No, not a flea bag. Flee, as in ‘to flee the country’.
This morning we packed for a trip we hope to never take. With the upcoming presidential elections and the increased tension here in Senegal (video here), we’ve been advised to prepare ourselves for worst-case scenarios which include either not being able to leave the apartment for an extended period of time or needing to leave the country in a hurry.
These two extremes require different kinds of preparation, as one means you need lots of extra stuff on hand (food, water, batteries…) and one means you take the absolute minimum (legal documents, toiletries and a change of clothes in a backpack) and leave everything else. Gulp.
We were given packing checklists, which were very helpful. But when you’re standing in your bedroom with closets and drawers open, it’s hard to decide what makes the cut. If it comes down to an evacuation, will I need jeans and a sweater for airplane travel and possibly a cold-weather destination? Will we go somewhere that I’ll need a long skirt and modest top with sleeves? Depending on where we go, will Alec just need onesies or should I pack his winter hat and little fleece-wear? One thing is sure: diapers. I’m packing lots of diapers.
The checklist also included good walking shoes, a canteen, sunglasses, sunscreen and hats. I suppose this in case we walk across the desert, which is not very likely. But there’s good news, folks. Alec is prepared and in case of a trek across the desert, he will be quite stylish in his chapeau with sun tail.
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We are praying (seriously!) it doesn’t come to hunkering down or evacuation, but in case of evacuation, head northeast to Europe. Budapest, to be exact
Winter clothes are 70% off now.
Praying for peace.
praying for you all… for Senegal
These sound like scary preparations… I truly hope that neither option will come true… I will definitely be thinking of you and hoping that all will be well…
And there is always an apartment waiting for you here….always! Praying for you all. Is there a good site where we can keep up with what’s going on in case you lose your internet and are not able to to get knew to us?
Cile…am thankful you and Glenn are on their side of the pond.
Wow – we are kindred! This is exactly what I did today. Except I had to pack two different kinds of bags. One for me (a U.S. citizen) and one for my husband (a Senegelese citizen).
May we all be protected and guided during this unsure time.
I have followed your blog for quite some time now; I spend a lot of time in Senegal albeit not living there permanently – so I can not imagine the admin hassle you have been going through. But I have spent time living in far less comfortable environments for long periods of time – and I deplore the dangerous image you draw of this beautiful country!
Getting through customs at the airport and filling ones papers is nothing – there has never been a problem for anyone with that; and it is hardly a moment of stress.
I was there in June 2011 and it was absolutely normal getting around town – just avoiding certain streets; as I am sure the elections in February will also be fine. There will be trouble – but why paint a picture of a country at war – overdramatize when you can be just a few miles out of the city and not sense anything. This is not the Arabic spring, it is not the Ivory Coast – and things will warm up for sure. But that is life here! And foreigners have never been in danger anywhere in the Teranga country.
I think it is a shame making this faulty image of a beautiful country – and still one of the more democratic ones in Africa… and somuch more human than the US of the Bush period! There is more reason to avoid the US than the African continent!
Hi Nille
Thanks for your comment, as it will allow me to clear up some things that apparently should be addressed. We agree completely that Senegal is a beautiful country, and as I’ve said on this blog, its people are the most beautiful aspect. It truly is a country of ‘teranga’ and hospitality. (http://senegaldaily.wordpress.com/2011/03/19/making-the-rounds/)
I also agree that in general, getting through customs is not a problem. However, due to our unique circumstances, even though we were here legally, we had difficulties in December. Each person’s experience is different, but yes – usually not a problem at all.
In June of 2011, I posted images from of local and international news sources and emphasized that things were calm at the end of the day and that most events had been isolated downtown. (http://senegaldaily.wordpress.com/2011/06/24/the-storm-has-passed/) I don’t think that’s painting an image of a country at war, but rather letting images (and therefore the people of Senegal) speak for themselves.
Having grown up in Côte d’Ivoire, I agree with you that this is not like the situation there. I was telling a friend that just today. The temperament and democratic history of Senegal is different.
It seems there were some miscommunications though, so I wanted to clear those things up. The bottom line is that we too love Senegal and want to accurately communicate to our friends and families what our lives here are like. I think others here in Dakar will agree that right now, this is what many of us (not all) are experiencing.
Jamm ak jamm.
he’s so big! and adorable! alec looks different, so much older. i so wish he and caroline could have a playdate
. i see i’m way down at the bottom, if its on a first come first serve basis. but, just fyi, things in south central kansas are always very very peaceful. only cows and wheat. perfect if you’re needing to get out of a “situation.” and we do have a few extra rooms. . . ! praying for you, and my beloved Senegal.
I know this is slightly off topic…but is it just me, or does Alec look exactly like Cile and Jaz looks exactly like Street Glenn?