am I in a coma? why haven't I woken up yet?

From Thanksgiving until after I get back to the States my life has been and will be a rollercoaster of emotions. Saying goodbye is going to be really tough-- i still haven' quite registered that I am actually leaving and that leaving means possibly never seeing my families here ever again.

I felt so proud of myself, feeling all independent Saturday morning after I managed to get myself and my 50+ lb internal frame backpack (and two coconuts and two grapefruits which i bruoght back for my host family) back to Dakar without getting mugged or spending more than 550 fCFA (pennies over a dollar). I was so proud that I had mastered the Senegalese transportation system, that I spoke enough languages to get me by, and that I had lived here long enough to know the back streets of this country's capital.

Then I got a phone call from my mother and hated the fact that I was here and hated that I was knocked off my high horse left feeling so helpless. I called the administration of the program begging them to consider letting me leave early-- they were sympathetic but seemingly equally as devoid of control as myself. Their logic was simple, fair, and understanding. My circonstances were timestamped, costly, and sudden. If I can find a plane ticket- one that is even remotely within reason concerning cost- I will be leaving Dakar, Senegal Thursday evening for Australia. The chances are slim that I manage to find anything that will get me there in time, so really, I can with 75% certainty say that I will be back on US soil the 14th of December.

Today after a semi group reunion, a couple of us adventured downtown to look for Peterson street, rumored to be the Chinatown of Senegal. When we got there we found that it was basically just a market run by Chinese people. This was absolutely nothing to be upset over, as Eva, Licia, and myself managed to get shittons of free stuff. All the vendors were pretty surprised to see two Asian faces (though some told me they thought Licia was Asian too) on the opposite side of the counter. Most Chinese people in Senegal are here on business, usually the ones who stock all the merchandise that are sold in the markets here. It all started when Licia and I bought earrings for 200-250 fCFA a pair (50 cents) from one vendor who I spoke to in Mandarin. While walking away, Eva and Licia saw a yellow clutch and white pair of sandals at the counter of some other shop they they liked. Speaking in Mandarin again, I tried getting them both together for 1000 fCFA. The guy behind the counter gave them to us for free.

Then, the most unbelievable encounter was with this one guy which I actually ended up taking a picture with because I could not believe that he was so nice. He told us we could have anything we wanted. I thought he was joking and told him to give me a plastic bag so I could take the rack of earrings with me. He was not. He handed me a bag and while I unbelievingly filled up on earrings, he pulled out a couple more pieces of bagged jewelry from behind the counter and gave those to me too. He also handed Eva this silver snake Egyptian looknig wrap around thing (wow, coudl I be any worse at describing it?) for free. Its usually sold for 8000 fCFA (though only 16 USD, 8000 fCFA is worth quite some bit here).

Tomorrow morning probably around 6am or so I am going to try leaving Dakar again back to Sébikotane where I will be spending Tabaski. I hope to God that I can actually find transportation, though I know it will be unfathomably difficult. Inshallah.