Only One Sketchy Yellow Fever Shot Needed
Unfamiliar With a Long History
My understanding of Western Africa before November 2024 was limited. The family and I had spent two days in Morocco in 2019, only months before Covid disrupted the world. Plus, Morocco is an Arabic country Northern Africa, not sub Saharan Africa.
Yet Gorée Island, the last piece of land of African land that slaves saw before making the treacherous journey across the Atlantic Ocean, was the only small piece of Senegalese history I was somewhat familiar with. The little knowledge I had was from a book I read a long time ago as well as an episode of the Amazing Race. Despite this past, I had gotten my yellow fever shot and now our school was here for the Teranga Cup and our school would see teranga in action. “Teranga” carries the sense of overall ultimate hospitality.
Teranga Cup
My flight was not part of reality t.v. or some sort of indentured servitude, unless you are prone to think of teaching in this light. That would be understandable for any New Mexican school teacher. This trip was the Teranga Cup at the International School of Dakar. The Teranga Cup was a three day middle school soccer, volleyball, and basketball tournament between schools in South Africa, Kenya, Egypt, and this year’s host country Senegal.
Traveling is Hard Work in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Massive Guns on Gorée Island
More challenging than the team selection and trainings were the flights to Dakar. Our first flight departed Cairo at 2:20 a.m. with the next flights stopping in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Bamako, Mali, whose airport reminded me of a poor man’s MAF, before arriving to Dakar. Needless to say, the flights to Senegal were more tiring than the tournament itself.
Sweet Surprises
Senegal was full of captivating surprises. The heat and humidity here in the Tropic of Cancer was one of them. But this also provided an ideal environment for sweet, delicious fruit. The bananas, pineapples, and mandarin oranges were super flavorful, like it was a party in your mouth. One can only assume this delicious food reflects the happiness of Senegalese people.
On top of this, I’ve never seen such an active culture. It wasn’t just a few individuals here and there, it was everyone across a wide range of ages. In the mornings on our bus to ISD, there were groups of 30 running together along both sides of the roads. Along the sidewalks next to the runners were more groups using exercise equipment along the Corniche promenade. Just in the shadows would be other groups leading exercise classes. And this was the early morning. This replayed after the heat and humidity of the day dissipated at sunset. Just in this short time in Dakar introduced me to a genuinely nice, happy, and active people.
Start of the Teranga Cup at the International School of Dakar
Game Time
Great Hospitality
Over the three day competitive tournament, our students had a great time. The boys squad won the volleyball tournament and barely missed out on first place in basketball. This tournament will continue next year, but this time in South Africa at the American International School of Johannesburg.
All in all, this quick trip to Western Africa piqued my interest in this part of the world.
Gorée Island
