The Day That I Stopped Trusting Scales #Sweet2Senegal

Quote of the Day

“Airplane travel is nature’s way of making you look like your passport photo”

THE STORY

Don’t trust your scales at home.

BACK UP

Today I arrived in Senegal.

Yes you read that right, this girl is on another continent so watch out!

After officially telling the Peace Corps that I would love to be one of 70 people to go to Senegal to be a volunteer, I got the job title of Sustainable Agriculture Specialist. After packing all of my items into two very large and overweight bags, we headed off to Washington D.C for a direct flight to Senegal. As we arrived at the airport, I started to get nervous. We were the first guests to be helped at South African Airlines to not so happy airline members. So here I am. Strolling up with what I knew was potentially two pounds overweight…or five pounds…. I was in denial and in my defense thought my home scale was accurate when it said it just weighed over five pounds.

I had packed a bag so heavy that the airplane members working the booth said that my luggage would have to be stored in cargo where the oversize CARGO goes which would cost a whopping $200 dollars.

After hearing to total of what it potentially would cost me, I started to scramble. I started putting all of my food in my ukulele case, my clothes in my carry on, and anything that would be able to make it through security on my back or in my friends bags that were there waiting for me. That is when the stressful emotions came out. I begged the airline attendants to wave the fee because I was a volunteer. Surprise though, they had no idea what Peace Corps even was. After I (in the most dramatic I have ever done) explained to them about the commitment of serving in a different country for two years and leaving my family behind they finally understood what it was. And guess what… They WAIVED THE FEE.

THE ARRIVAL

You know those people who look great getting off planes? The ones that wear the nice clothes and do their makeup before landing? I am not one of them. As we arrived in Dakar and got off the plane we walked across the tarmac to a bus that would take us to our luggage. As we checked in with Peace Corps, we loaded up on huge buses that would take us to the training center. And then…. The bus broke down. My theory? My bags literally broke the bus because they were so heavy.

So yes friends and family, I pushed a bus to help get it moving in Senegal on my first day, after the airplane ride, after crying and being dramatic in D.C., and in a skirt that covered my knees.

ANYTHING ELSE?

I am happy to be here. I have made some great friends and I have survived the heat so far. Looking forward to more sun,  more fun, and getting to know this beautiful country.

Next week starts training, language learning, and then some integration through living at a host families house for a couple of weeks! 

Get ready for this crazy ride!