Getting Lost in Dakar && Mon Stage

So I have not been keeping up very well this week at all.

What happened recently?

So on Monday, because I had not exercised I came up with the brilliant plan of walking home from work. I had never done this before, but I knew the way by car so it wouldn’t be a big deal, right? Wrong.

I decided I was following some car rapides but then some went one way and some others took another route. Well, let’s just say I took the wrong route and followed the cars going to Parcelles (a less privileged area in Dakar). I noticed that all the buildings looked strange but I kept walking hoping that somehow it would become familiar. When I saw the sign to Parcelles and no sign saying Mermoz, I knew I was lost. I asked for directions from some ladies walking for exercise – I felt good that my French is competent enough for me to ask for directions altho I had to ask for her to speak more slowly when she was responding.

I was told to take the next left turn but I only ended up in a little neighbourhood.

I took forever to find my way to a main road, asking directions all the way. It was pretty ridiculous because I felt like I was being pointed in arbitrary directions – but I had to find my way home before sunset. When I saw the name “Mermoz” I thought I was close, but Mermoz is huge. I was walking for more than an hour, when I saw a familiar sign and had a little celebration in my head. I still had a little walking to do, but I was walking in the opposite direction that I would take with the carre – so I basically had doubled my journey walking away from my house to only have to turn back by cutting through residences and dusty non-asphalted roads. I thanked God when I reached home, safe and sound – but no worries, I’ve walked home since and it’s been fine.

Tuesday and Wednesday, I went to work as usual. The workers are much more comfortable around me now, and sometimes greet me in Wolof haha.

I’ve noticed that Marie-Rose is no longer at La Poupponiere, which means she is now with her adoptive parents – so lucky. I noticed another lady always with Yacine and she is adopting her (Marie-Rose’s crib neighbour). Yacine’s new mom always sees me working with the twins – she asked me if I was adopting them. I wish! I just explained to her that I was volunteering and I can’t help but love the twins. Me – adopting? If only I could.

A Senegalese worker with my twins!

I am so used to puke and poop – I still can’t believe that it’s nothing to me now. When Cheikh literally peed on my foot when I picked him up while changing him, I was just like “really?” and then proceeded to wash his tush.

Boy, I am certainly going to miss my babies when I do leave.