Traditional Clothes and Car Rapides

My traditional Sénégalese outfit

Walking to school- colorful vans are Car Rapides

As some may noticed I switched the language to english, hope that helps. In other news I have found an internet café near my house in Wakam. When I say internet café I mean a small room with old computers and one empty desk where I sit, no bakery with sweet goodies or delicious cappuccinos but it's only costing me 250F per hour ~50 cents.
One of my older sisters is a tailor and recently made this outfit for me, I wore it to my internship on Friday and everyone was so excited to see me, a toubab (name for a white person) in a traditional outfit. Its actually more flattering than I expected it to be however its not the easiest to move around in especially walking through the sand which is a common occurance. But it definitely sparked more attention than my western clothing and I'd like to invest in more pagnes (the wrap on bottom).
I've thought about what I'm going to wear more here than I ever do at DePauw. I definitely miss my sweat pants and tennis shoes attire, it seems everyone dresses up here for class and I even see women walking to work in heels, which I can tell you is extremely difficult on the roads here.

If anyone has wondered why I've been MIA-- I have no internet connection at home and I lose power at least 5 times a week rendering the internet cafés useless. I can get internet at school but the computer lab is usually taken for classes plus I'm lazy and don't always like to carry my laptop to campus. But I'll admit I'm getting a little homesick and please please if you read this leave a comment on the blog, tell me what you're doing, email me your address and I might even send you a postcard!

The second pictures illustrates the construction zone on my way to school. Be sure to walk upwind of the men spraying tar or you'll get hit. There's no barriers so you just have to navigate the machinery, gaping holes, and traffic on your own. The colorful vans are Car Rapides. They stop to pick up and drop off anywhere -- just wave your hand to get on or knock on the side of the car to signal you want to get off. At rush hour they're completely full -- no personal space but its a nice alternative to the bus. Don't drop any change because it might fall through a hole in the floor.  Cost: 75F (<20 cents) to get home from school ~ 20min depending on traffic. I take the bus in the morning since it conveniently stops right outside my front door.

Plans for tonight, who knows. Not unlike being at school, making plans with people is not the easiest. I definitely miss having roommates like Chin around ready to eat, workout, go out together. It gets cold at night, I could really use that Christmas blanket Goff always wraps up in and some impromptu pancakes with Katie and Ellie or watching season of Friends with Heidi would be really comforting.