Hey everyone!

Firstly, thank you for still being here. I really want to be one of these people that posts regularly on all platforms, but life hasn’t been that generous to me. (New goal unlocked for 2026!)

On Sunday, I submitted my first draft of my manuscript for my second book with National Geographic. I am grateful to have made it to this point because this book chewed me up and spit me out. I’ve cried too many times and thought I was going to lose my mind. My deep commitment and borderline obsession with ensuring every recipe was authentic to the country it belonged to, brought me to my edge. But I’m proud of what I’ve submitted.

I moved to Dakar last week. I didn’t think it through. It all happened on a whim. In 2023, a friend mentioned that her friend was building a new building in Dakar and I said “I’m in!” 🤷🏿‍♀️ I probably didn’t ask enough questions, but here we are. It said luxury and I like luxury so I figured I was good to go. Not so much.

Since March, I knew this was going to be a challenge. I bought custom handmade tiles from Morocco and it almost worked until they gave me the wrong dimensions for the balcony. They ran out of tile and my tile maker no longer has the colors used for my tile. 🙃 I haven’t come up with a solution yet. If you’re Moroccan, please reply to this! I need help!

As for the rest of the apartment, there’s a lack of attention to detail. They left three windows open for three months effectively allowing dust to creep into every crevice. They didn’t clean properly after construction and I’m afraid most of my tiles are ruined. It’s been trying times.

Then yesterday, I lost my wide angle lens for my Osmo Pocket and later my CREDIT CARD. The only card I have, besides AMEX, which basically isn’t taken in most of the city. I nearly had a nervous break down, but I’m alive. Haven’t figured out what to do yet, but I found a couple of things I needed for the apartment before I lost it. A win? I guess.

Dakar has been stressful. Moving alone isn’t easy. Moving to another country isn’t easy. Now put the two together along with finishing a manuscript and you have a recipe for extremely, overwhelming stress. I’ve resorted to lots of time in bed and reading paper books.

I will be ok, but damn this is hard.

On the up side, I didn’t know I was west facing. The sunsets here are phenomenal. My place in Detroit has sunrise and now in Dakar I have sunset. Life is generous after all. :-)

Travel Tip

When traveling to another country, make sure you check the visa requirements at least two weeks in advance of your travel. Do not show up in a country where you need a visa, without a visa. If you are unsure of the requirements for a country you are traveling to, passportindex.org is a great resource.

Where I’m Traveling

I am mostly sitting for the next month. I have no idea what I will be doing for Christmas or NYE but I will be in Dakar! I am also planning to head to Benin in January. It will be my first time there since I moved out of the country. I lived there for 6 months, end of 2010 - April 2011. I’m so excited to see how it has changed and what it will feel like to be back there. Here is a blog post that I wrote on December 4, 2010. A different time!

What I’m Reading

I sadly am not going to meet my goal of reading 55 books this year, but hoping to get to 26!

📘 Someday, Now: A Memoir of Family, Reclaiming Possibility, and One Sicilian Summer by Tembi Locke: I really wanted to love this book, because I loved her first book, From Scratch. This book is a lovely telling of her life as it is now, post her husband’s passing and the book and Netflix. The first time her new partner travels with her to Italy. It is a personal story and she continues to share vulnerability in her life. It is worth a listen, though not what I expected. Also, it is only available as an audiobook, a great morning walk listen. 3/5

📘 Africa Is Not A Country: Notes on a Bright Continent by Dipo Fayloin: This book was incredible, nothing is perfect, but this is incredibly close. It is part history lesson, part cultural critique, part comedy. It is sarcastic, smart, biting and infuriating. Everyone should read this book. It also was our book club selection for November and we all loved it. 5/5

📘 The Soulmate by Christina Lauren: Back on my romance novels. This was a fun and cute book, with an interesting premise of using DNA to find romantic matches, IF ONLY! 4/5

What I am Listening To

I discovered this song via Tobe Nwigwe on IG and instantly fell in love.

This song will have you dancing on the grave of your enemies! Bonus on Spotify, they have several remixes, in case you need more!

Catch Me Around the Web

A few new articles have come out in which I was featured in the last few months. Take a gander!

[DE] Menschen, die alles gesehen haben, empfehlen diese 28 Orte – Zeit Magazine: November 2025

Delta Air Lines Dominates North American Awards Again – Business Traveller: October 2025

This Airline Has the Best Lounges in North America – Business Traveller: October 2025

The Most Underrated Cities in Europe – Condé Nast Traveler: October 2025

JESSICA NABONGO: A Journey Around The World and Back to Herself – Nomad Africa: October 2025

A Few of My Favorite Things

I will never take for granted how a beautiful space can be calming, particularly during times of stress. I have been spending a lot of time at Noliane Terraza in Dakar. It is a beautiful new restaurant, cafe and boutique hotel in Dakar. If you’re trying to catch me, you will probably find me here. The food is delicious and the vibe is right!

Be well. Travel well. Live well. Until next time: catch me if you can!

- Jessica

Say hi on Instagram, watch my latest video on YouTube or check out my book for more travel tips!

The Journal by Jessica Nabongo is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.