Last spring I lived in Dakar, Senegal (West Africa) for a trimester, which was a good place to solidify my French. I didn't have to worry about English infiltration like I did in Canada (except with my American class mates), though the French I learned there was tinged with Wolof. Language is an important part of experiencing a culture in my opinion. While I only know French and enough Wolof to get a cab, I'm hoping for opportunities to expand my vocabularies.
My first stop is Haiti, and I leave in less than three weeks. I'm really looking forward to the adventure, though realistically anticipating discomfort from the heat and humidity as well as the culture shock. Haiti is one of the poorest countries today and is suffering socially and politically. They have violence to speak of and the US has maintained a warning against travel there. Fortunately (for me) the violence isn't necessarily directed at international visitors, though they don't get many anyway considering their floundering tourist business. I'll be out of the most dangerous area working in the bubbles of two music camps. I can rely on my French in the classroom (teaching Music Theory) and in private flute lessons, but Creole will be important for social interactions. I do not speak Creole, but immersion is the best teacher.
After Haiti comes Egypt for a few weeks of tourism and then an extended stay in France. I guess it's more than an extended stay because I'll be there for a full school year teaching English. It will be nice to explore some of North Africa and see the Nile, the Pyramids, and the Red Sea. I'm most excited to see the country that bred some of the authors I've studied, has colorful and fragrant markets, and incorporates hookah in daily practice. One of my goals in life is to learn Arabic, and it will be nice to hear it and still be able to rely on English. There is also a lot of mysticism and history tied up in Egypt. It was home to ancient civilizations preoccupied with immortality, where the Judeo-Christian God showed himself on numerous, unforgettable occasions. Not to mention that it's sure to be beautiful and an intense contrast against the landscape in the Midwest.
Before I ever make it to Europe, I'll have been to Africa twice. France will inevitably be a good experience and I hope I'll love it as much as my professor and friends think I will. I'll be preoccupied with language for much of my time there, building my French vocabulary and learning to speak more fluidly. My boyfriend will also be working on his French, from the ground up. I can't imagine a better place to learn it. My job offers me an obscene (by American standards) amount of vacation time, during which I hope to visit Italy, Germany, Spain, and at least the UK. So, that's not everywhere, but it's enough.
