I've spent the past few weeks preparing for my study abroad trip to Senegal, and the most common questions I receive are in regards to my chosen program, and anything possibly relating to Western Africa. So I figured I would answer all your questions here.

1) Sadly, no, Senegal does not have lions. Or elephants. However, there are leopards, birds, monkeys, desert and more in one of the more geographically diverse nations in Africa. 

2) I will be gone for 4 months, 15 weeks in Dakar and 2 1/2 visiting family in Michigan. This means I am out of the Portland Area from September 1 - January 2.

3) No, people there do not speak English. Nor am I going to be sleeping in a hut in a village (well, most of the time anyways). As a former French territory, the national language of Senegal is French, along with one of the more traditional languages, Wolof. I am going to be in Dakar, a major metropolitan city of 3 million people. Jokingly, some have nicknamed it the "West African Dubai," but you get my point. The place is fashionable, chic, modern, and yet still traditional. There is a large gap between the rich and the poor, and it is easier to see in Dakar than it is in the United States.

4) I am studying with the SIT program, which focuses on National/Ethnic Identity and the Arts. So I am taking classes in French, Wolof, International Study Methods, and workshops/classes/lectures with professors, anthropologists, and artists.

Any other questions?

Now, for a little bit of information...

Picture courtesy of http://www.ipacific.com/senegal/senegal1.html

I am going to be in Senegal, as seen here on the Northwest Coast of Africa. For a frame of reference, Senegal is about the size of South Dakota.

According to the BBC country profile page, the Republic of Senegal has around 12.8 million people, and the largest concentration of the population is in Dakar. The average person lives to 60, and the GNI is at US $1,090 (2010). The main religion is Islam, and Senegal is said to be a "model democracy for African Nation" (thanks Hilary Clinton). After tourism, the main industry is agriculture. With the largest exports being fish, peanuts, petroleum products, phosphates, and cotton. Needless to say, very different than what I am used to.

Now, I am going to be spending most of my trip in Dakar, the capital, right there on the coast. 

Picture courtesy of http://www.infoplease.com/atlas/country/senegal.html

So yeah... That should start to show you all where I am going and a little bit about the country, I really don't know that much more myself. But I can not wait to discover more and share it all with you!