"I grew up in a household where everybody lived at the top of his lungs." Frank Langella

Hello, so today, I am going to take you on a little tour of my host family's house. I do not live with them, but I have breakfast lunch and dinner with them. I will take you on a tour of where I actually live, which also happens to be where I work, very soon. 

Welcome to the house of the Kane Family. Come inside! 

So here is our courtyard. This is probably where our spend most of the time with the family, other than when we are sitting outside, watching people walk by. The television doesn't seem to have a place as it often moves around the house. 

This is what I like to call "Mama's Seat". She is not the only one who sits there, but it's best to give it to her when she's around... unless the fold out bed happens to be in the courtyard also. 

Now this is the living room. We often watch the tv in the courtyard with the tv blocking the entrance of the living room. The living room is normally hot and full of mosquitoes so this is the next best thing. 

This is one of the bedrooms. Who is this beautiful person in my picture?

The kitchen is this way.

Almost there now.

Welcome to the kitchen. Where all the ceebu gen is is made. 

This door is on the other side of the kitchen. It's not the prettiest so I'll leave you to guess what the place it leads to looks like. It's where the wash stuff and put old things. 

So I think I've shown you all I'm able to show. There are more bedrooms, but I think you get the idea. The Kane house is a lovely home, mainly because the people who are inside I've learnt to love. Judging by the amount of people that are in and out of the house every day, I think the whole community feels the same way.

I hope you enjoyed your little tour. Please come and visit again soon.

19 Nov: "perhaps the most famous singer alive." - Rolling Stones (2004)

In England, you have probably not heard of Youssou N'dour, but here in Africa, that is like saying you've never heard of Beyonce. Youssou N'dour, or as Rolling Stones likes to call him, 'perhaps the most famous singer alive', is the most popular musician in Senegal. His name rolls off the tongues of the Senegalese people at least a few times a day. His style varies from traditional Senegalese music to pop, but the reason for his popularity does not stop there; Not only is he a musician, but he is a political figure. Youssou N'dour is the Minister of Tourism and Culture in Senegal. 

How does man do such thing? To win awards such as Best Contemporary World Music Album at the Gammy and also be a prized political figure. It takes skill. 

15 Nov: "A simple life is good with me. I don't need a whole lot. For me, a T-shirt, a pair of shorts, barefoot on a beach and I'm happy." Yanni

When we first same to Senegal, we used to spend our days with the trainees at the local school. They live all around Senegal and worked on a summer project that leaves them with a new qualification. Now, they're all gone and all we have are the pictures, videos and memories they left with us. They welcomed us to Senegal like we were long lost friends. It's a shame they won't all be in Kaolack to see us make it to the very end. The pictures are of the day they took us to the salt beach in Kaolack. 

14 Nov: "If I were a boy... Even just for a day" - Beyonce Knowles

Couscous and milk. Susanna and I can't get enough.

Going for a new look today.

Nice figure for three kids.

Two 'brothers'

The pattern on my boubou

Maguette

Taking long to decide on an outfit the like a true girl

Mountaga our host brother 

with the guys

What we earned for the night - biscuits, rice, couscous and some money. 

Maguette looking like a girl again

"Are you excited for Tamkharit?" I ask, receiving a shrug and and a mumble. I'm immediately sad. Tamkharit is meant to be the Senegalese equivalent of Halloween, but everyone is so calm in the morning with little mention of the night that I begin to think it may just be like any other day. Well, I was wrong. I was very wrong. 

Arriving at the house for dinner, I'm given my favourite Senegalese dish, couscous and milk. Although we have it often, every bite is like the first, the day I fell in love with this simple yet scrumptious meal.

My friend Maguette arrives with her sister. I almost don't recognize her in her Tamakharit costume, which is to dress up as the opposite sex. Everyone screams and shouts. When I finally look away,  Master P is leaving his room in a floral dress that looks almost too good on him. The screaming and shouting gets louder. Now it's my turn. 

I run away looking through the amazing selection of men's boubou's in Mountaga's bedroom. Fatou Ba hands me a blue boubou and immediately regrets it when she realises how beautiful it is. I put it on anyway.

When all the girls in the house are ready, we walk out. Fatou Ba gets an idea, pulls us to the side and slaps us with grey powder used for cooking. Looking like 'true Senegalese men', we walk out, presenting our masculine selves to the family and friends.  I'm gifted with "c'est tres jolie", "It's nice" and 'rafet nga' before been whisked into the night, out into the street, to collect our treats of rice, biscuits, couscous and money.