11 Nov: "Live like it's heaven on earth'

To live in Senegal is to sing and dance every day. Every moment is a new opportunity to get up and start dancing. I hope this video will help you understand what exactly I mean.

Post by Precious Adesina.

10 Nov: "As kids, our experiences shape our opinions of ourselves and the world around us, and that's who we become as adults." - Chris Hemsworth

My exciting lesson on shapes.

 A star

because it decorates the night sky.

A square

because every side of me equally makes up who I am.

A moon

because it’s the sun of every evening.

A triangle

because there’s three sides to every story.

A circle

because I wish some moments were never ending.

A rectangle

because it’s those tediously long days that make great days seem so short.

An oval

because it’s the smooth rock you take home from the beach on a summer afternoon.

How did I become the person I am today? Isn’t it weird to think that every moment in your life, every person you have ever spoken to, every place you have been to, every book you have ever read, every friend you have ever made, has shaped you into the person you are in one way or another. You wouldn't be exactly the same person who were today if you had decided to stay home that one day or if you had decided to go out that other day.

What about the other way around? What sort of dent to you leave in the lives of the people you meet each day? As I think of all the eager students I have before me each day, I can't help, but wonder who I will be to them. Will I be the girl who taught them a bit of English many years ago or will I be something more? Something special.

5 Nov: DANCE v. 'move rhythmically to music' - Oxford Dictionaries

Families watching the drummers perform

The lovely Maguette invited us to an exciting drumming session next to her house. Many locals gathered around to watch the array of drummers perform to the best of their ability. Before we knew it, people were jumping up to flaunt their dancing skills to the crowd. How I ended up being one of then, I do not know.

4 Nov: “In learning you will teach, and in teaching you will learn.” ― Phil Collins

Post by Precious Adesina.

The best thing about teaching is the victory you feel when a student truly understands what you have taught. We're not even two months in, but I am happy with how fast our students are learning. Being an English teacher in Africa forces you to learn many things: patience, perseverance and that you really need to have a passion for this sort of thing. 

In the video, Papa Ndene is practising some of what I have taught him. It isn't long as he was quite nervous due to a few older students watching me record him. 

3 Nov: Your World by Georgia Douglas Johnson

Your world is as big as you make it.

I know, for I used to abide

In the narrowest nest in a corner,

My wings pressing close to my side.

 

But I sighted the distant horizon

Where the skyline encircled the sea

And I throbbed with a burning desire

To travel this immensity.

 

I battered the cordons around me

And cradled my wings on the breeze,

Then soared to the uttermost reaches

With rapture, with power, with ease!

2 Nov: “First they ignore you, then they ridicule you, then they fight you, and then you win.” ― Mahatma Gandhi

As I look at my opponent, I see a glint in her eye from the African sun. She pushes back her gold mane before presenting her deadly claws. She is ready to attack. Like a lion, she pounces towards me and like a tiger, I pounce back. I can just about hear the crowd screaming my African name under the voice in my head repeating 'You have to win. You have to win.' It causes my angry glare to transform into an awkward smirk. But no, I smiled too soon; the crowd's roars were slowly transforming from the beautiful 'Ramatoulaye' to the repugnant 'Aisatou'.

'No', I growl, shaking my head at the crowd.

Now, I have to do this. I have to win. To lose would be to give in. To lose would be to admit that she is the dominant one. To lose would be to say that she is leader of the jungle. But we all know that is not true. This is my territory.   

1 Nov: Pinch Punch First of the Month

The watermelons in Senegal are larger, juicer and sweeter than the ones in England. 

So November is the National Blog Posting Month. Who knows what that means? Yes, it means I will attempting to make a blog every day of the month. I couldn't be more excited. I'm sure you're also excited to have 30 days of non stop blog posting from yours truly. 

As watermelons are in season, and soon juicy mangoes, I couldn't be happier at the moment. My love for fruit will be fed during this season. I'm sure the family members have realised how much I love Senegal's mouth watering watermelons as I always make sure to consume every last sweet drop of the stuff when we have it after dinner. To them it's just a watermelon, to me it's a piece of heaven. My saving grace when things get tough.