by Benjamin

Across West Africa, Dakar is known for its night- life--or, more accurately, early morning life. After arriving in the city, the students discovered that most of the dance clubs only start swinging after midnight (on the early side) and peak around three or four in the morning. Those of us living with young-adults know how much most Senegalese look forward to Samedi Soir (Saturday Night), when they can go dancing with their friends or their confused American host siblings. Samedi Soir is such an important part of the social life here that one street vender, annoyed at my refusals, exclaimed that without the money he couldn't take his girlfriend out dancing--as if that would convince me to buy a soccer jersey.

In addition to Samedi Soir, many SSTers celebrated Jeudi (Thursday) Soir. We had no class on Fridays, and, each Thursday, a jazz club spiced things up with an evening of live Reggae. The bands played Bob Marley hits interspersed with songs in French and Wolof.