What I wish I had known before going to Senegal:
- Bring photographs of your life back home because friends and family you meet will like seeing it to gain a better understanding of who you are. I was constantly asked about my family and Alabama and I had very little to show!
- Bring or send a meaningful gift (which does not have to be expensive) to your host family, if staying with a host family. I brought t-shirts for the family from my hometown, but other students brought framed photographs of their hometown and some brought artwork that they particularly liked.
- It will not be difficult to make friends with people from the country that you are visiting. Even if you may have trouble with the language of your host country, a lot of young people (no matter the country) learn some English in secondary school or college and like practicing it (often while talking about American trends and politics) with their new American friend (I was nervous about this before going!)
- For the women: expect to be hit on from men, young and old, especially because you are American. It can get annoying, but it can also be a fun way to make friends and discover the city.
- Bring money to travel: while it will probably be far less expensive than taking a trip in the United States you should be prepared to pay for a hotel, transportation, and food for about a week (most programs give you at least a week off for either spring or winter break). It can add up. (But don’t let it deter you. Traveling in your host country can provide some of your richest experiences abroad.)
- If staying with a host family, make sure to spend time with them. It can get difficult as you make more friends, take classes, go out- but maintaining a good connection with your host families can prevent bumps along the way. If your family has a tradition of watching ridiculously melodramatic Indian soap operas Wednesday nights (as mine did) join in, make it a habit too.