 40 hours of volunteering and training be all you do...and walks to the beach...get out di house and experience Senegal!

    ReplyDelete