I.
“I want a lemon,” a middle-aged Senegalese woman says to me. Her gaze is fixed on my shopping net filled with lemons. She speaks French to me and repeats the sentence. As if it is the most normal thing in the world to ask another passer-by on the sandy side street about the things she is carrying. Yet I had already almost passed her. Her words bite into my back.
“When life gives you lemons, make lemonade out of them.”
II.
“I want you to shake my hand,” a young grown up man says to me.
He was sitting in the shade under a tree with a few other men when I walked past them. After I return the literal greeting, he jumps up and comes to me. “Hello, how are you?” again. “Fine. Thank God.” I reply repeatedly. I continue on my way. He goes along. And again: “How are you?”. This time he stretches out his hand.
III.
“I want money,” says a small boy with wide eyes. As if from nowhere, he stands in front of me and asks me to put something in his empty hand. This happens often. Mostly they are in groups: Boys aged 6-12 roam the streets and are trained to ask adults for money. Their favourite prey are people with white skin. But also other Senegalese adults have often asked me about this.
Now the boy stands alone with me and waits for a reaction. I first greet him in the local language, Wolof. The boy greets me back in a low voice and continues to insist on his request: “Je veux d’argent”.
One street is like another here in this village in Senegal.
IV.
“I want to be your Senegalese friend”. Another one who thinks he can talk me into it. But I just want to spend time alone on the beach with my dog. He doesn’t let up, asks why I don’t give my phone number and whether I already have a Senegalese boyfriend. That doesn’t make the situation any better. The dog starts yapping at him.
V.
“I want the dog”. Uh, really? Did I get that right now?! And before I know it, the older man grabs my puppy, turns his back on me and wants to leave.
Encounters like the above are becoming more frequent here in Senegal. I wish I could describe only five absurd stories to you. But they are examples of countless encounters of this kind.
Funny friends in front of the gate.
