Les hommes senegalais!

I got a wonderful package from my wonderful mother last week... but because it was so heavy, I had to take a taxi back to Mermoz and I had an interesting experience on the way home with the taxi man...


Negociating (waxalay) with the taxi man as I'm holding a heavy package...
A: Asalamaleikum!
T: Maleikumsalam!
A: Nangadef?
T: Magefirek.
A: Ana wa ker ge?
T: Nungi fa.
A: Alhamdelay!
T: Alhamdelay!
A: Mosqué de Mermoz. Naata la?
T: 2 mille (2000)
A: AH! C'est trop cher! 500.
T: 1000.
A: Déedet. 500.
He drives away and then honks his horn for me to get in (btw, this is pretty standard for getting any taxi in Senegal).
So I get in and he starts off...
T: You are so beautiful... So I've always wanted a white girlfriend. Do you have a boyfriend?
A: Oh haha... Why do you want a white girlfriend when the Senegalese are so beautiful?
T: I find white girls more attractive. So will you go out with me?
This is as he's making wrong turns everywhere en route to my house. Thank god I'm a local and knew how to yell at him to go the right way...
A: Well.. I have a boyfriend and he'd be really angry if he found out I went out with you.
T: You're boyfriend isn't here. Is he back in the USA?
A: No, he's Senegalese and he's going to beat you up if you continue to do this.
T: That doesn't matter. He doesn't have to know. I live just over the VDN (main highway), you can come to my house.
A: No no no! Turn left here! I need to go home. I can't go out with you, I already have a boyfriend. 
T: (He ends up turning left) Well you can just give me your number and I can call you.
A: Hahaha... Why don't I look for another white girl for you?
T: No, I only have eyes for you.
A: Well, I have a lot of American friends that you could possibly go out with... turn right here!
T: No, I only want to go out with you.
(He turns in front of the mosque)
A: Why are you doing this? I know that I'm white, but I live here. I'm Senegalese. You wouldn't do this to a Senegalese girl. My name is Mariama Diallo and I'm Pular. My mom would not be happy with you.
(just for the record... I'm internally freaking out at this point, but trying to laugh and smile.. and get into my neighborhood where people recognize me)
T: I'm Pular also! That's why you should go out with me.
A: (shit) Tahawal! Tahawal! (Stop! Stop!)
T: No, not until you give me your number and go out with me. I want to be your husband.
A: No, I can't be your husband. I already have a boyfriend and he's going to beat you up.
T: Just give me your number.
We get in front of the grocery store where the people inside know me really well.
A: Fine I'll give you my number... Just stop the car.
He stops the taxi.
A: Do you have change for 1000?
T: Non.
A: Really? You don't have 500 cfa?
T: Non.
A: Okay, I'll go try and find the money for you.
I get out of the taxi and want to kiss the ground, but I run into the grocery store with my heavy package and tell the owner that this guy was giving me trouble and I still need to give him money. The owner then asked me what happened and I described it to him quickly. Suddenly, he takes the money to the taxi man and yells at him for about 3 mins. lol. It was great. When the owner came back in and I said: "Les hommes senegalais!!!" Then he promptly told me that not all Senegalese men are like that and to not judge all men in Senegal by this one man. I told him that it's difficult to be a Tubab in this country sometimes, but it was a funny cultural experience! He then offered to carry my box home for me and I said I could do it myself.


Yeah... fun stuff.
I'm getting really anxious to share my experience here with my family and friends. It's going to be just great.
Peace and love,
Alyssa






Nothing to do with the subject.. but here are some cute pictures.

This kid woke me up while I was sleeping and started throwing things around my room, demanding we take pictures, and then ran off with my glasses. Nevertheless, they're pretty cute.