Where in
the world does time go? This seems to be an everlasting life question for me
haha. I have lived in The Gambia for six months and I cannot believe it! My
three (actually four for health volunteers) month challenge is over and I am
currently attending my IST (In-Service Training). Peace Corps really likes
acronyms. We have a ton on the schedule for our three weeks of training but
this time is so valuable. I am with ten of my co-health volunteers and we are
seeking inspiration and knowledge from one another to take back to our own
villages. We are all so ready to get back to site and start the work we came
here to do. We will have sessions on malaria, how to apply for grants, family
planning, female genital mutilation, pit latrine construction, soap making,
HIV, complementary foods, care groups, environmental sanitation, gardening, and
mural painting. Hopefully by the time we are finished we will all have a pretty
good idea of what our primary projects will be and how to make them happen.
As for life
in my village Besse, I feel like I am integrating well. Most if not all of my
village knows me now and I am still trying to speak Mandinka and Jola to the best
of my ability. I have held a health talk about malaria in my village as well as
a Bed Net Bathe and Bedazzle program which the women loved. Many of the
mother's in the village never had an opportunity to go to school when they were
young so most cannot read or write. I have been politely asking many ladies if
they would like to learn and there is a resounding YES all around. This may be
my secondary project because the ladies are just so passionate about having the
opportunity. Besse was recently involved in a region wide soccer tournament and
we won. The village partied for about 3 days straight and made history. This is
the first trophy Besse has ever received and they were thrilled with the honor.
As for
integrating and melding into my family I am officially melded. Unfortunately,
it took a bad incident to prove this to me but part of me felt proud to be
involved in the situation and welcomed. When I left for my three week training
my mother kept saying how much she would miss her sunkutu baa (big girl) and
her sunkutu ding dingo (little girl) would miss me so much. When I left my
mother shook my left hand which is a huge sign of respect. People here use
their right hands for everything and their left for one thing only (wiping). I
know this sounds gross but to have someone shake your left hand is actually a
sign of honor, trust and respect. My kittens are getting too big too fast.
Lankershim and Silafandoo (road gift) basically run the compound now. My hut is
no longer mine but theirs and they have me well trained as to when they would
like to eat, go out, and play.
Hot season
is upon us and I am sweating my patootie off during the day, I am lucky the
nights are still cool. After lunch my family, neighbors, and I usually sit
under a cashew tree and brew attayah (green tea) because it is just too dang
hot to do anything else. We sip water from a jiibida (big clay pot) which keeps
the water cool. The other day I was sitting with only my mom and sister and my
sister kept telling me toubab (white people) skin is softer and better than
black people skin. I laughed and said no way they are the same. She said okay
then prove it. I asked her to close her eyes (no peeking) and use her hand to
feel her mom's arm then my arm. We did this several times in different order
and she could never guess which arm belonged to which one of us. We were all
laughing as she guessed and failed many times. Finally, she gave up and said
okay there is no difference I suppose both are adyatta (sweet). I cherish
moments like these under the cashew tree because time is spent with family,
laughing is always contagious, and valuable lessons are often learned.
Something
huge I have learned here so far is something I do not think I could have
learned in the US. Truly nothing is in my hands, I have no control no matter
how much I think I have. This country runs on community effort and basically
zero planning and somehow things come together. I used to be so frustrated with
transportation and how inefficient it was and now I think to myself if I get
where I need to it does not matter how long it takes. I am adapting into
someone who goes with the flow and lets silly worries go (which is weird for a
type A planner). I have a roof over my head, food in my bowl, friends and
family, I am healthy, there is clean water, and my village is safe. What more
does a girl need?
