Senegal (2): Memories and lingering thoughts
May 2, 2024
As the semester comes to an end, a bittersweet feeling begins to emerge. On one hand, I would want to take a break from the constant travelling, from all the stress that comes with adaptation to a new environment and a new country. On the other hand, the nagging thought of not being able to spend more time in a country that has so much more left to offer makes me want to stay here longer, so that I can better immerse myself in a culture that is so different from mine. Dakar has been a whirlwind of adventures. Whether it was the bustling roads, the sun-kissed beaches, or the savage nature of Sine Saloum, there was always something else that was different from what came before. The ancient african masks that attest to flourishing cultures before European colonisation in the MAHICAO was immediately accompanied by the lush greenery of the mangrove forests of Simal. While I was not revising for my exams, I used the opportunity to participate in activities with... Read More
Dakar (1): Africa
May 2, 2024
As we touched down, the heat hit us, much like it did between Paris and Rabat, but Senegal amplified it. Heat and sunlight were the first things on my mind. But Senegal, known for its Teranga, greeted us with unexpected kindness from random drivers who helped us with our... Read More
Paris (2): The adventures
May 2, 2024
Whilst in France, I had a mission: to test every kebab joint I could find in the neighbourhood. Ever since my installation in my host family, I started my meticulous research, and I am glad to say that I’ve tried out pretty much every single Arab/Turkish fast food place in... Read More
Rabat (1): The land of the setting sun
May 2, 2024
Have you ever seen a Moroccan Medina before? I haven’t before going to Morocco. And you should definitely visit one. When we arrived in a riad, a traditional moroccan house which is designed towards the interior (there are no windows towards the exterior and there... Read More
Morocco (2): Deserts, Seas, and Mountains
May 2, 2024
Almost every weekend in Morocco, I travelled. They were either APA organised visits or trips that were self-initiated. The first excursion was to Fez, the “Athens of North Africa.” The cultural (and geographical) heart of Morocco, Fez was constructed by the first... Read More
Paris (1): First Impressions
May 2, 2024
I remember stepping down from the aeroplane and breathing the cold, humid Parisian air. It was definitely a stark contrast to what I am used to: hot, torpid weather. Immediately, I was on edge. It was my first time in Paris since a short 3-day visit when I was 13, and I... Read More
Full Circle & Reflections in Paris
December 19, 2022
Just like that, the semester is at an end! While APA Multi-Country has technically ended for this semester, I’m still abroad. All of us flew from Dakar to Paris early on Friday, then went our separate ways. It was so strange to part with the APA group. We’ve all seen... Read More
Music/Dance/Culture in Dakar-Part 2
December 16, 2022
I’m back to tell you about the last part of a full and fascinating week in Dakar! Our day trip here was a visit to Gorée Island. Originally inhabited by Lebu people, the Portuguese were the first Europeans to reach the island back in 1444. Dakar and Gorée are at the... Read More
Music/Dance/Culture in Dakar-Part 1
November 28, 2022
It’s now our third weekend in Dakar! Things are moving fast, especially when our days are so jam-packed. I’m dividing last weekend’s events into two posts since there’s just too much to say. We kicked off the weekend last Friday afternoon with a trip to the... Read More
Study Spaces in Paris… and Dakar!
November 15, 2022
One of the most interesting parts of studying abroad is getting to know a city as a student, which is so different from just being a tourist. Tourists don’t need a good working environment with WiFi for multiple hours on a regular basis! All of us have WiFi and space to study... Read More
A Day in the Life in Rabat!
November 14, 2022
As much fun as I’m having in Dakar, I HAVE to talk about the FMS experience in Rabat. I’ll take you through a typical day in my favorite (shhh don’t tell!) stop of the semester. 8:00 am: wake up for class in my lovely room at the top of my host family’s house! I get... Read More
Back to the Beginning in Paris!
November 9, 2022
Hello and welcome to the 2022 adventures of APA Multi-Country! Over the next few weeks I’ll be catching you up about our semester so far and giving you updates on what’s left of this incredibly unique study abroad experience. First, a little about me: My name is Maddy and... Read More
Dakar Summer 2022!
July 19, 2022
Greetings to everyone from Dakar, Senegal! It has been a whirlwind experience arriving in the « pays de Teranga » (country of Senegalese hospitality) and acclimating to daily life here. As someone from a predominantly Catholic, Midwestern area, one of the main questions I... Read More
Goodbye (for now) Senegal!
July 27, 2021
After eight busy, exciting, interesting, adventure-filled (and exhausting) weeks, here I am at the end of my time in Dakar. A lot of people have been asking me what I enjoyed the most, and while there are so many cool things I got to see and do, what’s really stood out to me... Read More
Feeling Hungry? A Glimpse: Senegalese Cuisine
July 19, 2021
My classes and activities are starting to wrap up, and though I’ve had a wonderful time in Dakar, I am starting to count the days until I head home (eight). There are some aspects of Senegalese culture that I won’t miss – the traffic congestion and car exhaust, the lack of... Read More
