Good-bye, Dakar. I will miss you.

Yesterday, I had time with Iba, Badou and Saliou for the last time for this trip.  Iba, as usual, was his usual taciturn self as we had our last fish and rice platter on the beach.

 I was very glad when he told me that his internship was turning into a paid job.  That will be so great for him and his family.  He's also very happy that fundraising for the school is almost complete. I owe great appreciation to Iba for finding Ameth, with whom I will continue a relationship.

Badou came by in the evening  and Saliou and he worked hard on Saliou's website.  They will forge a life-long friendship and partnership, starting with Badou's immediate assistance with the website.  It makes me very happy to see them working together. They are both very fine men.  Badou and I hugged repeatedly until he said he had to go before he started crying.  I think I heard him the stairs.

Saliou takes maximum credit for organizing my trip, including finding lodging for me and encouraging a trip to Casamance, and all his guidance during the trip.  We became close friends during our travels and shared experiences.

Pascal and his family,  the families of Iba, Ameth, Badou, all entered my heart.

Very early this morning, Saliou called a taxi for me and escorted me to the airport.  It was a quick trip with no traffic at 6 am, taking about 45 minutes, about the same as Boulder-DIA.

When I first arrived in Dakar, I was overwhelmed by the pollution, traffic, underdevelopment. In parting, I can say that Dakar did find a place in my heart, through my friendships, especially with Saliou and Badou.  Dakar is a crazy, dirty, overcrowded city, but somehow it is also vibrant and alive.  I'll miss the calls for prayer echoing through the air...they were very beautiful and my friends were appreciative of my acceptance of their prayer routines in my hotel room.  ;  )  It's actually a lovely practice.   My friends showed a kindness and generosity of heart which will never be forgotten.  The good news is that with WhatsApp, we can continue our friendships.  I also am eager to see the final results of the fundraising, a refurbished building for the children in St. Louis.