How much $

[WhidbeyGirl 1]

How much money do y'all think I need to take with me for a 3 week visit to Senegal. SO is taking care of lodging. I hadn't planned on it being very much but someone told me minimum $1000 and being that I am white probably twice that since Africans view whites as wealthy. I don't have NEARLY that much. Do you really think I need that much?

[Perseverance 1]

I agree that you need to take more, especially that this is your first visit, you never know what could happen. I know that this is your love, but things could happen and you should not be unprepared. I am not going to go into what ifs. Just be a smart woman and realise that you are going to be very far from home and if something should happen, you only have yourself.

[~PalmTreeGurl~ 154]

Are you paying for your plane ticket?? If you are then, I feel like the fella you are visiting should be paying more most everything else. Dont waste all your money over there for a guy. When I flew to Egypt to meet my now husband, I did pay for my plane ticket, but did not spend any of my own money in Egypt. He and his family paid everything for me. I did bring money in case, but definitely not $1000. I brought 1 credit card for emergency and $200 thats it! and I only spent $1 to give as a tip at a gas station and a few bucks for a gift for a friend bcz I insisted on using my own money for a friend.

[Perseverance 1]

while I understand your reasoning in the man should pay. In my case I paid for everything for every trip and I am glad that I did because it came up in more than one interview(we had a few this also includes the AOS interview and yes it came up there too) and was to our advantage. SOMETIMES the CO takes the view that if the SO pays for everything it can point to a "marriage for hire situation".

Now I repeat that I said SOMETIMES.

Dont go freaking out all those who did not pay for their own trips.

Many African countries have a higher fraud factor and cases are looked at in more detail.

[Zee Bee 61]

Are you paying for your plane ticket?? If you are then, I feel like the fella you are visiting should be paying more most everything else. Dont waste all your money over there for a guy. When I flew to Egypt to meet my now husband, I did pay for my plane ticket, but did not spend any of my own money in Egypt. He and his family paid everything for me. I did bring money in case, but definitely not $1000. I brought 1 credit card for emergency and $200 thats it! and I only spent $1 to give as a tip at a gas station and a few bucks for a gift for a friend bcz I insisted on using my own money for a friend.

Everyone's situation is different. You can't just tell her to expect her SO to pay for everything and let her go there, essentially, empty handed. That is irresponsible IMO. What if she wants to pay for everything? Besides, she needs to make sure she has more than enough money just in case.

Good for you, you had someone who would pay for everything and pay for you, some are not so lucky.

To the OP: I don't know what prices are like in Senegal. I would say, take as much as you are comfortable taking with you and make sure you have a back up means of getting more $$$ if you need to.

[WhidbeyGirl 1]

Thank you all. Yes I bought my own ticket. IF there were an emergency I know I could ALWAYS count on my mom. Originally I was going to take $1,000 or more, but then my job got cut from 32 hours a week to just 16. And there is no way I could ever have that much.

[~PalmTreeGurl~ 154]

I just dont want her going with the thought that Americans are rich, so she needs to bring alot of money... I dont want her to use all of her money bcz she is going to need money when she is home... the economy is not a bed of roses in 2008. Not that the man needs to pay every dime for her, but why should she have to buy the plane ticket, and bring $1,000 of money... thats too much IMHO.

How much money do y'all think I need to take with me for a 3 week visit to Senegal. SO is taking care of lodging. I hadn't planned on it being very much but someone told me minimum $1000 and being that I am white probably twice that since Africans view whites as wealthy. I don't have NEARLY that much. Do you really think I need that much?

That is the part I am really referring too, bcz I dont want her being taken advantage of!

[stevi1123 0]

Update on the business saga !

This is more complicated than I thought. Everything looks good in theory but is hard to implement.

The poda poda would cost about $9000 bought in S/L. A decent car around $ 5000. He does not want a cheaper one because he does not want to be underneath it fixing it all the time and doesn't trust less expensive ones. With the rough roads they will take a lot of rough rides.

If we ship it ,it will cost about $1000 - $1500 and $ 1320 to clear it through customs.

I also found out that most people ship vehicles without the seats and cram it full of TV's and any other stuff ..........lol. Then they buy seats over there.

Sigh, just too much for right now I think.

Meanwhile the good deal of a shop for $ 500 a year is no longer available and the others are higher.

I guess it won't happen unless he can find a cheaper vehicle.

He also had a brilliant idea on how to utilize the vehicle, rent it out to big companies for their drivers for around $ 800 per month. He already spoke with someone from the electric company.

If only we can find a cheaper and reliable vehicle..........any suggestions from nearby Liberia or Guinea ?

I just dont want her going with the thought that Americans are rich, so she needs to bring alot of money... I dont want her to use all of her money bcz she is going to need money when she is home... the economy is not a bed of roses in 2008. Not that the man needs to pay every dime for her, but why should she have to buy the plane ticket, and bring $1,000 of money... thats too much IMHO.

How much money do y'all think I need to take with me for a 3 week visit to Senegal. SO is taking care of lodging. I hadn't planned on it being very much but someone told me minimum $1000 and being that I am white probably twice that since Africans view whites as wealthy. I don't have NEARLY that much. Do you really think I need that much?

That is the part I am really referring too, bcz I dont want her being taken advantage of!

She has a man who loves her, and I'm quite sure that he will protect her from being taken advantage of as best he can.

Edited October 11, 2008 by stevi1123

[~PalmTreeGurl~ 154]

Love - no one doubts that... its about what she stated that someone told her to bring a minimum of $1,000 to Africa and that Africans see White people as being rich! Those are not really cool to have someone tell you considering that Africa in itself does have high fraud marriages. Why does White people gotta be rich? That wasnt right for someone to tell her to bring alot of money like more than $1,000 bcz they see us as rich bcz we are white. Wrong reason to bring "enough" money IMO.

And if she goes to Africa and spends $1,000 for instance and gets back here and the economy gets worse... is her SO going to send money to her to help her financially? I would hope so, but if their opinion is that bcz she is white she has enough money... then thats not going to help her when she gets back home!

[~PalmTreeGurl~ 154]

She has a man who loves her, and I'm quite sure that he will protect her from being taken advantage of as best he can.

and how do you know all of this ? She just joined VJ on Oct 1st. Do you know her and her fiance personally? The day the marry they are going to file for K3... She just needs to enjoy her time and dont stress about spending alot of money there. Money is definitely needed for the process and life when she gets back home. Having a job that went from 32hrs to 16 is not going to help her much with bills, so dont spend more than needed when on vacation!

Edited October 11, 2008 by TamaraLovesAdam

[Sylvia_n_Joseph 3]

Taking money or letting your SO foot the bill can sometimes be a matter of comfort level. I am not sure if you are used to warm weather and how well off he is. I know Joseph is poor so there is no AC and no hot water and we sleeps on a mat on the floor. I adapt to it ok but I know a friend of mine went to visit her then boyfriend and just couldn't cope. They ended up breaking up due to fights that started because she was so unformfortable and his family saw her as whiney and ungreatful. What are your expectations on comfort ?

I will be taking some money with me in case I decide to do things and to have a little fun.

[Perseverance 1]

Personally I am telling her to take plenty of money, no matter what, bottom line you are traveling to another country. You should prepare yourself for anything. Travel as though you DONT have someone there to count on, you dont know what could happen. If you are relying on someone and they end up not following through or something happens and that person is no longer a factor, do you have enought money to get you through the trip? What if you DO have to pay for lodging? What if ALL of your bags are lost and you need clothes ect. Just because you take enough money to be prepared DOES NOT mean that you have to SPEND it all. I dont care what color you are, it does not make sence to travel around the world unprepared for what may or may not happen. Come on be people be smart and responsible for yourself.

[~PalmTreeGurl~ 154]

Personally I am telling her to take plenty of money, no matter what, bottom line you are traveling to another country. You should prepare yourself for anything. Travel as though you DONT have someone there to count on, you dont know what could happen. If you are relying on someone and they end up not following through or something happens and that person is no longer a factor, do you have enought money to get you through the trip? What if you DO have to pay for lodging? What if ALL of your bags are lost and you need clothes ect. Just because you take enough money to be prepared DOES NOT mean that you have to SPEND it all. I dont care what color you are, it does not make sence to travel around the world unprepared for what may or may not happen. Come on be people be smart and responsible for yourself.

thats why i suggested a credit card, if possible. Call the credit card company and let them know you will be taking it with you and in what country. Make sure it is one that can be used. That way you have it for emergency. What if your cash gets lost or stolen... then you are stuck!

[Perseverance 1]

Taking money or letting your SO foot the bill can sometimes be a matter of comfort level. I am not sure if you are used to warm weather and how well off he is. I know Joseph is poor so there is no AC and no hot water and we sleeps on a mat on the floor. I adapt to it ok but I know a friend of mine went to visit her then boyfriend and just couldn't cope. They ended up breaking up due to fights that started because she was so unformfortable and his family saw her as whiney and ungreatful. What are your expectations on comfort ?

I will be taking some money with me in case I decide to do things and to have a little fun.

You are CORRECT Sylvia

this is the FIRST trip she does not know what to expect...better to be PREPARED

Personally I am telling her to take plenty of money, no matter what, bottom line you are traveling to another country. You should prepare yourself for anything. Travel as though you DONT have someone there to count on, you dont know what could happen. If you are relying on someone and they end up not following through or something happens and that person is no longer a factor, do you have enought money to get you through the trip? What if you DO have to pay for lodging? What if ALL of your bags are lost and you need clothes ect. Just because you take enough money to be prepared DOES NOT mean that you have to SPEND it all. I dont care what color you are, it does not make sence to travel around the world unprepared for what may or may not happen. Come on be people be smart and responsible for yourself.

thats why i suggested a credit card, if possible. Call the credit card company and let them know you will be taking it with you and in what country. Make sure it is one that can be used. That way you have it for emergency. What if your cash gets lost or stolen... then you are stuck!

CCard may not be an option depending on WHERE in Senagal she is going to be....

[Kanyiri 0]

Yes they do look at white people like they have a lot of money, but their definition of white is different from ours. If you are African American you are still white in their eyes. We walk different from Africans. I know that sounds odd, but after a Ghanaian pointed this out to me, I started paying attention and it's true. Anyway, that's just to say they can look at anyone and know they are not from that country - even a Nigerian in Ghana in many cases.

As for the money thing, I'd say to budget about $20 a day (if you are staying with him and don't have to pay for lodging). Another thing, if you are going to a store where they barter or getting into a taxi where the fee is negotiable, sit back and watch to see what a local person pays. When you know what they paid go and barter for less. If they won't give it to you then walk away. They'll likely call you back. Many foreigners decide that they have money so they want to give more and help the seller out, but this just reinforces the view that all whites are rich (and makes it very hard on Peace Corps Volunteers who do NOT get paid more than a local teacher salary). Never take the first price they give you when you are in the market. If you trust your fiance then he can do all the bartering when you are out of sight, but I found that I could barter for less than my husband in many cases. If you really feel like you have to give more for any reason, then barter for the lowest price, agree to it, and then give extra as a favor. Or just buy more goods from them.

More than likely though, you'll be hob-nobbing around in the richer area of the country and the stores with roofs, walls, and windows do typically have set prices so they couldn't cheat you even if they wanted to.

Good luck!