Little America

Do you know that song that starts out "one of these things is not like the others"? That's pretty much what I've come to realize Dakar is. At least in relation to the rest of the country of Senegal. Dakar is more like a little America. For example, from the Peace Corps office I am within walking distance of an actual supermarket. I'm not talking about a "toubab" store that you might find in a regional capital, this supermarket (Casino) is a magical place. An aisle full of different cereals, another that is stocked with cheese, yogurt, milk and miraculously, ice cream, even Ben and Jerrys. In Tamba we are lucky to find ice cream at all, and our choice of cheese is limited to laughing cow which I'm not sure counts as it doesn't have to be refrigerated. 

Did I also mention that in Dakar there is such a thing as take-out? And sushi? At least so I've been told, I've only seen the menu for the sushi restaurant, not the place itself, but for now, I'll remain a believer. It's almost like being in New York again. Well...ok...maybe that's a stretch. But it is closer then I've been used to since getting here 3 and 1/2 months ago. 

Saturday, 2 of the other volunteers and I went to an actual shopping mall. Complete with a food court, bowling alley and an Apple Store. I was so excited to see it until I actually got there. Not only did I feel as though it was sort of a tease (It was like you're so close to America and then you realize that you're still just as far away as you were before), it also made me stop and think about what my villagers would say if they ever saw such a thing. I'm honestly not sure that they would even be able to comprehend the idea of a mall. Many of the women in my village haven't ever left the surrounding area of Sare Alaji, and some have never even left the village itself. I could also imagine the look of the children's faces when they passed the merry-go-round. Eyes wide with disbelief. It's odd to me that a mall such as this exists in Senegal when the majority of the population not only will never see it, but also most likely would not be able to afford 90% of what was offered inside. These are just the things that pass through my head as I sit in the med hut and wait to be cured. 

Asalaa maalekum,

Rachel