Dakar and Beyond...

So, as many of you know I (joe) have spent the last two months studying for the GMAT, the graduate business school entrance exam. I was scheduled to take the exam at the nearest testing facility which is in Dakar, Senegal (about 1000 miles from where I live in Mali) on October 7th, but when I arrived at the testing center I was told that the computer system had crashed and I could not take the test. Well luckily I was going to be in Dakar for eight days so I rescheduled the exam for the following Wednesday (at the Dakar testing facility this exam is only offered on Wednesdays). The day before my rescheduled appointment I called the testing center to confirm my appointment and was saddened to hear that due to a continuing computer problem they would not be offering me my rescheduled test.

WHAT THIS MEANS FOR ME…

Is that I will not be able to apply for business school for the fall of 2010 due to the fact that I will not have another opportunity to take the GMAT in time for the application deadlines. I will “GOD willing” take the GMAT when I come back to the US this summer and apply for business school for the fall of 2011.

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In between the two failed attempts at taking the GMAT Ashley and I had a chance to spend the week in Dakar (actually La Samone, a small village about two hours south of Dakar) with Randy and Judy. If you know anything about Ashley you know she loves her family and to have her father fly to Africa to spend time with her puts a big smile on her face. After spending 15 months in the dusty regions of central Mali without running water or electricity, you can imagine that an ocean side resort was like stepping into heaven. Let me count the ways I feel blessed;
- Rooms equipped with air-conditioning that would give an Eskimo the chills,
- Upgraded to an ocean view room,
- “All inclusive” means I get to eat as much ice cream as I want,
- Even though the pool rules say “no swimming after 7pm” no one yells at me when I swim at 9pm,
- Pizza available at every lunch and dinner (that one is an Ashley favorite),
- My father-in-law likes me well enough to have come to Africa with a bag full of Laffy Taffy for me to eat,
- Judy helped me to understand that I am a “Blu” man for eternity (or infinity)....,

- that I got to put on spf 70 sunblock because the African sun is as hot as it sounds,

- and did I mention the all-you-can eat buffet.

I feel very blessed to have gotten to share such a wonderful time with such wonderful people.

Ashley and I noticed right away that Dakar has more the feel of a city than does Bamako. This shot is taken from the balcony of our room at the Hotel Farid where Ashley and I stayed the two days before Randy and Judy arrived (fyi - I did not think it was a very nice room for $75 USD).

As you drive into Dakar from the airport you get to see a spectacular view of the Mosque de la Devinite

N’ice cream is a must if you are ever in Dakar

Looking down the coast at our resort
Randy and Ashley looking pretty happy after a nice big breakfast

Ashley had one of the local artists put henna on both of her feet (it last for about two weeks)

Ashley getting ready for a little snoozer, she is exhausted from laying by the pool all day

let's just say that i am chill'axin

Randy got scared of the giraffes and so Ashley had to go stand by him

Giraffes are always cool
General rule: don't mess with birds taller than you are

Ash looking cool pool side

Can't beat the infinity pool

Judy, Randy, Ashley and I poolside for hor d'oeuvres

Love an African sunset