Three of my friends and I are planning a massive and equally as awesome trip around africa. It consist of 42 countries in 120 days. We are planning on buying a car and driving the entire way. I have made a seperate blog full of the details of this trip. The tentative date of departure is April 8, 2010.
120daysaroundafrica.blogspot.com
This has all the details and will have more as the departure date gets closer.
Saturday, July 19, 2008
I live in The Gambia
I live in the Gambia and i love it...so far. I have been here for 5 months so far and have another 21 to go. I am in Peace Corps, in the Health and Community Development sector. I came in with 16 other people. At the present date there are 12 of us left. We spent the first 10 weeks in training. Most of that training was in training villages. Mine was Sare Samba, a wollof village. This was conducive to me learning the Wollof language. On April 18, 2008 15 of us had our swearing in ceremony at the U.S. ambasador's house. It was a very special day. I think I was even more proud than I was at graduation.
Now I live in a village called Ngayen Sanjal. Ngayen Sanjal is about 15 kilameters past Ferifenni, the third largest city in The Gambia. I don't have electricity or running water. My toilet is litterally a whole in the ground. It is surrounded by concrete though, thank the lord.
I enjoy my village quite a bit. It can get overwhelming at times but thats any job I think. Living there and communicating with the people is part of my job. I also go on trek 6 days a month with the health clinic for RCH clinics. RCH clinics are mobile clinics that give care to pregnant women and children under 5 years of age. They weigh the children and monitor malnutrition, give vaccines, and a nurse is present for anyone that is sick. I usually just do the baby weighing, which in theory gives me a chance to meet the women and children. In reality these clinics are crazy and unorganised, but they are still a huge step in the right direction for development of the country. During the school year I was teaching a seventh grade science class once a week. Science and math are a problem in this country. The teachers are not given a lot of training in these subjects so it is difficult for them to teach it.
Most of my work as of now is done in the gardens. I have five gardens going right now. My biggest accomplishment to date is the Women's garden that has just been started. I will give more details on it when it is better established and starting to be productive. Well I am presently praying day and night that is will become established and productive.
I live in Ceesay Kunda. It is a very big compound. Here is the family tree
Samba Ceesay (80 years) compound head
Sonja (50 years) his 2nd wife. The first wife died a few years ago.
Ida (35years) his 3rd wife.
Samba Ceesay actually has a 4th wife as well but she was inherited by a brother that pasted away and does not live in the compound with us.
Ousman Ceesay (35 years) the oldest child of Sonja and Samba.-he actually lives in Brikama because of his job, but his family lives with me and he does come one weekend a month.
Adgie (33 years) His 1st wife.
Kadjo (28 years) his 2nd wife.
Now for the children
Mat (19 years) child of Ida and Samba
Ami (17 years) child of Ida and Samba
Lamin (15 years) child of Ida and Samba
Fattou (13 years) child of Adgie and Ousman
Sanabou (11 years) child of Adgie and Ousman
Seer (10 years) child of Adgie and Ousman
Man Kumba (9 years) child of Kadjo and Ousman
Meer (9 years) child of Ida and Ousman
Ami (6 years) child of Adgie and Ousman
Mustapha (5 years) child of Kadjo and Ousman
Nday (2 years) child of adgie and Ousman
Samba (16 months) child of Kadjo and Ousman
I cant lie I have my favorites. Little Ami amd Mustapha are my little special ones.
I also have a good for nothing dog named Percy that is a heathen if I ever saw one. But the kids love him and everyone else tolerates him so I guess he is a part of the family.
I am starting this a little late but plan on updating it at least once a month. My address here is
Jenni Cook PCV
P.O. Box 582
Banjul, the Gambia
West Africa
I really would love to get letters. It gets lonely and boring in village sometimes. It is good to here what is going on back home.
If anyone wants to sent packages here is a list of things that would be much appriciated;
Tuna packets
dried fruit
shampoo
licorice
Lipton past packets
dried soup
mac n cheese
raisons
sunflower seeds
cereal (cherios, froot loops)
seeds for gardens (anything is worth a try)
arts and crafts supplys
Anything is nice.
I have tons of pictures up on facebook at:
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=5023157
There are more pictures at this link too:
http://gamlangs.googlepages.com
Now I live in a village called Ngayen Sanjal. Ngayen Sanjal is about 15 kilameters past Ferifenni, the third largest city in The Gambia. I don't have electricity or running water. My toilet is litterally a whole in the ground. It is surrounded by concrete though, thank the lord.
I enjoy my village quite a bit. It can get overwhelming at times but thats any job I think. Living there and communicating with the people is part of my job. I also go on trek 6 days a month with the health clinic for RCH clinics. RCH clinics are mobile clinics that give care to pregnant women and children under 5 years of age. They weigh the children and monitor malnutrition, give vaccines, and a nurse is present for anyone that is sick. I usually just do the baby weighing, which in theory gives me a chance to meet the women and children. In reality these clinics are crazy and unorganised, but they are still a huge step in the right direction for development of the country. During the school year I was teaching a seventh grade science class once a week. Science and math are a problem in this country. The teachers are not given a lot of training in these subjects so it is difficult for them to teach it.
Most of my work as of now is done in the gardens. I have five gardens going right now. My biggest accomplishment to date is the Women's garden that has just been started. I will give more details on it when it is better established and starting to be productive. Well I am presently praying day and night that is will become established and productive.
I live in Ceesay Kunda. It is a very big compound. Here is the family tree
Samba Ceesay (80 years) compound head
Sonja (50 years) his 2nd wife. The first wife died a few years ago.
Ida (35years) his 3rd wife.
Samba Ceesay actually has a 4th wife as well but she was inherited by a brother that pasted away and does not live in the compound with us.
Ousman Ceesay (35 years) the oldest child of Sonja and Samba.-he actually lives in Brikama because of his job, but his family lives with me and he does come one weekend a month.
Adgie (33 years) His 1st wife.
Kadjo (28 years) his 2nd wife.
Now for the children
Mat (19 years) child of Ida and Samba
Ami (17 years) child of Ida and Samba
Lamin (15 years) child of Ida and Samba
Fattou (13 years) child of Adgie and Ousman
Sanabou (11 years) child of Adgie and Ousman
Seer (10 years) child of Adgie and Ousman
Man Kumba (9 years) child of Kadjo and Ousman
Meer (9 years) child of Ida and Ousman
Ami (6 years) child of Adgie and Ousman
Mustapha (5 years) child of Kadjo and Ousman
Nday (2 years) child of adgie and Ousman
Samba (16 months) child of Kadjo and Ousman
I cant lie I have my favorites. Little Ami amd Mustapha are my little special ones.
I also have a good for nothing dog named Percy that is a heathen if I ever saw one. But the kids love him and everyone else tolerates him so I guess he is a part of the family.
I am starting this a little late but plan on updating it at least once a month. My address here is
Jenni Cook PCV
P.O. Box 582
Banjul, the Gambia
West Africa
I really would love to get letters. It gets lonely and boring in village sometimes. It is good to here what is going on back home.
If anyone wants to sent packages here is a list of things that would be much appriciated;
Tuna packets
dried fruit
shampoo
licorice
Lipton past packets
dried soup
mac n cheese
raisons
sunflower seeds
cereal (cherios, froot loops)
seeds for gardens (anything is worth a try)
arts and crafts supplys
Anything is nice.
I have tons of pictures up on facebook at:
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=5023157
There are more pictures at this link too:
http://gamlangs.googlepages.com
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