A Belated Introduction

I realize that some of you reading my blog may not know me or know what brought me here. So I thought I would supply a formal introduction. Currently I am a student at Hampshire College in Amherst, Massachusetts, USA, where I study international relations and foreign languages, with philosophy and economics on the side. I identify with being a global citizen, meaning that I seek to explore many cultures of the world. I rejoice in discovering new lifestyles and letting my impressions abroad enrich my individual person. Finding the small idiosyncrasies and deep-seeded traditions that define a culture is to me forever interesting and invaluable.

That said, I have found myself in Senegal by way of the organization Living Routes. Living Routes works in affiliation with GEN (Global Ecovillage Network). Together these organizations strive to promote the idea and practice of sustainable development around the world. Sustainable development is understood as development which is concerned with its social, ecological and economic impacts. In Senegal alone there are about 45 ecovillages working to transform themselves into sustainable communities. Organic agriculture, alternative energy resources, water sanitation and education are all examples sustainable practices.

During my 3½ month stay here I am working with other American and Senegalese university students, as well as with GENSEN (GEN-Senegal) staff to study, research and apply elements of sustainable development. Throughout the semester we will be working in a rural village in Northern Senegal, Guédé Chantier, conducting service projects that further Guédé’s sustainable aspirations. Meanwhile, we are studying more generally and theoretically sustainable development in West Africa so as to be able to bridge academic knowledge with practical work.

This is the scripted agenda of my time here. A part from that, I am here to improve my French, eat new food, play on the beach, hear people’s stories, explore religion, go on adventures, live life in a new way, and come home with a little more self-awareness, a little more global awareness, some new ideas and at least one bag of dates (the fruits, not the suitors).

Advertisement