An impulse decision brought me to Dakar for New Years. Myself and a fellow new volunteer had plans to stay in Kedougou, but after a little convincing we joined a couple other volunteers for the trek up to Dakar. This is the first time I have left Kedougou since installing in October. Which is probably a bit too long to go without a Dakar-break.

Dakar is amazing (see previous post), but after being in Kedougou for three months, it seems like the promised land. So much food! And grocery stores with real isles! And I drank a latte! Sure is cost 6 dollars, but I drank a latte! I got a nice hotel room with a fellow volunteer and we watched TV! Sure the only channels in English were MTV and CNN, but I’m not complaining. It was amazing.

New Years was unbelievably fun. There were quite a few of my fellow volunteers from my stage in Dakar plus a lot of new faces. I couldn’t have imagined a better way to ring in the year 2010.

It is crazy to think that this will be my “Africa year”. An entire year spent in a different country, on a different continent. I’m not sure what 2010 has in store for me, but I’m ready! Bring it on!

PS – A huge thank-you to Dad and Debbie who funded this trip. I was able to really splurge (ie 6 dollar latte) and enjoy myself for a couple of days. Thanks!