Differences Between Mandinkas and Americans

After two years of surviving in Dassalami Soce in the Fatick region. I cannot help but notice the differences between the Senegalese and the American culture. These differences are mainly for the Mandinkas, and not necessarily for other ethnicity groups in Senegal.

Mandinkas: do not use your left hand to touch another person, unless you are saying goodbye to someone. In this context, the gesture means see you later and hope you will return later. The left hand is usually used to wipe one’s buttocks and to eat with your left hand means that you are possessed by the Devil.

Americans: you can use your left hand to touch anyone. There is no significance behind the gesture.

Mandinkas: A pregnant woman performs hard labor during her pregnancy such as fetching water 10-20 miles away from the community, cook and clean and go to the fields 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. She NEVER has a chance to take a break nor gets help from her husband.

Americans: We have “maternity leave” where women take the time off to take care of the newborn. Although a woman still has to go to work during the first six months, she is entitled to these days with added benefits. The father has to help out in some shape or form if he does not want conflicts with his wife.

Mandinkas: men can walk hand in hands when they are best friends and this is a sign of camaraderie for straight men. Women are also allowed to do this in public.

Americans: If two men are holding hands they must be homosexuals.

Mandinkas: During conversations it is normal for someone to lean in very close to you as if they are touching your face. This is a sign they are being attentive to the discussion.

Americans: During conversations, people need to occupy their own "personal space".

Mandinkas: They eat together out of one big bowl (sometimes they use spoons or hands).

Americans: They eat separately and each person has their own plates, and they mainly use forks and knives. We only use our hands to rip apart lobsters or BBQ chicken.

Mandinkas: They defecate in the bush and urinate anywhere, even in the street as long as there is a wall they can hid behind.

Americans: To pee in public is illegal, you will get arrested or someone will call the police on you. I challenge someone to do this on someone’s lawn and see what will happen to you.

Mandinkas: most Mandinkas are bilingual (Mandinka and Wolof), and the children that go to school are trilingual (Mandinka, Wolof, and French)

Americans: We just speak English (unless they are immigrants and know French, Spanish, Chinese or Haitian-creole (feel free to add more languages to this list).

Mandinkas: Men can have more than one wife and have a girlfriend on the side.

Americans: Men can only have one wife (unless they travel to another country and get married without notifying the spouse in the States). To have a girlfriend on the side is called cheating on your spouse which may or may not lead to a divorce. Polygamy is illegal in the states.

Mandinkas: they can enter any house without knocking and greet everyone. They can even sneak on your conversation with another person.

Americans: I highly suggest not trying this in America, because you might get shot by accident. Sneaking on another person’s conversation is being nosy and considered rude in the states.

Mandinkas: children (and adults) are taught to greet strangers. You even have permission to touch them and trust them immediately.

      Americans: Their children are taught to fear strangers.

    Mandinkas: they can go into any house and ask to use the bathroom.

Americans: it is strongly suggested not to try this in America. It's    best that you find a gas station or a public restroom. In the worst case scenario, hold it till you get home.

Mandinkas: they can go into any house and ask for a drink of water and    they will receive it.

Americans: It is advised to go to Walmart/Kmart or a gas station to buy yourself a bottle of water.

Mandinkas: they can negotiate prices on any items. There are no standard prices.

Americans: they pay the price shown on the tag. Do not try to bargain the price of the manager of the store because you might be told not to come there again.

Mandinkas: they are never punctual. They come an hour late to meetings.

Americans: they usually show up an hour before the start of the meeting.

Mandinkas: they have sheep and goats and cows as pets. They roam and defecate around the house all the time.

Americans: they have dogs and cats (and there are those who have other animals like tigers, snakes but the norms in the States for pets are dogs and cats. Sheeps, goats and cows are kept in farms to be slaughtered after and shipped in a packaged box to your nearest grocery store.

I will keep updating this post as I think and see more differences.