Happy Sunday! Yesterday, I shared the inspiration behind SIN PRISA Travel and why I embarked on this journey. If you haven’t read it yet, check it out here.
Sénégal, located on the coast of West Africa, is a prideful nation for good reason. A thriving agriculture scene, incredible beaches, seasoned food, and beautiful Sénéglese people are a few reasons it is one of my favorite places on the planet.
I dreamt of traveling to West Africa for years and I am glad Sénégal was my first introduction to the region. I arrived in December 2021 for the first time and returned the following summer for an extended period (shoutout to Sénégal’s generous tourist visa for Americans).
My trips were not reminiscent of the glamorous vlogs on Youtube nor did I meet Le Président Macky Sall, although I tried. However, I was lucky to immerse myself and authentically experience Sénégal for all of its chaos and beauty.
Read on to find out what Sénégal’s bustling, chaotic, yet loving culture taught me.
1. Time with family, biological or chosen, is a gift. Spend it often.
From a young age I internalized the best I could do is give advice, gifts, and money – but rarely time to sit.
I used the majority of my time to produce, achieve, and earn. I believed it was the best time spent and if I focused my time in these areas I could give more; especially to my family.
Through experiencing Teranga, a Wolof word that loosely translates to a spirit of generosity and sharing, I learned time with others was the best gift I could give and receive.
Translating the Wolof word to English doesn’t capture its essence, it’s best understood via experience.
Teranga, as I have experienced it, is the highest level of care, love, respect, and time one can give to local people and foreigners.
If there is one family who embodies the spirit of Teranga, it is my chosen Diallo family. I could not imagine my second trip without them.
The weekly meals we shared.
The deep belly laughs we had.
The adventures we took.
The festive celebrations.
The care I received when I fell ill.
The time we simply sat together.
It was an unexpected gift and lesson, one I really needed. The time, love, and care shown to me raised my standard for how I show up for my loved ones and strangers back home.
2. Slow living and the correlation to inconvenience
“Slow living is not about living your life in slow motion. It’s about doing everything at the right speed and pacing instead of rushing.” - SLOWW
Although practiced in the West, slow living was a foreign concept to me. This is likely because I was the person who ran faster than Usain Bolt toward convenience.
In many regions of the West, we live in a world where 24/7 supermarkets, online shopping, delivery services, laundromats, personal transportation, and rideshare are the norm.
We can receive most things on-demand with minimal friction.
However, I learned over indexing on a life of convenience means feeling comfort and never really knowing discomfort. It means outsourcing tasks to be completed in record time and missing out on the process.
While Sénégal does not formally identify as a slow living nation, some of its cultures and practices are reminiscent of it.
For example, washing clothing by hand. I did not have the convenience of a washer until a few months in. So I spent 2-4 hours each week hand washing and hanging each item to dry.
Normally, I’d throw my clothes in a machine, select a cycle, and move on – having little awareness of the process let alone how many pieces of clothing I owned.
I certainly could have paid someone, but I questioned why I needed convenience. The only reason I came up with was “to get it done quickly”.
It was a headache in the beginning and I dreaded setting up the wash station each week. Nonetheless, it was an invitation to explore what else I can do at a slowed pace.
I experienced more inconveniences like limited transportation, power outages, and even no running water for 72 hours (which was hectic).
But what I once viewed as inconveniences turned out to be lessons on losing my grip on convenience and befriending discomfort.
3. Routines as a path to mindfulness
Back home, one day never looked the same for me. While I enjoyed the flexibility to wake up and do what I wanted, I struggled to be grounded in the present.
The westerner in me associated routines with driving productivity and success. The practice of routines among Senegalese people offered a different perspective.
I observed committing to a sequence of routines repeated on a daily basis, focuses the mind and brings full attention to the present moment.
I was amazed by the majority of people who practiced daily routines and never wavered – five daily prayers, exercise, and my personal favorite Ataya, a sacred tea ceremony that can last three hours.
This inspired me to adopt routines of my own, like beginning and ending my day with GOD and meditation. My daily routines have proven to help me be present and consistently show up for myself.
If I sum up the overall lesson in one sentence it would be – slowly experience life.
And what does that mean?
Amid the joy and chaos, be mindful of your speed. When you are moving fast, take a moment to ask yourself why.
Sénégal’s universal kindness toward foreigners coupled with a slow living culture, is the primary reason I recommend travelers visit. Especially if you grew up in the West.
I experience a rhythm of flow and peace that entices me to return each year. I’m convinced this feeling is unique to Sénégal and the beautiful people who call this place home.
Diereujeuf Sénégal, a bientôt. InshAllah.
Thank you Sénégal, see you soon. GOD willing.
Let me know what resonated most in the comments. I invite you to share snippets on social media or share with a friend.
Want to see more of Sénégal? Watch a 15 second recap of my trips here.
Next month, we’ll journey to Sweden, the country I’ve dubbed as the architects of living SIN PRISA. My summer of solitude was an introduction into Sweden’s values of balance, exploring the outdoors, and my personal fav — rest.
See you there,
E
Questions? Send me a note sinprisatravel@gmail.com.
Want to chat all things slow travel and trip curation?
Book time with me here. I’ve curated 20+ trips for solo, couple, and small group travelers. I’d love to help bring your trip dreams to life!
Interested in traveling to Sénégal? Check out the insights below.
Budget: $$
Best time: December - March
Best Transportation: Taxis
Primary Languages: Wolof, French
Roundtrip Flight: West Coast > Dakar – $1,000+ | East Coast > Dakar – $800+
Dakar Recommendations
Best neighborhoods: Les Almadies, Ouakam, Mermoz, and Yoff (Nord Foire)
Foods: Dibi, Poulet Yassa, Mafe, Soupou Kanja, and Thiéboudienne
Drinks: Bissap, Café Touba, Ditakh, Gingembre juice, and Casamance water :))
What an amazing share. I plan too book a vacation by winter of 2023 and I would love your help and advice for my experience.
Love your writing, I feel like I’m actually there. I remember hand washing clothes and hanging them up with my grandma. Looking back that was quality time. With all the new technology we sometimes forget how to just enjoy time without gadgets.