Predeparture Essay

I wrote this the day before I left.


Seneal is a Muslim country suspended between Islam and the West. Though it was conquered by Muslims in the 11th century, it was colonized by Christian Europeans for several hundred years, culminating in French Rule from the 17th century until the 1960's. An African country at heart, Senegal carries a long history multiculturalism and self organized government struggling for peace.
Despite its muddy past, Senegal seems today to be a very peaceful nation. Since its independence in 1960, the nation prides itself on being the “most advanced Democracy in Africa.” In fact, despite the majority Muslim population, Senegal has supported suffrage for women since 1945. However, as a Muslim culture, Senegal places a strong emphasis on community and uniformity rather than the American model of individualism.
In the street, Senegal is not that different from a western country. Young and unmarried people wear clothes that typically fall under the American category of “business casual.” Only the older and married people sport the more traditional Senegalese garments made with ornate local textiles. The Senegalese also pride themselves on being well-dressed and very rarely wear ripped, worn, or dirty clothes. For religious and cultural reasons, it is also inappropriate to show ones legs. Despite the tropical temperatures, nearly everyone wears long pants and skirts. Even if ones' clothes are very low quality, it is important to look presentable.
Senegalese family structure is fairly traditional. Many house holds include extended families of 10-12 members. Families are as much of an economic unit as they are social. Many marriages are polygamous with husbands having up to four wives. Children, for the most part, are expected to live and learn as a group instead of pursuing individual interests and hobbies. Almost everyone works to support the family especially in rural settings. Family meal times are also very important to family structure.
Islam is very prominent in Senegalese culture. The marriages, and funerals and baptisms are all religious ceremonies. Social law is almost identical to Islamic Law. Every day, the majority of the nation comes together in prayer.
Music, Dance, and the Arts are central to society. Most are practiced and enjoyed in the street where, from a very young age, citizens learn to improvise with each other. Although I have never lived in a culture so creatively inclusive, I think I will take great joy participating in the variety of group activities, especially since it is so seldom found in the United States.
Perhaps the largest cultural difference, and also the hardest to adjust to, will be the emphasis on conformity. As an american child, I've always been taught to seek my own path and discover who I am as an individual. Conforming to a group for conformity's sake was essentially frowned upon despite the fact that most of us put quite a lot of effort into “fitting in.” Although it will be difficult to change my mindset, the challenges of conformity will probably teach me even more about myself as an individual.
In America, one of my strongest cultural influences has been the Catholic Church. Although the french catholic presence survives today in Senegal, the country is 94% muslim. In addition to my native language and race, I will also be a minority religiously.
As for the fashion, this will take significant adjustment on my part. Though there is certainly value in looking presentable, I usually err on the side of utility. Sometimes being a sculpture major makes one too comfortable wearing worn and dirty clothes. During my study abroad I wil need to make a conscious effort to dress nicely, not just to be polite, but to establish a good images for all Americans who will follow me.
On the whole I expect to experience severe culture shock during my time abroad. As of now, the only familiar elements of my destination will be those that I've read about in books or letters from friends. I have only actually met one person from senegal and two others who have visited. My conversations will all three of them were very brief but each time I received the same message: “You really just have to go there.”
With that in mind, I've had a considerable amount of time to sit around and ponder my upcoming voyage. All through this past semester at Syracuse I've had to reassure myself that I actually wanted to go through with this program. Time and time again I had to answer the troubled interrogations of friends who thought I might be losing my grip. “Why Africa?” they asked. I told them I wanted to know what it was like to be a complete foreigner. And each time I did so, I became more confident in my decision. But as their questions probed deeper, I had need of more sophisticated answers. Eventually I made a list of the experiences I wanted from my college career. I listed my options. I ranked them in order of importance. I listed pro's and con's. I discovered that I want to become a teacher, and that I seek out uncommon experiences. I no longer try to fit in. Instead I try to learn through difference and by challenging boundaries.
Emotionally, I feel quite prepared for the trip. Of course, I'll have to leave room for disappointment, but that's precisely why I feel so prepared: I'm used to disappointment. For a large portion of my life I've been an outsider. There was a time when I wanted nothing more than the comfort of conformity, but that time has long gone. In my years at Syracuse have taken many classes outside my major, and outside my comfort zone. All of my eight roommates have been in programs other than my own. This past year, I lived with four architects. Every night I was consistently cut out of conversation until I learned the vocabulary. Two these architects speak spanish as their first language, as do many of our mutual friends. Every time I hang out with them, I do my best to understand their their rapid Espagnol, which proves difficult since I've never taken classes. The unfamiliarity helps keep me on my toes.
I've been told many times that during my studies I should keep low expectations and be flexible. Growing up in a family of ten kids has taught me a lot about flexibility. I've always relied on older siblings for transportation, which meant that my schedule usually fell at the mercy of others. Even now, I do not own a car, and when I'm home for the holidays I must find rides or walk (not easily done where I live). This holiday, I decided to put the needs of my family first. Each day I woke up early to baby-sit my two-year-old nephew until his mother returned home. During the afternoon I would shovel snow, fix windows, do yard work, or feed the horses. If my parents needed me to drive all over town to run errands, I accepted. By putting other's needs before mine I learned a different way of organizing my time. In the rare times I found myself alone or with free time, I worked on essays, scholarship applications, and research. Many times my plans were canceled, my hopes were dashed, and my time used up, but I learned a lot.
For the past five months my family has hosted an eighteen-year-old french exchange student. Because of me study abroad schedule, I've been able to spend the last six weeks at home with him. This has given me plenty of time to brush up on my french before Senegal, and to observe the ways in which an outsider adjusts to a new culture. This provided valuable practice in learning new body language and non-verbal cues. This student was frequently shy and rarely spoke up when he felt uncomfortable. As a result, I learned to anticipate situations that might cause discomfort for him, even if they were perfectly normal for me. His questions and reactions to American behavior gave me insights into those traits that are specifically american, and also those that are particularly French. The peak or our cummunicative development occurred when he felt comfortable enough to make jokes, in English, about Americans, and later when I felt comfortable making jokes, in French, about the French.
Today the french student boarded his plane back to France, and tomorrow I board my plane to Senegal. It seems fitting that just as I observed the end of his journey I get to start my own. In the end, I think I've been very well prepared.