Thoughts a week in to this thing...

As Erica has alluded multiple times, and I must repeat : Senegalese people are the warmest, kindest, most ready to smile people I've encountered. I particularly enjoy our interactions with guys who's primary purpose is to get us to buy something from them (a tour, a curio, seafood, etc.). Some are pretty driven and will stay on message (i.e. sell, sell, sell), but for the most part, if I start asking questions about what they are talking about, or move the conversation at all tangentially, we end up just having a brief conversation and say goodbye. I just get the impression that they would obviously like to sell something, but would prefer to just talk a bit, which is great fun.

Along with soccer, the national sport here is wrestling. We saw many kids wrestling on the beach, and I hope to catch some of it on tv tonight. Coming out of the water on the beach last week, I was jogging up to where we were sitting, and crossed paths with thing youing Senegalese guy. He stopped right in front of me and put his arms out straight at me sorta like a kickboxer and said, "mon ami, tu veut faire un peu de combat avec moi?" (my friend, would you like to do a little combat with me?" - with a huge smile on his face. I started laughing immediately and thanked him for the offer. He laughed a bit and continued on jogging down the beach with his friend. It was just a great quick interaction that I really enjoyed. Later that evening, I was taking a picture of Erica on the beach, and another young kid says to me, "you want me in there too, right?" with another huge smile. I dig it... I can't remember being anywhere else where people are so happy to joke and laugh with us. Solid fun.

I got 3 more minutes on me internet so will drop off for now. More later...