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Gor¨¦e's Land

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Dominique Dominique | 19:03 UK time, Wednesday, 8 September 2010

A lovely island. One of the magnificent Senegal's islands, Gor¨¦e is very meaningful. It has been the main west Africa's French counter, and the first "slaves' main market". It is 4 Km far from Dakar (Senegal's capital city). So we have to cross the ocean.

Up to now, this small island that has kept its colonial buildings remains really touristy.

You can find there the huge gun, the tiny room where slaves were packed, many museums, many resorts, lots of traditional stuffs such as jewelries, paintings, dishes, instruments... the sellers can come from Dakar, or may live in Gor¨¦e.

But I personally found out that people from Gor¨¦e are very different from people from Dakar. The people from Gor¨¦e have a sort of original way to do things, I mean the way they think, the way the live, what they think about tourists when they first meet them is closer to a kind of friendly curiosity linked to a peculiar feeling of being shattered, rather than a fake enthusiasm mixed with hypocrisy very common in Dakar. Moreover, this latter is the kind of feeling that have made Gor¨¦e a sort of tourist trap, where instead of being touched by the breathtaking landscape and the meaningful events happened there, you will rather be under the impression that the people there (the visitor's guides or the sellers) are thinking: "it doesn't matter what happened some years ago there, just listen to me, or buy my paintings, and by the way, give me all your money because you look to have a lot". Good to specify: " to look like having loads of money" depends on your nationality and of course the darkness of your skin. No need to tell you that you are very likely to be charged more expensively if first you are not very dark :) and secondly if your nationality is geographically very far from Senegal. It doesn't seem like, but dear friends you have to believe in me, it's VE-RY VE-RY funny. I've met there a painter; I have first been interested in him because he was the one who were very far from where tourists usually like to stay. When I got near him, I asked if I could take a photo of him. He said he'd be very pleased, and in addition it's his aim. I didn't understand, so I asked what his aim was, and he told me that in fact he'd be very happy if he could sell many of his paints, but actually, expressing his feeling, and showing how simple and differently and spiritually his life is, to someone who has spent money just to come and see his motherland was the main important thing for him. And he gave me a painting for free(the one he is holding on the picture). I asked him why, and he answered it was just because I'm beautiful (yes yes you may have not noticed, but actually I'm very attractive :) haha! Just kidding! ) I was simply happy.

I like Gor¨¦e. I like Gor¨¦e when nobody is there, no sellers, no two-faced people. I like Gor¨¦e when there are only their residents.

Comments

  • Comment number 1.

    Hi Dominique ^_^

    I'm very happy to read on ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ learning a Cameroonian, who lives in Dakar .
    excuse me, my name is Geraud, I'm a Cameroonian student who live in Dakar city. After reading, i just want to say "wooowww" it is very amazing how to describe Goree's land. Really very well written. you gives me ideas to write a blog. I'm here to improve my English because i will pass an exam of TOIC in 10 months exactly. As you can see, I'm try to learn.
    congratulations to your blog.
    Best wishes
    Geraud

  • Comment number 2.

    Hi dear Dominique!

    First of all I'd like to say you have a very beautiful name! And it goes with your appearance :).

    I like the way you reason of the painters from Gor¨¦e. This island is really amazing!

    Best wishes

    Marina

  • Comment number 3.

    Hello Dominique,
    Very interesting post indeed! As for the tourist-trap phenomenon - indigenous people trying to get as much money as they can from wealthy visiting tourists - I think that's well-deserved. It might be considered a belated punishment for the unspeakable cruelties that were committed during the era of the slave trade, and I'd like to also consider it some sort of compensation for the economic exploitation of African countries that is still going on today. With this in mind, I am reluctant to visit African countries as a tourist. I keep thinking, after all that has happened and with all the injustice still around us, people there will be very likely to hate me simply for the colour of my skin...
    But there's something else I would like to ask you: Cameroon and Senegal are very far apart, aren't they? What made you go to Senegal, how long have you been there and how often do you go home to see your family? Very curious, aren't I?
    Best wishes,
    Elisabeth ("Lisa" just for you, Dominique) from Austria

  • Comment number 4.


    Hi Dommi,

    The photographs here represent a panoramic beauty of Goree, the island. I like the photos, especially the last one. Crossing the ocean appears more enjoyable as the wave becomes higher. I enjoy it while I travel to Saint Martin, the only coral island in my country. Do you enjoy crossing the ocean to Goree? Anyway, would you explain the ¡®Slave Market¡¯?

    I¡¯m sure that you¡¯ve a good and positive attitude inside you and as a result you get surprised about different characteristics of the people, two-faced you mean. No doubt, it hurts a person inside him. I do agree with you, but I¡¯ve a little different view in this case.

    I think people of this character exist everywhere. You¡¯ll find them in every society, in every class, more or less in number, whatever they are. But, depending upon the number or size, we can¡¯t generalize it, I think. Do you think it¡¯s logical to generalize all from Goree or Dakar in this way? I think you¡¯ll agree that not all people undoubtedly act in such way. Unlike you, I¡¯ll like Goree, undoubtedly with a lot of people, but with a positive attitude, I think.

    By the way, I also do agree with the reply of the painter. You surely deserve the painting as a gift. Congratulations on winning it for your beauty ):

    Ashish.

  • Comment number 5.

    Hello Dear Dominique,

    It's a pleasure to read about Gor¨¦e and also to find Marina, our last blogger. Hi Mariana. How are you?

    Dominique, just wonderful your Gor¨¦e.

    ...and believe that... you're very beautiful.

    Cheers - Natanael - Brazil

  • Comment number 6.

    Hi Dominique!
    first of all, let me tell you: you are a good writer, not simply descriptive, your words convey your feelings as you describe Gor¨¦e, so you're very communicative!
    I think I understand what you mean with two-faced people, well, so it is... tourist places have tourist traps! in Gor¨¦e, in Senagal, in France, in Italy everywhere. Maybe in Senegal, and other African countries, local sellers expect good deals from white tourists, but this is natural...because of a still vivid (and reasonable) sense of exploitation many African countries feel towards developed and wealthy countries. And after all, the avarage income of a French, German,or Canadian...citizen is much more higher than a Senegalese one. So could we expect something different?
    Moreover, tourist traps really happen everywhere, even though this phenomenon's proportion can differ from country to country. Believe me, restaurateurs and hotel-managers in Venice (Italy) have great expectations with American and Japanease tourists... just to give you an example.
    Anyway, I love travelling, I wish I had travelled more...but concerning tourist places I always feel a kind of melancholy mixed to little annoyance by visiting them. The nomerous groups of other tourists, souvenirs sellers, people who try to persuade you to get on the touristic bus, with touristic explanation and they will show you everything worth to be seen, but not the very soul of that place...if you know what I mean.
    By the way, if I'll ever visit Gor¨¦e I think I could hardly keep myself from buying one of the pictures exposed.
    Have a good day,
    Elisa, Italy

  • Comment number 7.

    hello marina ? have sent you an e mail but you did not answer it yet why?is it impossible to write an answer after your writing blog time have finished? and thns for your sharing dominic these re nice photos and worth to read your text.

  • Comment number 8.

    Well Lisa thanks for your comment. Actually, i know this may be strange, but people from Gor¨¦e are very different. i'm focus on that because i used to meet different people from different places, and none of them have kept my attention as people from Gor¨¦e did. there are not interested at all in what the can have from foreign people, except the fact that the want them to get to know them; just simply know them. i know it sounds really srange and really wrong according to the behavior of the majority of africans toward non-africans.
    They also want tourists to respect them, and their culture as well. those who want the tourist to buy their stuff, or that kind of things are mostly from another region of Senegal and come to Gor¨¦e just "on business". Of course not all of them, but the majority. i hope you will go there and confirm it(*_^)
    Yes i'm from Cameroon, but i study in Dakar because..because what, well there is no meanigful reason, i've just followed my sister there when i was 17. nothing special about(*,*) but i wish i went to kenya; anyway! happy to read you(^.^)

  • Comment number 9.

    Hello Ashish! i understand what you say, but actually it's not only just a way to generalize it, but to emphasize how strongly the people from gor¨¦e have kept my attention, i mean there were such a heavy unbalanced way of doing things, that i have just decided to consider it like this. however you are thoroughly right when you say this character is everywhere, but i'm not used to(*,*) someone in this blog said that "dominique" means "sunday "( i think it's Marcelo Trindale) and as i'm from sunny days i'm suppose to remain in positive feelings so they don't have to hurt my sunny feelings. don't they? thanks for your comment, i'm very happy that you take time to read and to give your opinion, and to get out of the topic as you did with Natanael while we were talking about the precious environment. i'm really looking forward to your next topic out of my topic!(^_')

  • Comment number 10.

    hi Geraud! very nice! i'm happy!!! a cameroonian! i know you went to Gor¨¦e what did you think the first time?!

  • Comment number 11.

    hi Marina! thanks for your first comment since august! (^_') i just hope it is not the last (*,*)(^_^)!
    hope you will stay around, bye!

  • Comment number 12.

    hello Elisa! it's terrible i think the way we can spoilt a very meaningful place with the "business" around there (i mean the tourism in a large sense.)As you say it is everywhere, but with a different level, maybe(*.*)
    Anyway! do you think i'm really communicative? in fact i was so angry so shattered that i has each word to express what i felt in a non-native language! but it's easy to write, i could never say it in speaking, never.
    Thanks Elisa and stay around...(^_')
    2Natanael: Nice to read you! you didn't say anything about Gor¨¦e; i'm just wondering what you are going to gossiping about with Ashish..(^_^) By the way (2Ashish) "slave market" in fact i don't know how to explain very well in English, but it's really straightforward: i meant there that Gor¨¦e was the main place where slaves were sold to foreign people who were taking them to America or somewhere else.

  • Comment number 13.

    Greetings smiley Dominiqe
    I wish you a wonderful and a fruitful month. As you can guess I'm not an African person.Africa is an enigma for me so I hope to learn from you a lot.
    I share Elisabeth feel that after all that has happened and with all the injustice still around us, people there will be very likely to hate me simply for the colour of my skin...
    What do you think about this?
    All yhe best
    Danny

  • Comment number 14.

    Hi, Domminique: It is difficult to admit that in xxi century people can be treated different by their skin color. I imagine local people in Gor¨¦e have certain characteristics common to small communities different from the ones that live in cosmopolitan cities, but nowhere we like two-faced people and I think that the tourism industry can spoil sometimes the beauty of the best places in the world. Very nice the photos and to meet Marina. Thanks for your writing. Beatriz.

  • Comment number 15.

    Hi Dominique,
    it is been great to know a bit more about your country, the picture with the couple there it remains part of African history.
    The island seems to be a very touristic one. the paints are just lovely!
    But, how could it be that tourist are charge much more than locals? because the way they look? or because the color of their skin? it sound very much as price racism, isn't? I heard as well similar description from people going to other developing countries as they would be charged for anything bought :

    local price = x currency
    tourist price = xxx currency

    well, to get that view of the last picture I probably would have to pay trough my nose unless i get my skin under the sun for a very long time just as a "yudedako" ...(it seems to be Japanese which means boiled octopus)

    warm greetings,
    xx

  • Comment number 16.

    Hi Dominique! Thanks for another interesting post and cheerful photos :)

    I agree with Beatriz that people from small towns or villages are very different from those who live in big cities. I think they are more open-hearted and eager to talk to you or give you a helping hand if you need it. But I'd rather refer this quality of character to only those people who live in small NON-tourist places because otherwise people are very tired of crowds of strangers who often have no idea of local traditions or simply don't respect them. Sometimes local people become even hostile but can we blame them? That's why it's really unusual that people from Goree are so friendly. And this painter's notion "art for art's sake", his desire to express himself and to tell strangers about the way of life in his motherland are worth admiring.

    By the way, I think everybody's here has noticed that you're gorgeous indeed ;-) So, the painting was well deserved :)

    Best wishes,
    Nastya, Russia

  • Comment number 17.

    Hi Dominique!

    Amazing pictures! Especially this one with ocean! It seams, it has its own character! Really great view! Lucky you!

    I've got a question for you, if you don't mind. I've never been in Africa, but I notice that there people wear many-coloured clothes and even on you photos I see these such bright many-coloured paintings. Does it mean something special for the nation?

    By the way, my name is Jan. I'm Russian and I was June blogger here. Hello everybody! And nice to meat you, Dominique!

    Besr wishes,

    Jan

  • Comment number 18.

    hi dominique .after fasting in holy ramadan eventually we have just reached the day of eid.? know that yo re in eid so ? celebrate your bairam .? hope you will reach new bairams in the future. talha from turkey...

  • Comment number 19.

    Hi there
    I don¡¯t blame you.
    Touristic places turn out often to a huge disappointment. It might be very annoying for some of us to be surrounded by sellers, souvenirs and chain shops in the wrong place while, for instance you¡¯re trying to catch the soul of it. Unfortunately this happens wherever and apparently we can¡¯t get out of it. From talking with other people and based on my own experience, it¡¯s clear that traveller¡¯s attitude makes the difference. That¡¯s why I like exploring rather than visiting. Generally speaking I also believe that independent sellers approach their customer warmly and friendly because they are personally involved with goods they sell. They often run their own little activities (as in Gor¨¨e island) and they make goods on their own.
    Ciao

  • Comment number 20.

    Hello, Domni.

    It's a pleasure to talk you again.

    I've just talked about the football and the next world cup wich will be in Brazil.

    It was a pleasure to discuss about this matter with Ashish.

    I afraid about the names and due to the cultures, some names can cause confusion.

    Dominique is a female name and we can see a beatiful woman on the photo, but Dominique could be a male name in same countries. Dominique, in Brasil is a female name, but some names like Darcy can be used like female name and male name. Funny isn't it?

    Well, talking about Gor¨¦e. Gor¨¦e is a place seem with some place in Brazil.

    Unfortunately, we received lots of slaves from Africa to work on the coffe farm on xvii and xviii century, fortunatelly it's over.

    Gor¨¦e is beatifull and very interesting place to know.

    I admit that i really need to speack in english due to my work. It's easy to write due to a google translator for exemple, but once again, due to my job, i need to keep in touch with headquarter in Abeerden (Scotland) and we really need to improve my english by talk.

    At the end, it's always a pleasure to have you here.
    Thanks a lot.
    Natanael - Rio de Janeiro - Brazil

  • Comment number 21.

    Hello Jan, hello Nastya,

    It's great to have you here.

    I'm following you and i agree with you Jan. Dominique, tell us about the sense of the coloured clothes on your culture.

    Once again, i agree with Nastya, Dominique is a beatiful woman.

    Cheers, Natanael - Rio de Janeiro - Brazil

  • Comment number 22.

    Dear All,

    I think that it would be interesting to put at the end of comments, the name of country you are. If you agree...

    The city would be very interesting too.

    Cheers - Natanael - Rio de Janeiro - Brazil

  • Comment number 23.

    Hi everybody!

    nice to read some new comments of yours!
    @ Dominique: I really appreciate the way you take care to adress all of us personally, I got the point (^_^), you're indeed communicative! And I think not only as a writer, because if you write a good English, you can speak it as well. At least, for me writing is much more troublesome than speaking...

    @Natanael, you're a very curious guy, aren't you?
    I have the same problem with names too, well in your case I assume you're a boy.
    I cannot put the name of the "city" I'm from, simply because it's not a city at all, it's a tiny place, you would need to zoom google maps intensively to find it out!
    If I came from Rome, I would have written it.

    best wishes to everyone,

    Elisa, Italy

  • Comment number 24.

    Hi Dominique!
    Nice to meet you with a warm welcome!
    This is Karoun from Iran.I'm so happy to see an African girl here as a student blogger.
    I really enjoyed your interesting blogs as they are writen so clear!
    Dear Dominique! the photos are beautiful as they show the beauty of the Island, well, but let me say the only thing that caused me suffered was the " slaves statue " as it reminded me the hardships of the great black poeple at the " slavery time! ".
    Dear Dominique! Write again and let us know about you and you beautiful country more.

    All the best

    Karoun

  • Comment number 25.

    Hi, Elisa.
    Yes, I'm man,(^_^) and believe that, is an adventure and a pleasure to meet people like you.
    I really like very much your country, your people, your culture. I read lot of things about Italy.
    I follow your comments and sometimes i follow some notices from Italy by Cable TV Channel as well.
    As you can see, i like Italy and Rome City, too.
    Elisa, will be very pleasure to can talk to you and some of our friend here, i think that will be a very good opportunity to improve our english as well.
    So, I let an idea on the air, there is a skype for exemple, we can talk and see each other on the same time. Well, the problem is the time. In Brazil is 11:25 a.m. and i'm almost at the lunch time. You're 3 hours over than me.

    As you told to Dominique, my big problem although my writtin English is not so good, is to speak,in fact we have no ashamed to speak, but i think that my vocabulary is poor and we really need to practice my english speaking all the time.

    Now, i'm working on the oil and gas cia. and the heardquarter of the company is on Scotland they have an accent very hard and i did a english course with american completed five years ago.

    I know that is a challenger for me, but i like to language very much. Italian, french and Spanish, i know some word and i have no problem to establish a good comunication on this language, at least i can go to my embassy (^_^).

    I believe, i get there.

    Dear Elisa, once again, it's a pleasure to read your comments and to establish this kind of contact with you.


    Cheers - Natanael - Rio de Janeiro - Brazil










  • Comment number 26.

    Dear Elisa,

    Sorry for "s". I forget lots of them. Natanael

  • Comment number 27.


    Jan: it's pleasure to see you again. But what happened to you? Did you have any frog in your throat for these days? We miss you as you were an excellent blogger.

    Karoun: Thanks a lot. I appreciate that you've found out the core point of the writing. I envy many other bloggers here having such type of reading skill.

    Natanael: A problem is half-solved if it's identified effectively. So, I think you surely will overcome all the barriers with learning English soon. It's encouraging that you can write a lot simply ignoring the fear of being mistaken. It's really helpful in any initiative.

    Thanks to all.

    Ashish, Bangladesh.

  • Comment number 28.

    Hi Dominique! Nice to meet you! I'm sorry I had not got a chance to welcome you here and congratulate you on your blog earlier, (because I'm staying in hospital these days, so I have access to the Internet only when doctors allow me go home for a little while). So let me do it now. Welcome and congratulations!

    First of all I'd like to say I'm acutely aware of the fact that every blogger and all students are very grateful for the opportunity provided by ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½LE to be here, to communicate with people throughout the world, to make new acquaintance, to get to know more about different countries and cultures. I'm not an exception from this rule and I feel like saying many thanks to everybody who gave us such an opportunity!

    Dominique! You are young and sociable and so pretty! And to my mind apart from your country Cameroon you represent here the whole continent of Africa. As a little child I was fascinated by flora and fauna of Africa. I used to watch a lot of programs about it on TV. And of course I liked programs in which people had been described, I mean different tribes, their lifestyle, hunting, traditions, religious beliefs ets. So you have no idea how delighted I am to know someone from this continent of yours. Therefore I look forward to knowing more about your life in Africa. Please tell me and all your readers about your dayly routine, your lifestyle, your hobbies. And what life in Africa is really like? I'm so curious!

    Bye, I hope to hear from you soon and now I have to return to hospital.

    Svetlana from Russia, Ivanovo City

  • Comment number 29.

    Hi Domique,

    It is nice to see some pictures from your country and learnt something about it as well. I agree with Elisa and Ashish comments. I would say that in every country you would find a mixture of people but may be the proportion is different in each country. People usually generalise a particular behaviour to the whole country if it is evident in the majority of the people and I think it seems to be the case in Goree.

    I would be interested in the history of your country. As Africa is a well known country and I guess everybody would be interested in learning in the history of your country. My history of other countries is very poor and it will nice to learn the history of your country. One more question for you, would there be much differences in the West and South of Africa? Looking forward to your next blog.

    Take care until then

    Negee

  • Comment number 30.

    Hi dear Dommi , nice JOB! sorry for my delay , you may know I was off because of Eid feast ( the end of Ramadan ) , so Happy be lated Eid to you ! I really liked your writings about Goree and It seems you are thought ful girl ( good on you ! ) . your Blog rised a long disscussion among your lovley readers . Hope you will find time to read my late comment . I just want to add one thing if I someday visit Goree I can't resist not to buy one of those beautiful paints although I had to pay to nose for it ;)
    have fun and keep going the good JOb
    Pary from Iran ( Ardebil )
    as natanale said it 's too nice to write our country or citiy name to add extra info about us !

  • Comment number 31.

    Hello Beatriz, happy to read you again! But you wrote my name with two ?m??. (^^)
    I¡¯m very happy to read you Jam! It is your first comment here, where have you been! I¡¯ve loved your entry with the house made by your father, the lovely garden Carefully held by your mother, but i didn¡¯t like the cat. (^^) You know for example here in Cameroon, some people are very superstitious and think that a black cat is a bad luck, but i think this is a very general opinion isn¡¯t it? But as far as I¡¯m concerned, i am not supersti¡­.No. Actually i think i am a bit superstitious. Well! Nice to catch you here Jam! Oh yes you and Natanael asked me about the colour here in Africa? Well, to be honest, i¡¯m a bit apprehensive to give an answer, because it might be wrong, but personally i think..(let me tell you that at this point i spent maybe 15min thinking, I asked my sisters, Carole&Lisa, but my god how useless they could be at this moment!) Anyway, we are not very happy today, we don¡¯t like to stay here in Douala (a town in Cameroon), we were supposed to take part at a wedding, but we cancelled after, and¡­Ooops! BACK TO WHAT I WAS SAYING, well Jam for me the colour in Africa, and it is really a personal opinion, is a sign of ??hope??, a way to enlighten an unknown feeling of ?? feeling transparent and buried??. That¡¯s what I think. Is a way to exist, a way to seem to be happy.
    Marcello told about exploring instead of visiting: it¡¯s fabulous. I¡¯m in love with everything you say how do you do? In addition, I¡¯ve learnt from Nastya Open-heated and well-deserved, thank you very much dear friends, it¡¯s not that bad to read your comments with a dictionary on hand.
    Sero 03 asked me whether being charged more expensively as a tourist is a kind of ??racism??; well i think it would be rather rough to described it in this word, but i¡¯m more convinced that this phenomenon is closer to a way to survive ( for most of the people). The basic principle of this is very psychological: imagine someone who lives i don¡¯t know¡­somewhere, in a remote area, where the life is quite rudimentary. If another person comes there, just to see around, and in addition who might have paid quite a lot of money to get there, the resident of the remote area may not thoroughly understand his tourist, and will think he is ??crazy to spend all that money to come and see where i live whereas i¡¯m struggling to survive.?? So the first reaction would be to try to get that somehow! Selling things or even serving as a guide. That is typical in Senegal. In Cameroon, the people will try first to understand you, try to know you first. That¡¯s why i will say to Danny that most of us will be much interested of trying to get the more the can from you than hate you silently. You will just have to cope with that kind of two-faced people (just friend because of money). In the other hand, some of us will be open-minded enough to try to build a friendship. However many of us could be so critical to judge you if you are just interested in them just because you are alone and you need some help, or if simply because you are curious and want to share cultures! Anyway, i will never tell you to not be afraid if for example you¡¯re going for a visit in a remote area with terrorists or pirates. Once again i want to emphasize that this is my personal opinion, someone could have a different view on this point. So¡­!
    Natanael is so amazing, i¡¯m not sure but tell me guys am i alone to notice that? Well so you and Elisa will go on skype? Interesting. Just let us know what will happen over there, we were here when you meet each other, i don¡¯t see why we can¡¯t know what you will be saying there, do i? (^.^) Just kidding. Well Natanael, you keep this blog very active! Thanks and stay around.
    Elisa i thing we are curious enough there to go and Google the place you live in order to have an idea about (^_¡¯) Pleeeease tell us where you are!!!!!
    So you have much trouble in writing than speaking?! I envy you, because after all Learning English is to be able to understand and to speak (in a very rough sense), so i thing you no longer have much effort to make. Stay around! ( .. Sssshhhtt ! Stay around HERE, don¡¯t go to SKYPE with Natanael! It¡¯s a secret don¡¯t tell him!)
    Hi Karoun i like your name where i you from? You told about the statue, well i¡¯m not sure i understand what that statue mean; in fact anyone can guess! But i like to call that ?? statue of freedom?? (¡®,¡¯) which is a very very polemical subject¡­.shshshshshttt !! Let us not say anything about! (^^) Nice to have you there, keep on writing here!
    2Ashish i would like to thank you for the expression ?? frog in your throat??. Very meaningful and convenient!
    Sveltana I¡¯m glad to meet you too. I just hope that i will be able to express how life is in Africa, to tell about culture, to describe people or talking about tradition. Believe it, i will try as much as i can (^_^). But i still chatting about nonsense stuff whereas we¡¯re already on the 12 of September; I¡¯ve to go down on it. So you were in the hospital? I hope you are fine now? I hate hospital (¡¯,¡¯)! well nice to have you there, thanks for your comment.

  • Comment number 32.

    hi Negee! and welcome!!! You asked me whether South Africa is similar to the west Africa? well i'm really really at a loss to know what to say; what do you mean exactly? the culture? or something specific else? i like your first comment, keep on practising to get through in English!Nice to meet you, hope you will stay (^.^)

    Hello Talha! nice to have you there again! Also you Pary! how could you give me a definition of "Eim Feast" in brackets !!! you want to say that i don't know what it is?????????? well Thanks (^.^) i wish that day i were in senegal, i like to be there at the end of Ramadan, some really nice things used to happen that day like wearing what we call "boubou" (^^) which are actually a sort of huge long dress, and besides heavy; i used to like struggling to walk with it...Anyway! happy to read you (^_*) i hope you enjoyed the feast!

  • Comment number 33.

    Hi Dommi,
    sorry to disappoint you, I haven't start engaging dialogue privately with Natanael on skype. I apologize if you had the impression I was using your blog encouraging conversation out of your topic.

    Natanael - I'm sure you're a very nice and friendly boy but I don't see how I can help you improving your speaking skills in English... I'm still a learner too. If you accept an advice, I would suggest you to look for some Scottish people to talk on skype. I'm better at speaking rather than writing, but I speak English with Italian accent...well, I don't care, it's just me!

    Dommi, I stay around and I'm looking forward reading your next post.
    Elisa

  • Comment number 34.

    hey dommi ? feel outsider becasue you answer me very short.the most shortest comment you have just written is mine.

  • Comment number 35.

    Hi, Dominique (with only one "m"): Sorry for the mistake and thanks for your answer to all de bloggers. Through your writings you seem to be very fresh and spontaneous, with great sense of humour. Is it that way? Apart from that and talking about the colour in Africa I think it is due to the strong, shinny sun you have there. Could it be? Children love brilliant colours and they are happy and gorgeous. Best wishes, and looking forward to your news. Beatriz.

  • Comment number 36.

    Hi dear Dommi . first of all thank you to read my comment and answer me . I know it takes ages to answer all comments indivitully ! you are so kind and comunicative :) and sorry don't get it wrong . That was all my poor knowledge of Cameron and Senegal. SO It 's you Job to write about that " boubou" and other cusums of Ramadan and Eid feast ( we say eid Fetr here in Iran ) if you like . By the way where are you at the moment ? I thought you are in the Senegal for study ? sorry all my curiousity ...
    have fun and keep blogging
    Pary from Iran ( Ardebil )

  • Comment number 37.

    Dear Dommi,
    I'm from China, I saw your blog by accident. However, I like your writing very much. I hope to improve my English writing and reading by reading your blog.What's more, hope we be friends.
    Looking forward to your answer
    Best regards!
    СÃô(English name Sandra but,hope you can remeber my chinese name)

  • Comment number 38.

    Hello Dommi
    Thank you for your last comment. It¡¯s for all of us. Well done
    As I wrote down to explore is a state of mind rather than an individual¡¯s capability. The process is also quite easy to explain. When I visit a new place I generally drop out the main route and I start to potter around an area. After that I catch the first /train/bus/underground and I get off one of the last stations. After a few minutes what I visit turns into something completely different and often is like stepping back on time or just different! There are a few factors that you need to weigh up. For instance, it could be worthwhile exploring in the company of some right people as you could also end up ¡°exploring¡± unsafe locations. Moreover, if you ended up in a ugly place, it would be fun having the right friends around. Apart from the above little inconvenience I often found out vibrant places, friendly people, good restaurants and unexpected real bargains too.
    Take care

  • Comment number 39.

    Hi Dear Friends,
    Hello Domni and Eliza,

    As always is a pleasure to have you here again.

    First of all, thanks Eliza for your orientation, i'm listening the Scotland Notices from Radio. It have been good for me just to understand some accent. Once again thanks a lot. You're a very good friend. God bless you.

    Domni, sir Domni, you're good guy, thanks for your comments, unfortunatelly i don't have many opportunities to log on the Skype. In fact, i think that is an excelent tool to learn english, and also to meet people around the world.
    I like to read your comments it's a good opportunity to learn new words, but on this case Eliza doesn't talk to me out of this field.

    A very good day for all of you.

    Cheers - Natanael - Rio de Janeiro - Brazil

  • Comment number 40.

    Dear Ashish,

    You're the best ! Thanks for you comments. It's a reality "A problem is half-solved if it's identified effectively." Great words. Once agan thanks for your orientation.

    Have a wonderful day and week.

    Cheers - Natanael - Rio de Janeiro - Brazil

  • Comment number 41.

    Dear Dominique,
    I'm really eager for your news. Where are you?

    Cheers - Natanael - Rio de Janeiro - Brazil

  • Comment number 42.

    Hi Dominique!
    I am very happy to see such a comment about Gor¨¦e Island. I am from Senegal and I never have been there. Your comment make me so proud to know we have such a paradise in our little country. It is so descriptive of the wealth we have without being aware of it. The text is also so rich in terms of writing talent and I encourage you to send us more comments about your several experiences. That can give us more opportunity to improve our English level. I am eager for hearing your news. A new Senegalese fan from France.
    Best regards

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