As I near the end of my service I’m trying to see as much of the country as possible. To the untrained eye it may seem dry, flat, and dusty everywhere. But after being here 2 years the subtle differences between regions really stand out and amaze. For Thanksgiving, I traveled to the very north of the country, on the border with Mauritania to visit my friend Erica’s site. Bordering the Sahara, the main difference was it was drier, flatter, and dustier than my area. Regardless, the desert environment really does hold a quiet beauty. Life moves so much slower, herders on camels drift through the sands and sit by campfires in the cool evenings. In Kaolack I could probably walk the streets naked banging a pot with a spoon and I’d just blend in with the general chaos and lawlessness. But up north, long, conservative, traditional dress is all you see, people are much more serious and reserved with their talk and joking. Here I am with Erica and her host family. Notice the head scarves and lack of exposed breasts.