I (Joyce) recently returned from taking Justine (13), Alexis (16) & our friend, David (16) to Senegal.

Senegal is a third world country - so this was less of a vacation & more of a "field trip of a lifetime" that afforded us an up close and personal understanding of what real life is like in Senegal ... a culture & climate as far away as it is far different from what we're used to in America.

We stayed w/ my brother (Uncle Jimmy), who teaches elementary students in Dakar, & his wife, Aunt Ramona. We visited The Door of No Return (former slave house) on Goree Island, capital city of Dakar, the school where my brother teaches, outdoor marketplaces, the beach, a wild game park... and Justine finally met her pen-pal!

In the days leading up to our departure I posted here what I knew & was learning about where we were headed. Once we arrived in Senegal, I had the kids post some things as well. Justine was our main photographer.

We're back now & still trying to record our experience as it was hard to keep up while we were there.

Friday, April 23, 2010

More pics from our visit to the T-boy Center

This littlel guy is sitting along the edge of the soccer "field"



They've started a little garden at the center. Amidst all the dust & rubble to see these boys tenderly nurturing their plants by scooping handfuls of water on them was just so sweet.







Right alongside the soccer field


Some neighborhood kids near the center that came & played near us


When the boys come to the center they place the money they've collected by begging here in cups with sticks with their name on it for safekeeping. Some don't know how to read their name so they will notch the stick to identify which is theirs.

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3 comments:

  1. Rita ManloveApril 23, 2010 at 2:14 PM

    Hi Joyce and all the family! I have to say that I just finished seeing all of the blog so far and was so touched. Partly because it brought back so many memories and your description of your experiences were exactly as I saw them when I was there. I kept having to push back the tears so I could read the words!! Rita Manlove

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  2. UnknownApril 23, 2010 at 2:16 PM

    Hi David, I've heard from everyone else, what do you think?

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  3. Joyce, Justine, Alexis & DavidApril 23, 2010 at 5:14 PM

    Hi Rita! WOW - what a fun surprise to see you here! Thanks for stopping in & letting me know ou were here :) I'm glad to hear from someone who knows that I'm doing an accurate job of reporting here :) Hugs from Dakar!

    Eric... stay tuned. David is typing away in response to your comment :)

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