Give with Gratitude: Lessons Learned Listening to West Africa

by Katie Krueger

The uplifting true story of a young woman and her transformational journey into another culture.

When 24-year-old Katie Krueger set out from Wisconsin for Senegal, West Africa, on a Rotary Foundation Ambassadorial Scholarship, she was looking for adventure and an education. She had no idea what a profoundly new world she was entering and how completely her life and belief system would be overturned. Funny, tender, and illuminating, her memoir paints an unforgettable picture of the amazing highs and harrowing lows, bitter homesickness and soaring triumph she experiences as she learns to be at home in a whole new culture. She reminds us how big dreams and a desire to give back can change the world. Katie brings us along on her life-changing journey, which she tells in a series of stories and lessons learned by listening to West Africa – and her own heart.

Genres: Africa

189 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2009

Reviews

[Claire · Rating 3 out of 5]

I recieved Give with Gratitude as part of a Goodreads giveaway.

Katie Krueger travels from her Wisconsin home to Senegal on a Rotary scholarship, a yearlong adventure doing service work. Here she recounts memories from her time in West Africa and the people she met, as well as the conditions that inspired her to found a non-profit and determine her life's work.

I really enjoyed reading Katie's insights. It takes a lot of guts for a young 20-something props to leave his or her home and everything/everyone familiar and head thousands of miles away where you know essentially nothing about the traditions, culture, or people. Sometimes the chapters felt a bit short and ended just as I was getting into them; they felt more like snapshots (and, as she states early in the book, they were adaptations of speeches she gave to local Rotary clubs when she returned home). I think I'd enjoy a more in-depth account of her time in Senegal; this book just whets the appetite.

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this book. Reading about the generosity of the Senegalese culture, their priority of relationships above all else was encouraging. It improves ones faith in humanity to hear about people who would rather share than take, give than receive; who never think that what they have is theirs to enjoy alone. A generous communal culture sometimes seems like an unrecognized ideal, but in this book we can see that there are places where it is practiced today. I recommend this book and am so glad that I read it.

[Megan W]

Story of the 1 year abroad of a Rotary International Scholarship winner living near Dakar. I found it lacking of actual life in Dakar and feel for life in Senegal. Glad I read it but sure my experience as a Peace Corps volunteer will be very different.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inspiring.

[Holly · Rating 5 out of 5]

what a beautiful story on how giving can change your whole life for the better

[Tia Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had received this book through a Goodreads giveaway and loved it. I enjoyed learning how relationships and the concept of time can be so different in other cultures. It was an eye opener and really makes the reader feel like they want to make a difference in the world. I would definitely recommend reading this book!

[Daniel Koleshchuk · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! Loved it.

I just wanted a little book about Senegal, but what I got was a riveting story with a big heart that brought tears to my eyes. I immediately turned to my husband and said, YOU HAVE TO READ THIS! And so do you.