a week in my flip flops

A Day in the Life of…ME!

I believe I did this last year, but I thought it’d be fun to do again.

My alarm goes off at 6 am. Well, technically it’s 1 am CDT. For some reason, my alarm clock resets itself to U.S. time so I always have to account for the time difference. I get ready, have devos and am out the door by 7. During the day, I teach 5 classes: algebra, calculus, 2 geometry, and trig/pre-calculus. My classroom is located on the third floor and it’s not air conditioned. Most days I don’t mind. The climb is nice exercise and my room is like a free sauna…haha Today though, it was quite hot. The heat index was 104º so you can imagine what it felt like in the classroom.

After school I complete a workout program called P90X. I highly recommend it. It’s pretty intense, but it’s also quite addicting. I’m even liking all the push-ups now. On Monday I have French, Tuesday-dorm relief, Wednesday I watch the sports teams and mentor a student in the evening with Thursday and Friday evenings free. On the weekend there is usually some school activity like intramurals, movie night, etc.

As you can see, the days wear me out so I go to bed early. During this hot season, I cool myself down by sticking my head under the cold water and letting it drip down my back. I also take a couple ice cubes and just let them melt on my arms and legs. Considering my alarm clock thermometer reads around 86º (not counting humidity) at night, the ice is a welcome relief.

On Saturday, I like to do my shopping. I take my big teaching bag to the store where I buy French bread and other things for the week. Then I hit up the fruit stand where I usually buy oranges, bananas, and some type of vegetable like salad or potatoes. Then I go home and bleach the produce that doesn’t have a thick skin. If I’m motivated, I’ll cook my food for the week. Since the meat isn’t the best here, I try to eat lots of beans and eggs for protein. I am also trying to eat more rice but that also needs to be run through filtered water 2-3 times before it is cooked. Yes dad, I have had lentils and rice several times now.:)

Sometimes I’ll go to the Saturday clothing market which is held in the middle of a street. Most of the clothes are in big piles on the ground. You dig through the piles that have preset prices to hopefully find some treasures. There are also some nicer clothes hanging up which you have to barter for. (Yes, I have done this several times.) Believe it or not, you can find some great clothes.

Sunday involves attending an Anglophone (English speaking) African Church. It usually lasts two hours and includes lots of music and a 40-45 minute sermon. After that, I’m usually pretty tired so I take a nice nap. Occasionally I’ll hit up the beach. Right now the water feels like bath water, and it is quite refreshing. Believe it or not, the water will get cold.

Well I think that includes the large aspects of my life. There are the little nuances like making sure to greet the guards, drinking tons of water, etc. I hope this gives you a small glimpse into my life here in Senegal. :)