Lunchtime Speaker: Tim James

During lunch today, Tim James talked about his experiences traveling around west Africa. He talked a lot about the problem of transportation, and how the major cities are SO crowded, but there are few highways or bridges. He also talked about the effects of colonialism by the French and British in these places. This relates to what we were learning, of course, because we studied colonialism, but it was also very interesting to see the results of colonialism after several centuries have passed. This is something we didn't really look into when we studied it.

For example, the language in Senegal (colonized by France) remained French, even when surrounding places spoke English or another African dialect. I thought it was interesting that places so close to Senegal spoke an entirely different language like English or another African dialect. It was also strange how, because of colonialism, when traveling to and from Senegal by plane, you have to first fly through Paris. I don't really know why this is the case, and Tim James didn't say, but it definitely gives France more control over the people entering and leaving their colony, which is what anyone would want.

I also found it interesting, and inspiring, that although the conditions in west Africa are so harsh, the people who live there still laugh, have fun and are seemingly happy. At least this is the impression I got from the presentation. Many of us would complain about having to cram 20 people in the back of a van, but for the people that live there, this is their way of life, and they aren't complaining.