TURMOIL: PART I
So I managed to live fabulously in Senegal for five weeks with absolutely no money. But something was telling me that wouldn't be possible in the real world, so I ended up spending all of friday in almost-tears chasing down some money.
Shit! My western union service didn't go through!
Shit! Bank of America is blocking my transactions!
Shit! My air france flight is not showing up in my bank account!
Shit! There's no power at school and it's closing!
Shit! The cyber cafe is closed! Everyone's at the mosque!
At nine a.m. I had woken up so hopeful. At 3 p.m. I was sitting on a bench using my best friend's phone to text my mom "AFRICA EMERGENCY," trying not to cry but imagining myself dying at Heathrow airport.
then people started streaming out of the mosque and i managed to get things straightened out. $600 worth of CFA later, the day turned right around!
SOUVENIR SHOPPING! ICE CREAM! TRAMPOLINING INTO THE SUNSET!
ice cream salad? coconut, marshmallow, chocolate chip cookie. they thought it was something american and normal.
something about jumping up and down makes you laugh uncontrollably.
and then GOING AWAY PARTY! fabulous hammocks on the beach, which i will someday have pictures of.
so i waved goodbye to my family, then several hours later i waved goodbye to my friends. there was kissin' and cryin' and shoving money into my fists saying "Janelle, you're going to the most expensive place in the world and I love you. JUST TAKE IT, DAMNIT." the only thing that sucked about my party is that i had to leave early to catch my flight. mmmm happiness and duty free...
AND THEN
TURMOIL, PART II!!!!!!!!!
First of all, each year since I was 17 years old has had a recurring theme of being absolutely disgusted at Heathrow airport. It's a weird culture shock of "why are you talking that way" and "WHY IS EVERYONE SO PALE AND EVERYTHING SO EXPENSIVE!" They made me take my backpack as carry on so I threw away my favorite sunscreens, lotions, facewashes and winekey. bah. not so bad.
I landed at Charles de Gaule at 11 p.m.
Shit! everything is closed! where can i change my money????
Hurray! there's one exchange office that hasnt closed yet!
Shit! NOWHERE IN THE WORLD CHANGES FRANCS CFA!
So no phone, no card, no cash. Around midnight I started freaking out a little bit. But thank god for WIFI. I sent an email along the lines of "HELP ME IM STRANDED AT CDG" to the two people I know in Paris. Thank the lord Viv, whom I met a year ago in Barcelona, has a blackberry. She said I could take a cab to her apartment and she'd pay for it and I could pay her back later. Hurray! I took a long bubblebath once I got there.
AND THEN OBLIGATORY TOURISTY TOUR!
first i visited my friend louis
note to self: from below is never a flattering angle. also: buy new clothes
safe and sound now. and super fabulous, if i do say so myself.
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