Senegal
Differences Between U.S. and Senegal
By Khadim Ndiaye
The first thing I noticed when I came to the U.S. is the weather is different because I moved here in Winter 2021 and it was very cold for me. I wore only a t-shirt and it caused me muscle problems so I stayed inside for one week without going out. The U.S. is much colder than Senegal.
The second thing is the language; it was very difficult for me to solve my problems, like to communicate with people then when I went to the grocery store to buy some things. I didn’t know what words I had to employ for that. That’s why I took English class to improve my English step by step and now, I am not afraid to talk with people.
The last thing is about my study at SPSCC by taking online classes. It was my first time to take it so I asked my advisor to help me about that and with the ease of my teacher Heather, I was finally able to take it without any problem.
Finally, I think if you want to succeed in the United States of America, you must be motivated and stay focused for what you are doing because the U.S. is more complicated than your home country. I have learned a lot of things in America starting with the food, the transportation etc. It’s a good country because there is a lot of opportunity for everyone.
Best Places to Visit in My Home Country
By Ngone Ndiaye
If you haven’t chosen Senegal as your vacation destination, you have missed out on a lot. We have many places to visit in Senegal. It has a rich and diverse history variety of attractions. When I was a teenager, our school wanted to organize an unforgettable holiday. We planned to visit some places and I literally fell in love with two of them. It was not only about their beauty but also about their stories.
On the first day, we visited African Renaissance Monument. Once in front of the Monument, I was overwhelmed by the beauty. It’s the tallest statue I have ever seen in my life and it’s also the tallest statue in Africa. It showcases a man, a woman, and a child. The statue was built to commemorate the 50th independence anniversary and is meant to symbolize the triumph of African liberation. We had the opportunity to take the elevator to the top of the statue and we felt like we were at the center of the world.
The next day we took a ferry to get to the island of Goree. We had a beautiful view around us. It’s a calm place with no cars and no pollution. There are several talented artists that have galleries throughout the island. As visitors, we had the opportunity to take a variety of workshops where artists gave a demonstration of making a painting. This was great for cultural exchange with the local talent. Before leaving, we wanted to know the history of the island of Goree. We visited the House of Slaves and ‘’The Door of No Return’’. It was one of the slave warehouses through which Africans passed on their way to America. I was surprised to be able to see the place where our ancestors were taken and sent away on slave ships. After that, we finished the day on the beach and enjoyed the holiday.
Once back at home, I remembered everything I had seen on the trip I felt sad but grateful and proud of my ancestors and their courage. It was a great moment in my life. And it was one of the best holidays I had when I was a teenager. I will never forget it. I convinced my family to go again together. We learned many stories but also enjoyed our holiday.
