Being abroad, there have been times when I felt overwhelmed with attention and also completely isolated. The best thing to do when you are feeling homesick or alone is to get out and explore. Luckily, my study abroad program focuses less on school work therefore I am able to volunteer, travel, shop, explore spend time with my family and make new Senegalese friends. Being in a host family, at first it seemed as though I was trapped inside my routine of school, home, beach on weekends. I did not realize how much free time I actually had until I started hitting up discotethques, meeting friends outside of my program, exploring around my neighborhood, visiting OTHER beaches and traveling on the weekends. I wished I had realized how much Senegal had to offer when I first got to here, because now I am scrambling around trying to figure out what to do and where to go before I depart from this fantastic country in one month! If you find that you have a lot of free time and do not feel as if you are getting the most out of your study abroad experience I suggest you get out there, and tout de suite, before your abroad experience comes to a close and you regret not doing all those things that you meant to do. I definitely have less free time than I expected but much more free time than I would at my university in the states. I have found that my study abroad program has allowed me to incorporate the perfect amount of travel/leisure/study time into my schedule. I can honestly say that when my 4 months is up, I will have felt like I got the most out of my study abroad experience here in Senegal. Don't waste time!!
My friends and I adventuring in The Gambia