Day 5...16 more to go?

Hey Friends!
First of all I wanted to thank you for all of the letters that I have found in my suitcases. I have been reading one each morning and it has just been so encouraging and uplifting to hear from sombody from home. I love each and every one of you so much and thank you for all of the prayers.
Alright, now that I have more time I can tell you more about things going on.
The family is soo nice and friendly. There are so many people coming in and out, it's hard to actually know who is the family. So pretty much if they say 'ca va' to me I consider them my family! They do enjoy, however, trying to teach me french, and making fun of me if I say something wrong. I'm used to it already so it doesn't bother me!
The food is really good here, mostly just varieties of rice and different meats. BReakfast is usually some bagguette and butter, and then lunch is at 3 aith dinner anywhere from 8 to 10. Everything is so different here it's crazy! But for lunch yesterday we had some rice with a certain kind of spice on it, and then fish and vegetables. The family eats on a big mat on the floor with this huge bowl aith everything mixed together. The maids use their hands, but everyone else uses spoons. (We each have our own place at the bowl). For dinner lastnight one of the people from projects abroad came as a guest, Claire is her name, and she's so nice! So the fa,ily was quite dressed up and we had cooked potaoes, some kind of sliced onion, and fish with sacue on it. Very good, although after I had an experience where I got a bone in my mouth, i tried to steer away from the fish... since the whole fish was in there: X BLAH! haha!
So that's what the food is like... YES, mama and dad, I did try the fish...
We also had Mango lastnight, which was sooooo good!!!
In St. Louis there are three parts. I am on the middle island, and then there is a different island with fancy hotels, and then there is Sor, which I feel is the poorest part. Each Island is connected by a bridge. The Island I am on is very nice. There are a lot of goats. It's easy to get lost, but if your lost, its only for an hour. Everyone is so nice here too. For example you would be walking down the street and you pass a stranger who sees you looking at them, they say ca va! (which means how are you), and you say ca va bein, which means the same but with good at the end.Then they ,ight start a whole coversation with you, shaking your hand, sometimes showing you their stuff that they are selling. Sometimes they even know that you don't speak french and in that case they try their hardest to make you understand them and feel welcomed.
To get to St. Louis, I had to get in a snall car meant for 7 people, but had 8 in it plus luggage and things! Imagine, welcome to St. Louis, stuffing into a car when it is about 80 outside, 90 inside of it with no AC. Yes. Welcome to St. Louis. haha! On the way to the airport I think I will opt for a private taxi...
The school I am at is sooo beautiful! As soon as I get a picture I will try to put it on here to show you! The kids are very respectful there, but still silly kids. I love them already! I wish I had to go there 5 days a week because its so nice and it keeps me occupied, and my mind off of missing you at home!
I went to a dancing lesson lastnight with Claire and Helen. It was a lot of fun! I nice work out... and the dancing is really cool, but the teacher is really strict! I might try to have someone record us dancing so I can show you it!
Today around 1:30 a lot of the volunteers are planning on going to the nice island to go swimming and tanning at a really nice pool there! I can't wait because its really nice weather! Plus, I need to get some color on me because I look like a ghost compared to everyone else here! Aw gee, I might come back very tan!!!
Also tonight, and every wednesday the volunteers get together and have a quiz night where the losing team from last week asks random questions about anything they want to the other team. I guess it's really fun, so I'm excited for that!
I should probably get going! I am having fun here and starting to enjoy learning new things, but I still miss you all a lot! I really can't wait to come home and sleep in a bed that is comfy and take a shower where I know that cockroaches won't jump out and scare the sillyness out of me!! But I will learn to deal with it because I know the senegalese have to all the time.
Thank you again for the prayers! Please continue to pray and I plan on keeping in touch with you guys daily, if not every other day!
I love you all very much!
In Christ's Strength
Lindsey Lu : )