"No, I don't have running water. Yes, my host mom does work for a leading women's organization."

Don't try to deny that the first part of this blog's title is something you expect to find in an African country. And honestly, it's ok. I'm not calling you a bad person for expecting me to be living in a hut with no running water or electricity. This is the image of "Africa" that Western society has imbued in our minds. We can't escape it. It's literally everywhere: commercials asking you to donate money to the needy African villages; volunteer organizations leading mission trips to help better life in the "third world." These are some of the many pictures of life in Africa that we are given on the daily basis, and no matter how hard we try, these pictures continue to seep into our minds and affect our perceptions of the larger world.

I'm still having this problem even after being immersed in Senegal for three weeks now. I still have unconscious biases that affect what I expect to see every day and the types of questions I'm asking myself. Why are my host parents yelling at their 7 year old grandson? Why are there children begging on the street with their parents just standing idly by? Why is everything so dusty and why is there so much trash on the ground? Simple answer: It's Africa, this is to be expected. Right answers: (1) Yelling at a child does not mean a parent is incapable of raising them, nor does it mean they are abusive; mamas are just tough here and don't take any attitude whatsoever (I think we could use a bit of this discipline in the States). (2) There is a tradition in Islam to have children ask for alms in order to remind them of their humility, not because their parents don't have money. Although, sometimes this is the case, but you rarely see a homeless person lying on the street at night with nowhere to go. Almost everyone has a home they are welcomed into, regardless of their financial means (sounds like we could take a lesson from this too at home). (3) Guess what? Dakar is a coastal city! That means there is sand everywhere!! Also, Senegal does have an environmental problem with littering and air pollution, but guess what, so does everywhere else in the world!

Well now that we've debunked those questions, let's delve into some questions with a bit more complicated answers. Why don't all my black American peers feel immediately at home in Senegal? Isn't this where their ancestors are from? Let's look at this question from a bit more of a relatable standpoint to many of the people I know who are reading this blog: as a Jewish person, do you feel that you're immediately home when you go to Israel? Should you feel wrong for not feeling at home in a place where you might not speak the language, are not familiar with the culture, and with people who look nothing like you? This is the case for many Jewish Americans when they "return to the homeland." Yes, if we're dating ourselves back about 5,000 years, and if we believe everything in the Torah (oooh spicy!), we can see that our ancestors lived in what we now know as Israel. But that was so long ago. Since then, Jews have moved all over the world to Europe, South America, North Africa, etc. and have developed cultures and languages of their own. So it's ok, heck it makes total sense, if you don't feel at home in Israel if your family is from any other place. You grew up with a certain culture in your home, certain stories from your grandparents, and certain traditions. These are all similar experiences held by black Americans. Their families may have at once originated from the continent, but many of their families have not returned since. They have developed their own cultures, traditions, and stories in other places around the world. Also, one country in Africa is not like the other. Thus, even if one of my peers identified as being African American, meaning they identify as still having roots in Africa and that being part of their identity, they wouldn't feel at home in Senegal if their family wasn't from Senegal! These are the types of perspectives we need to be having and stop assuming that all of Africa is the same. Gosh, even cities within Senegal are so vastly different.

So, you may ask, "What questions should we be asking?"

The answer: none.

We need to start observing. We need to shut our mouthes and open our eyes. This is why I am hesitant and a bit frustrated when people ask me to send pictures of the "scenery." They want to see what Senegal "looks like." Well to be frank, I'm not sure you want to see a picture of a random building or just another sunset picture. Senegal is not a place of looks, but rather of feelings. I mean sure there are some incredible monuments and coastal views, but Senegal is place you have to experience for yourself. You need to open your eyes, open your ears, and open your heart to all this place and these people have to offer. Only then will you begin to discover the true essence of Senegal, and honestly, the true essence of any country.

So, what does it tell us about the Western perception that declared the presence of running water in a home as an indicator of socioeconomic status? One, that Western values are completely materialistic, and two, the West is simply wasteful. Do you know how much water is wasted by leaving a shower running? Honestly, taking bucket showers (when you literally pour a bucket of water over ur head) has truly changed my life and made me more conscious of how much water I'm using. And it makes me feel like a kid again! Before I go on a rant about the benefits of bucket showering, let's get back to the point of this post.

We need to stop essentializing African countries. We need to stop generalizing and being more specific (like when some ask me "How's Africa?" I could jut as easily say, "How's North America?"). We need to stop assuming and stop pretending like we know it all. Let's start seeing, smelling, tasting, and feeling places we never would think to travel to, because only then will you not be surprised when I tell you what my host mom does for a living.