Gueumbeul, Who's the Best & Saint Louis
Gueumbeul, Who's the Best & Saint Louis
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Guembuel is a national park in Senegal that completely surprised me.
To be honest, I wasn’t excited about visiting. It was an activity added to the schedule based on my partner teacher’s interest, and I didn’t think it would be that meaningful. When I googled it, I was worried it would just be dry desert—and I imagined myself melting in the heat.
Like Louga, Guembuel is not well represented online. Google Earth shows almost nothing. The few reviews that exist are sparse and don’t really paint a picture of what the park is like.
But the reality? Absolutely stunning.
On the way to the park, I started seeing more green. Wild monkeys swung through the trees. Birds soared overhead. Nature came alive. I was already surprised—and then we arrived.
Guembuel isn’t just a park—it’s a national preserve dedicated to reintroducing fauna and protecting wild animals. We had hands-on experiences, walking freely among birds, antelopes, oryxes, and more. And yes—there was a beach!
The whole experience made me realize just how much we miss when we rely solely on the internet to understand a place. If a region is still developing, and the only images we ever see are of city centers or tourist hot spots, we end up with a limited—and often inaccurate—picture.
I plan to post a full review of Guembuel and upload some 360° videos as soon as I have better internet. The work they’re doing there is important and deserves to be seen and celebrated.
I’m so grateful for the opportunity to be here—to experience this beautiful, unexpected corner of the world.
"Who’s the Best?" is an incredible competition celebrating the voices and brilliance of students in Louga.
I had the privilege of witnessing so many intelligent, articulate, strong, and passionate students speak out—in English!—about their culture, their knowledge, and their pride in Senegal. It absolutely blew me away.
The event was more than a competition—it was a celebration of Louga and Senegal through language, performance, and cultural exchange. There was dancing, music, and joy from both American and Senegalese traditions, woven together in the most powerful way.
And the dancing here? It's not just movement—it's pure expression. It’s about feeling the music and letting it move through you however it comes. It’s welcoming, open, and full of celebration. I've joined in when I can because it feels comfortable and people definitely invite you in to participate.
I left inspired and full of admiration for these amazing students and the community that raised them.
Saint Louis—the oldest city in Senegal—was both beautiful and full of history.
We visited today, and I got to see the sea, watch the boats, and soak in the coastal charm of this amazing place. One of the highlights was stopping by my host teacher’s old university, where he even showed us his former dorm room. It was an incredibly impressive campus!
While we were there, we unexpectedly ran into another Fulbright group—and it was such a wonderful, warm moment of connection. Now I totally understand why, every time my host teacher sees someone he knows, he stops to chat. I found myself doing the same!
I’ve been practicing how to say hello and greet everyone I meet, because acknowledging others is such an important part of Senegalese culture. It’s simple, but powerful.
It’s... beautiful. “We are family.”
Enjoy this photo from my host’s university!
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