Drew Erickson

Drew Erickson is passionate about service and empathy. She is involved in community service, human rights, and using her privilege to advocate for those with quieter voices. Her goals for the year are to, one, learn how to work collaboratively and effectively, two, understand what privilege looks like on a global and local scale outside of the United States, and three, to become fluent in both French and Wolof. Joy is my biggest inspiration— seeing a smile on someone’s face? Yes, when i see someone else benefit from my work, it pushes me to do better everyday.

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home.

Home. Since August, home meant Senegal. It was not where my family or friends lived, it was not where I grew up, but I quickly had to learn to call it home. My room had to become my sanctuary, the office had to become my place of productivity, and the people there had to…

30 March, 2020

Presenting the New Nikola Tesla

I have grown beyond my limits this year. Living in Senegal has been both one of my biggest joys and my biggest hardships. When you are navigating a new space, culture and language, you must learn to adapt and change the way you function. In short, you learn to innovate. And I have to say……

05 February, 2020

Modern Colonialism

April 4, 1960. The end of colonialism in Senegal, independence from France, and the beginning of modern colonialism. Senegal— a country full of culture, beauty, unique characteristics and not-to-mention a wonderfully distinct set of languages— is still under the firm grip of France, but in a much less obvious, much more invisible way. After gaining…

28 October, 2019

Mailing address? Mailing address!

I have had so many questions on where you can mail letters, this is it! Thank you in advance! Drew Erickson s/c Claire Ba BP 598 Thies CP 21000 Thies, Senegal

16 October, 2019

“How is Africa?”

“How is Africa?” Over the last month/5 weeks/36 days… this question has flooded my texts, phone calls, and DMs. At first, I somehow found the words to answer, but they never felt like they fully expressed an answer to that question. I answered, but it didn’t feel like the honest or true answer. Sitting in…

06 October, 2019

You Know You are in Senegal When

You know you are in Senegal when… when “bug spray, sunscreen, malaria pill” becomes the most important part of your morning routine when you drift off to sleep to the sound of goats just outside your window when any and every conversation begins with a friendly “asalaa maalekum” when the power goes out almost… routinely …

10 September, 2019

The Mind of an Anxious, Pre-departing Fellow

The Big Question: am I crazy or just crazy faithful? This question skips through my head day in and day out as the move to Senegal quickly approaches. In moments of pure joy and excitement, I find a voice in the back of my mind asking… is this too crazy? This decision to GO and…

20 August, 2019

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