Rainy season has finally arrived

I was on skype to a colleague the other night at work and could hear something outside getting louder and louder. It took me a while to realise what it was. Rain! First time it has rained in the 7 months I've been here. And it really rained. And the power went out - not a problem in the office as we have a generator, but trying to negotiate the flood-like puddles to hail a taxi in the pitch black and pouring rain was another issue. Note to self: remember that heavy rain and flip flops are not a good combo.

There are these open drains near my flat, that have been brimming with quite hideous stagnant water and rubbish. There have been people clearing them out for the past week, which is a relief because with all that rain it would have just flooded everywhere...

It makes me think of the poorer parts of Dakar though. There aren't really slums here, but the poorer neighbourhoods are built in an area that is basically an old riverbed. There was a period of about 20 years known as the great dry period, and because there was so little rain in that area people started to build houses there. The problem now is that as the rain increases, these areas become totally flooded. The area is really densely populated and there are challenges with sanitation and rubbish disposal at the best of times. I visited some children's clubs with work in January and there were still parts of the area that were flooded from the rainy season (3 months after end of the rains). It can get so bad in parts that the schools have to close for several months. The water that is left is so dirty and stagnant too; breeding ground for mosquitoes and other diseases, and yet there are kids playing all around. The government basically needs to invest in some kind of big canal drainage system to mitigate the flooding, but either lacks the means or the will to do anything.

Last night it rained again and was still pouring this morning. I have never seen the streets so empty. There was literally no one around, and practically no cars either. It is always such a hive of activity here; it was so weird to see it so empty. Clearly being caught in the rain is not popular here. I on the other had was quite happy splashing about in my cagoule. Have been waiting for an excuse to dig that out!