Fishing Boats in St. Louis, Senegal

Thursday evening, we had about an hour of daylight left in St. Louis. Massamba, who grew up in St. Louis, suggested we swing by the waterfront and check out the fishing boats. He had taken visiting students there the week before; they were from a public school in my town in America, and I had helped them a bit to prepare for their visit.

As we crossed a small bridge spanning the water, I squinted as I thought I saw something familiar. But it couldn't be what I thought I had seen. We turned left after the bridge and drove along the bumpy road that parallels the water, passing shacks, goats, fishermen, boats, and barefoot children. The long wooden boats were lined up on shore, and as we approached the spot where Massamba had taken the students, I had to blink. Twice. The fisherman had emblazoned the name of the American school on their boat!

We were soon surrounded by about a hundred people welcoming us, and talking -- in French and Wolof -- about how they were so happy to have met the student group. They were apparently the first "tourists" to ever visit them, and by all accounts were ideal ambassadors. The fishermen and their families were happy to know that I was part of that same group. As I took many pictures, the scene turned into an impromptu festival.

So today, off the west coast of Africa, a 40-50 foot wooden boat skims the Atlantic in search of fish, emblazoned with the words " Roger Ludlowe Middle School USA " in letters probably 2 feet high.

You can see more -- a lot more -- images of the St. Louis, Senegal fishermen and their boat here