Flight to Dakar

I am traveling to Dakar separately from the group because I used miles. The South African Airways flight from Dulles to Dakar is pleasant. I have a row to myself, and the service is top notch. I look forward to connecting with the group when I land in Dakar. Our flights are scheduled to arrive at the same time, today (Saturday) at 6am.

I still recall my first experience at the Dakar airport in 2003, when I looked around and realized that I was the only white person in "baggage claim". That was my very first brief window into the experience of being "the other". Today when I land, Karen and Malcolm will be there to give me the loving treatment that they are famous for. I will be staying with Karen's family, about 15 minutes away from where the team is staying.

I am excited to work within the new model-training Community Health Workers (CHWs). On this flight, I am preparing my training module on mental health/mental illness. It will be fascinating to dialogue with the Senegalese CHWs on Tuesday night about what they see, how it is perceived in this culture, and how the CHWs could be agents of positive change in the treatment of people whose mental and emotional health is challenged. My initial task will be to listen, ask the right questions, and learn about the particular shapes and forms that mental illness takes in this community. I anticipate that there will be many commonalities as well as some distinctions.

One thing that has become clear to me on my two previous trips to Senegal is that paradigms, attitudes and behavior norms are not necessarily transferrable between cultures. That is my favorite part of this adventure-to be reminded, open minded about the humbling truth that all reality is subjective. Each perspective has validity and must be respected. I am intrigued by the the interplay between the ubiquitous human qualities, common to all of us, and the clear differences that exist between cultures and subcultures. It echoes the nature nurture controversy that will never be resolved. Why are we the way we are? Maybe that's why I believe in God.

When resources (such as food) are scarce, electricity is unreliable or nonexistent, everything changes. Adaptive traits prized in one culture may or may not be valuable across all cultures. On the other hand, qualities such as compassion, honesty and loyalty foster thriving communities no matter where we are on the planet. I am curious to see what messages and perceptions on mental health are pervasive among the Senegalese people.

These thoughts and questions fill my mind as the plane races across the Atlantic at a velocity of 570 miles per hour. The stars out the window of the plane are incredible! So many! They must be there all the time, but I just can't see them.

Although I have been off coffee since June, I used a little caffeine this morning to make it through the time change. What a zing! Someone's going to sleep well tonight.