Guiding Question:
How do the people of Senegal define happiness?
My school, The Saklan School, has a strong Social Emotional Learning component in its curriculum. Therefore, I have a natural curiosity to see how others around the world create and define happiness in their culture. Senegal has such a rich culture in which happiness is intertwined into everything they do! See some examples of how this was displayed below:
The family unit is held together by the mother. Once a son marries, his wife moves into his mothers home. This sense of taking care of each other, and being together, sharing space; a home, rooms, meals, tea time and values creates a strong sense of love and importance.
They value spending time with their family and those who they choose to be their family.
Strong sense of family
Students in Senegal see education as important to their future. Education gives them hope. Many times in Theis, Carmen and I, heard the students say how grateful they were for their education and their amazing, inspirational teachers. Even with a strike going on, students walked miles to school, protested and burned tires in their desire to learn.
Having the opportunity to learn & connect with teachers
Women spend hours cooking together in a home. This creates bonds, friendships, and sisterhood, while teaching young women cooking skills and a sense of place and worth within the family. From a young age, young girls help out in the kitchen learning from older generations.
Women build each other up while cooking together
Kids are encouraged to go out and play in the neighborhood, their favorite sport appeared to be soccer. When asked about who they were playing with, they all would say, "their brother" as they consider everyone as part of their family. Treating everyone as an important person, such as their brother, gives people value in their community.
Playing with your neighbors, aka: brothers
Senegalese people appear to not over pack their day running from one activity to another or from one stressful meeting to another. They take time to eat and drink tea together, spend time together chatting, or just relaxing. This puts less time constraints on their desired activities. This explains why they have their own time; "Senegalese Time" is between 15 minutes to an hour later than the stated time. Even classes at school start 10-15 minutes later than the suggested time to guarantee everyone arrives in time.
With a slower pace, and relaxed schedule, there appears to be less stress in their lives.
Slower pace of life
Senegalese tea culture is an important part of daily social life. Senegal tea-drinking revolves around mint tea especially, similar to other countries in the West Africa region.
In and around Senegal, tea is prepared and presented in an elaborate process known by the Wolof word, attaya or ataaya. People drink tea after meals, and it is the beverage that is offered to friends and visitors. Drinking tea promotes conversation and maintains friendship because it takes a long time to prepare properly.
Tea Time
Senegalese people are incredibly tolerant of others. I was amazed how Muslims and Christians lived side by side and were great friends and neighbors. They believe there is one God, and however you praise him, that is fine by them.
And Westerners and tourists who don't know the culture or language are treated with respect and kindness; even welcomed into their country and culture with open arms. No judgement passed on the visitors for not knowing the cultural norms, they just kindly teach you as you go.
Tolerance
Senegalese culture is made up of many tribes and a rich history. As they value one another and what each bring to the community; they make others feel comfortable by teasing them, much like a brother or sister might do. Additionally, they give nicknames to each other This again helps make people feel special and important within their community.