Here is your Wolof language lesson for the day:
Naa nga deff? How are you?
Maa ngi fi rek. I am well.
We started our first school visits! The first stop was a private elementary school in Dakar called Les Hirondelles. That's French for "The Swallows," a type of small bird. The classes are small at the private school. The children are very polite and curious.
This is a preschool class. Their teacher was playing a welcoming song on the drums for us.
The students were very polite and each got up and said "bonjour, comment ca va?" meaning, good morning, how are you?
This is a kindergarten class.
This is first grade. They are practicing handwriting. Their handwriting is beautiful, they take it seriously.
This is Ms. Akinola-Massiquoi. She is my partner teacher form New Orleans.
Here is a lesson for the fourth graders.
In this private elementary school, kids learn English early. Typically in public schools, students don't learn English until middle school.
This girl is in the student government.
This is the terrace where the students take their break time. There's not really a playground.
This small room is the library and the computer room. There are only four computers and there are very few books. They would like to have some books in English so their students can learn English better.
These were on the wall of the school. What do you think these signs are trying to tell the students?
The students wanted to show is a song they know in English. They were very good!
Here we are with the principal and some of the teachers of Les Hirondelles.
On the way to the next school, we stopped at an outdoor exercise area next to the beach. There is exercise equipment for anyone to use with an amazing view of the ocean, and in the evenings, tons of people are out getting healthy and enjoying the view.
The cliffs look beautiful...
but there is a lot of trash blowing around and left on the ground.
After that quick stop, we went back in to the city for lunch. There is a lot of traffic. People walk between the cars selling things. Our host teacher, Aissatou, bought some cashews from the vendor up ahead.
We went to a Senegalese restaurant for lunch.
This is a traditional dish called chicken yassa. It was delicious.
Here is the owner of the restaurant waving goodbye to us. There is an expression about Senegal- that it is the land of teranga. Teranga means hospitality. The people here are truly hospitable, friendly and helpful.
Our last school of the day was a small city high school. Small means 1,500 students and 200 teachers. The teachers are on strike in Senegal so there were not many classes going on but we got to see a few science classes and a Portuguese Club meeting.
This is a teacher locker!
I sat next to this boy in a chemistry class. the challenge on the board was to correct the element symbol and match it to the element. He was really into it and wanted to be the first one done.
(I helped him a little).
Ha ha ha, this girl's face is so funny. She reminds me of you guys sometimes.
This is another science class. They were studying physical science. I asked the girl in blue if she thought it was difficult and she said no, her teacher explained it very well, so it was no problem.
Here is a lesson on reflection and refraction.
An empty lab classroom.
The students sit next to each other at these desks.
The Portuguese Language Club is having a performance so they are practicing their dances.
This is what the courtyard of their school looks like.
The students here were so smart and confident and friendly. The love speaking English. Their advice to American students who have a hard time staying motivated in school is to think about other people and their successes- if they can do it, think why not me?
