#toutseul

So after reading my first post, my mother kindly pointed out that I did not explain the purpose of this blog. Oops. Silly me. You think that'd be kind of the first thing on the to do list... In mid-October this past year, I was selected along with just 4 other students from the University of Michigan to participate in a 5-month study abroad program in Dakar, Senegal, located on the west coast of Africa. The program is technically through a partnership with Michigan State University, which makes my Spartan-headed sister very happy.

While there, I'll be taking about 15 credits of humanities and social science classes at the West African Research Center (WARC) at the Université Cheikh Anta Diop, all of which will be in French, although what classes exactly I won't know until I get there and sign up. At the same time, I'll be learning Wolof, which is one of the native languages of Senegal and the one predominately spoken in Dakar. I'll be living with a host family (who I won't meet until I get there...yikes!), going to classes (which are 2 blocks from the beach!), and touring the city/country, all while speaking French! This is my first time crossing an ocean, as well as my first time relying on only speaking a second language.

IN SUM: the next 5 months are going to be quite the adventure!