Teaching & Exploring Louga

Today was full of incredible moments—both in and out of the classroom.

I had the chance to teach my lesson to students at Les Cracks, and we had an amazing time exchanging games. The students were so eager to teach me the games they love, and I recorded two of them to bring back to my students in Maine. I’m hoping to share videos of my students playing these games later on—maybe even exchange them with the students here in Senegal!

After class, we visited the Palace of Louga—and I have never seen anything so opulent in my life. It was breathtaking. We were invited inside and had the opportunity to walk through nearly every room. Each one was filled with rich detail and history.

The man who built the palace was responsible for constructing many of the city’s major buildings—including the hospital—and the palace itself has hosted dignitaries, presidents, and famous figures from all over the world. Each room had a different design style reflecting cultures from around the globe. It felt like traveling to different countries through décor. So much gold. So much ivory. I was completely blown away that a place like this exists right here in Louga, Senegal.

Next, we visited the American Cultural Center, where I got to observe optional English lessons and—finally—saw my first computer lab. My host school doesn’t have one, but this center had 10 desktop machines and four Chromebooks.

There were high school students there for a three-week course focused on the Office suite and some basic Google tools like Slides. The person teaching? A local volunteer who installs security cameras in the city by day.

It was fascinating talking to the students. They viewed learning computer skills not as creative exploration, but as something strictly practical—skills for work or business. The idea of using technology for artistic or personal expression just isn’t taught here.

While we were there, the power went out (again), and it really made me reflect on how and what students are learning—and how impressive it is that they’re doing it at all, often with very limited resources.

I shared some Curipod materials with the teacher and my host teacher as something they could incorporate into lessons, but it’s clear that infrastructure challenges—and a lack of student access to devices—make lecture-based and unplugged activities more realistic. It made me a little sad to think about the missed opportunity to teach computational and critical thinking, which I believe are so important for student growth and empowerment.

On a lighter note, we went out shopping for fabric—and I was amazed at how affordable it is to get custom handmade clothing. I ended up ordering two outfits and I can’t wait to see how they turn out. They’re supposed to be ready by Tuesday, and I’m still wrapping my head around that!

This weekend is packed: We’re visiting a national park. We're watching a country-wide "Who's the Best” English competition. And then headed to St Louis! 

I’ve been taking tons of 360° videos and can’t wait to upload them once I have stronger internet access. I really want my students—and my community back in Maine—to be able to look around and explore these places virtually. I’ve got plenty to share. Come on internet...!