While Guéoul sits only 40 kilometers (25 miles) from the ocean, the distance feels farther because there is no direct road. Not only that, the shortest line from Guéoul to the ocean cuts through a savanna of short grasses, shrubs, trees, and – above all – sand, on which travel is slow

When you have a problem in the United States today, often the conventional solution is to throw and app at it. Need help with your banking? Try your bank’s app or an account aggregator. Cannot keep track of your social media accounts? Try a social media app or an

Storm patterns here in western Senegal, between Dakar and Saint-Louis, are something to watch. Whenever the clouds start to form in the east or southeast and begin drifting overhead, a storm may be on its way. Here is one from just the other day: Lightning flashes southeast of Guéoul

Sorry for this cover photo, but it shows what mosquitoes can do to you in one night if they find a path through your bed net. According to the WHO, there were an estimated 219 million cases of malaria in 2017. Preventative measures are key.

Yesterday in Senegal was Tabaski, Senegal’s biggest holiday. It is hard to capture how big of a deal Tabaski is here, but I will try.

Senegal is a multicultural place, with lots of ethnic groups, local languages, and outside influences coming together every day. As such many languages are spoken here. Here are a few observations about Wolof, French, and English in Senegal.

Yesterday (8/18/18), the people of Gueoul held a 3k race with related events. We contributed, too, and overall 20 or more people contributed in important ways. About 300 people turned out for the event, with one green-topped tent lining each side of Gueoul's main street just outside the

In the American neighborhoods, the most commonly seen animals are probably domesticated dogs and cats, wild birds, and small rodents like squirrels and rabbits. Raccoons might be on the second tier. Here in Gueoul, the most commonly seen animals at this time of year are sheep, goats, horses, donkeys, and

Saint-Louis a fishing hub of Senegal, and most or all of the fishermen here live with their families on the peninsula just to the west of the island of Saint-Louis. (I note that the use of the term "fishermen" here is on purpose because I was told that

Saint-Louis is becoming more of a tourist city, and this post is dedicated to several of the hotels that you can find there today. First up is the Hotel Jamm, which is where we stayed. (Jamm means "peace" in Wolof.) The proprietor and owner is a French man

This weekend I took a trip to the city of Saint-Louis, Senegal (pop. ~170,000). Historically, Saint-Louis was the capital of the French colony of Senegal from the late 17th to the 20th centuries. It was also a stop-off point for famed French aviator Jean Mermoz, whose presence can be

Today is my 9th day in Senegal but only the 5th or 6th without a power outage. Outages are common here. While I’m not sure why, I’ve gathered two facts about electricity here: Senegal’s electric grid appears to be isolated. According to published statistics, Senegal’s percentage

Today this little bird kept tapping at the window. Was it trying to get inside? Did it see its reflection? This is my first post here from Senegal. Thanks for visiting.