Mindless Altruism

hospitality |ˌhäspiˈtalitē|
noun
the friendly and generous reception and entertainment of guests, visitors, or strangers.
No it’s not meth I’m cooking up- but rather that fantastically indescribable local nectar, Bissap.

I notice that I now pick things up at the store that I normally would never buy. Cartons of juice, bags of peanuts- snack food.  I really don’t like snack food. Heck, I’m even boiling up juice that I myself will never drink (sugar-free purple Kool-Aid remains my poison).

 When did I start doing this?

I think Senegal must be having some sort of effect on my reticent New England tendencies. This country (if you have been paying attention, class) is known for its teranga. Have you forgotten already what that means?  It’s hospitality, but more than that it’s a sort of philosophical code that is woven into the fabric of Senegalese society. You help people out- family, friends, strangers- because you never know when you yourself might be in need.
I have certainly experienced this deceptively simply epiphany numerous times in the last five months- the realization that people need people.  Living in Africa, or anywhere for that matter, can be hard.  If you don’t have someone around with whom you can laugh, vent or scream about something, then you’re going to be hard up get by in one piece.  
It could be that I have reached a ripe old age where I realize that I can’t do everything by myself, and that I need the people around me for support. And maybe that’s why the taxi drivers keep asking me “Am nga jekker?” or “Do I have a husband?”

Not many people at the beach in Popenguine. I sat down and watched my friends swim, while this dog who adopted us for our walk, came right up and fashioned herself a little dugout behind me and stood watch.  A perfect Senegalese.