I found the taxi sisters!
Last time I was in Senegal, I heard about a company called "taxi sisters," with only female taxi drivers. Their cars are well maintained, and it is a solution for women travelling alone who are worried about their safety, or simply want to avoid having someone hitting on them for the entire ride. When I asked the male taxi drivers waiting outside my hotel about them, they had told me that the company was not in existence. LIARS.
While walking to the hospital today, my cameraman made a comment, "oh, you don't see those taxis that often. They're called taxi sisters." And there they were--two bright yellow cars, slightly smaller than normal taxis, but relatively new looking. I ran over and took both of their phone numbers. Next time I have to travel alone at night, especially to somewhere unfamiliar, I will call them.
Today I met a really cute kid at the oncology ward. I was sitting in the room by myself, waiting for one of the health care workers, and he kept peering in. I waved at him a few times, then finally he entered and extended his hand, which I took and said formally, "enchanté." He's about 3 years old, and smiles all the time. I could not speak to him since I do not speak any of Senegal's native languages, but he has a box of crayons so I borrowed one to draw a picture for him. I drew a rabbit on a piece of paper, and then a flower, and gave it to him so he could draw something else. Instead, he took a green crayon, and painstakingly colored the rabbit in, making sure not to color anywhere outside of the lines.
We did some preliminary filming today, and I ate a lot of bread. Tomorrow we will work with an interpreter.
Last time I was in Senegal, I heard about a company called "taxi sisters," with only female taxi drivers. Their cars are well maintained, and it is a solution for women travelling alone who are worried about their safety, or simply want to avoid having someone hitting on them for the entire ride. When I asked the male taxi drivers waiting outside my hotel about them, they had told me that the company was not in existence. LIARS.
While walking to the hospital today, my cameraman made a comment, "oh, you don't see those taxis that often. They're called taxi sisters." And there they were--two bright yellow cars, slightly smaller than normal taxis, but relatively new looking. I ran over and took both of their phone numbers. Next time I have to travel alone at night, especially to somewhere unfamiliar, I will call them.
Today I met a really cute kid at the oncology ward. I was sitting in the room by myself, waiting for one of the health care workers, and he kept peering in. I waved at him a few times, then finally he entered and extended his hand, which I took and said formally, "enchanté." He's about 3 years old, and smiles all the time. I could not speak to him since I do not speak any of Senegal's native languages, but he has a box of crayons so I borrowed one to draw a picture for him. I drew a rabbit on a piece of paper, and then a flower, and gave it to him so he could draw something else. Instead, he took a green crayon, and painstakingly colored the rabbit in, making sure not to color anywhere outside of the lines.
We did some preliminary filming today, and I ate a lot of bread. Tomorrow we will work with an interpreter.
No comments:
Post a Comment