So a friend of mine wrote me an email with a bunch of questions he was curious to know about Senegal. He said I have covered the main points, but that he was curious to know about the “underground” Senegal, as he called it. I thought I would paste his email here so that I could answer them for everyone.
I was wondering what the car ratio was out there. Do people have buses or only cabs?
What are the gas prices like?
Most of the upper class families have cars (some even have Mercedes and Lexuses), but honestly, they don’t drive them all that much – probably cuz you have to be completely psycho in order to want to drive on these roads. Drivers here are worse than in New York or Chicago! And there are probably as many cabs/buses on the road as cars, so I think most people choose to take public transportation if they don’t walk.
As far as gas prices, I have no clue. I think they use a different type of gas here. I’ll check into it.
What entertainment is there that the mass population attends besides television?
Movies, concerts, libraries, zoos, aquarium…?
Young people really like the night scene here. There are a lot of clubs with live music and stuff. People don’t really go out to eat (except the tourists). Instead, going to peoples’ homes to eat is a very social activity here. And also, things like weddings and baptisms serve as a good social environment. There are movie theaters and libraries, but I don’t think movies are as popular as tv here, and libraries are not as social as ones in the US, mainly because those who are lucky enough to study ACTUALLY study. I don’t know if there are zoos or aquariums, but those would certainly only be for tourists – people don’t usually have money to burn here.
What about the night life?
Bars, clubs, smoke shops, house parties…
The nightlife is amazing here. I’ve been to a few clubs to see live music. Everybody loves to dance here – and everybody is really good at it. Young people like to go to “boites” (nightclubs), but the party there doesn’t usually start until 2am apparently.
I’ve heard some house parties from my home – lots of American hip hop being played. And I know a few friends who have been to some house parties, but I personally have not.
I know the night life is there and I know that entertainment is there, but from my American perspective, what is different. What is African?
Not that much – expect that people are speaking Wolof, SOME of the music being played is African, people are black, and there is a lot less drinking (b/c most people here are Muslim).
You said it was Americanized…but what are the subtle differences? What are the teaching methods like in the schools? What is the over all “style,” clothes, fashions, catch phrase, drug of choice?
The general teaching method is school kinda sucks. We get talked AT, lectured. Here, the teacher has absolute authority and respect, and so kids here are perfectly content to hear a teacher lecture for 2 hours straight. School is such a priviledge that I suppose people don’t want to waste time with mental masturbation a.k.a discussion.
Styles vary widely here. Some people wear very American clothes – jeans, name brands, the works. And yet, there is also a large population (probably 75%) that wears very African clothing (especially among the older generations). The clothes are long (lots of coverage – looks so hot) and fabrics are made with very bright bold prints. I’ll try to get some pictures, which would do a better job of showing you what I mean than my inadequate descriptions.
Your in an American type place, have you gotten into the outback or will you?
Not yet, but we have a week break next month, where I may travel to The Gambia, Mali, Mauritania, or the Eastern part of Senegal. Also, in November we have a group rural trip for 6 days. That should be extraordinarily interesting.
