By Balin, Nayeli, and Alice M

Hola! Me llamo Balin, (some sick bilingual action for you right there), and this is a blogpost being written in the Amazon about Banos. Forgive the delay as we do owe this blog post some photos. The leaders of the week were Balin, Nayeli, and Alice M. The blog will also be in three parts, each written by a different leader.

HOMESTAYS IN BAÑOS

I think for a lot of us Banos was a very very welcomed break. Banos exists in a perpetual Portland spring weather all year round. Theres also no bugs! And chips! And restaurants! Lots of things to be grateful for. Banos…

Written By Erin

Buenos Dias Todos! This is Erin writing to you from the lovely city of Xela where the gang has completed a second week studying with some amazing Spanish teachers and partaking in adventurous activities. Let’s look back at some of the highlights!

Written by the instructors

What a wonderful two weeks we have spent in Temento Samba! Our departure early this morning was bittersweet, with plenty of excitement for the adventures ahead but sadness to leave the beautiful place, the wonderful people that we met, and the slower pace of life there.

We stayed extra busy in our final days in the village…

Written by the instructors

Yesterday morning we had a “cow party” – people went to search for the bark from a special tree to pound with mortar and pestle into small pieces. They mixed this with salt and water, and put the mixture into holes that had been dug in the ground just outside of the village. The cows are tempted by the scent of the bark, and then…

Carpe Mundi squad

Hey y’all (Carol told me that y’all read our yaks so i thought i would yak to y’all) So first things first , I hope y’all are doing well and I miss y’all !! Sahraha and I ( I’m pretty sure that’s not how you spell her name but its ok because she never says my name right hahah lol ) have currently been on a mission of catching goats we call ourselves the GOAT BUSTERS bahahah. We’ve picked up 10 plus goats on this trip no joke…

Espoir, Christy, Samba, Instructor

Today we hiked to Salikegne about 5k from Temento Samba. It is a busy town right on the border with Guinea Bissau. The morning hike was lovely before the sun got too hot and we saw some lovely birds and the rice fields at their dry state since it is now the dry season. We spoke with Sana, a friend of Sambas who told us of the struggle for Guinea’s independence. He currently works with an association that aims to bring people together from Senegal and Guinea Bissau to collaborate for shared economic prosperity and development…

Written By Caroline & Jane

Buenos Dias Todos!

It’s Caroline and Jane this weeks student leaderz. The city of Xela has offered its new guests a whole world of fun. Spanish classes, hot springs, waterparks, mountain climbing, and a nauseating amount of bussin’ baked goods. Spending five hours a day at a school might sound like a bore, but our time at PLQ….

The Instructors from Senegal Program

We’ve spent almost a week in Temento Samba now, and its been so special to get to know, especially since it’s the home village of our instructor, Samba. Students have been spending lots of time with their homestay families as well as starting on their ISPs, and Djembe lessons from our wonderful teacher, Mamoudou. Some ISPs include tailoring, cooking, learning to play the Kora and Djembe, construction and traditional architecture…

By Sahra

I’m learning how to tailor. The first month it was so hard trying to pick what i wanted to do for my independent project but during our trekking i realized that learning….

By Sahra

Hey, I’m loving Senegal more and more. We are currently at our second homestay in temento samba. I wasn’t as nervous going into this homestay but i was scared not knowing a lot of Pulaar but using my book as reference really helped. Anyways the first couple of hours in my homestay i got to walk with my mom to the community garden and help her water her section of the the garden. This really…