From Senegal to Virginia

Mohamed Diagne is a senior who moved to Virginia all the way from Senegal the summer before eleventh grade. Senegal is a country in West Africa. The national language is French.

Q: When did your family arrive in America and why did they come here?

A: “My family actually didn’t arrive in America. I moved here alone with my auntie. I was born here (America) because my mom used to come here and one of those times she came pregnant. I was born a little earlier than expected during one of those trips, so that’s why I was born in America. This caused me to come back every five years, so that I could make my passport. My parents then decided I could finish high school in America since it would be easier.”

Q: In what ways is Senegal different from America?

A: “The school system is different for sure, but the scenery is kind of the same in a weird way. In America, you walk outside and you see grass. Now imagine all of that grass is replaced with sand. In a way it’s the same, but obviously since there is a ton of sand, the atmosphere is way more dusty in Senegal. Still, it’s kind of like here (America) as we have fast food places and we even have KFC. Schools are very different.”

School starts at eight for everyone and ends at different times depending on your grade level. Like if you’re a senior you’d probably leave between four and six PM and you don’t get to pick your classes. You’re automatically assigned to 11 classes. Students stay in one room for all of their classes with the same students everyday for the whole year and the teachers are the ones who move around.

What’s most different is the houses. Here you have neighborhoods with those triangle houses. Over there (Senegal) we have square shaped houses. Before coming here I have only ever seen a triangle shaped house in cartoons.”

Q: What adjustments did you have to make living here?

A: “Everything. I had to learn how to speak English and learn how to behave like ya’ll. The way you talk to people here and in Senegal is very different. In school, the student teacher relationship is totally different here. Over there it was military strict and in America it’s more friendly and cool. I had to change a lot of things, but it was alright. I used to live with four brothers and now I live by myself.” 

Q: Do you feel welcomed in America? Why or why not?

A: “I do feel welcomed, like I never came here and something weird or racist happened. I feel very, very, very welcome here, especially with the teachers. It’s cool to see how well some of these teachers treat me. If it wasn’t for them I probably wouldn’t have passed my SOLs.”

Q: Do people treat you differently because you came from a different country? Does it annoy/concern you?

A: “Yes they do treat me differently, but not in a racist way. They treat me differently sometimes because they are interested in where I come from. Some people ask me how it is over in Senegal and how I feel about being here. Almost like how I’m answering the questions now, people are curious and there’s nothing wrong with asking in a friendly way. They did treat me differently in that way for the first six months I was here, but now I’m being treated like everyone else. English is not my first language so it was a struggle at first.”