SOME CULTURAL DIFFERENCES

Remember that the following observations are generalisations. Expect some exceptions:

 

• Senegalese do not use their left hand in eating, handing out things (especially money!), or greeting people. Avoid doing so as it will appear extremely rude. If you have to use your left hand for whatever reason (if your right hand is wet/dirty etc.), use your left hand, but apologize for doing so. The Wolof expression "Baal ma camon" means "excuse my left hand" and is used for this purpose. Or, if it's a situation where you need to shake someone's hand, it is also acceptable to offer your right wrist for the other person to "shake" if you are unable to use your right hand.

   

• It is customary to escort your guests out of your house after entertaining them and to walk them down the street or even back to their house if it's not too far.

• The emphasis on time is quite different in Senegal than it is in the West. Things move more slowly, and there's a greater emphasis on relationships, rather than how many tasks one can accomplish in one day.

• When you go to visit someone's home and family, take a small gift. Tea or fruit is always appropriate. On the other hand, if you are a guest in someone's home, especially for an extended period of time, you may be offered a gift, such as a bracelet, a scarf, a favorite book, etc. Be careful of expressing admiration for things (clothes, pictures, etc.), as people will often feel inspired to offer the item to you for you to keep. If you don't think you would feel comfortable accepting the item, you may want to tone down the level of enthusiasm with which you comment on it. A gift, once offered, is difficult to refuse without offending the giver.

• If you are ill, people will probably flock to you, rather than "leave you alone" as is expected in the Western culture. If you're seen sitting alone or looking depressed, people will tend to join you, to help you avoid feeling lonely even though you may not be feeling that at the time and may just want to be alone.

• You should keep in mind that crying has a very different connotation in Sénégal, where it is generally reserved for extremely grave or disastrous occasions, such as death. The American habit of crying to express emotion or to "get something off your chest" is not very well understood. Do not be surprised if your tears of frustration are met by frantic attempts to stop them at any cost, since, for your Senegalese friends, crying is associated with extreme despair.

• When with older people, do not look them directly in the eye, as this is a sign of disrespect. Direct eye contact is much less common in general in Senegal. You'll find that people will look away from you while you're holding a conversation with them.

• When speaking with older people, remember the importance of respect for elders. Depending on the context, it may not be appropriate to address an elder by their legal name. Follow the example of the person introducing you. It is very likely, for example, that you would simply call your best friend's mother by the Wolof term for mother (Yaay), rather than by her name.

 

• When in someone's home, always take off your shoes before waking on a rug or carpeted area, or before sitting on or around a mat. People use floor mats to serve meals on.

• You will learn most eating rules through experience, but here are a few pointers:

- Never touch any food with your left hand.

- Always stay in your part of the bowl (an imaginary pie shape directly in front of you).

- Try not to drop crumbs in someone else's part.

- Be prepared to eat a lot!!!!

• Do NOT walk in front of people who are praying, as it would indicate they are praying for a dead person (you or whoever is directly in front of them). The exception to this rule is when they have placed a small object directly at the front of their prayer mats which allows people to pass in front of the mat. At some distance from the person who is praying, you can pass in front of them.

Use your best judgement, common sense, and close observation of others to determine what that distance is. Otherwise, you can always walk BEHIND someone who is praying.

• When entering a room or a new situation, be sure to shake everyone's hand, even the youngest child.

• A visit from someone is regarded as a gift. If a friend visits you, it's natural to repay the gift and visit the person in her or his home (although, if you are a woman and have received unwanted visits from males, don't feel that you have to repay the visit!).

 

From ACI
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