I do not know even where to begin...The training, life in Gambian village or my outlook...First week we spent at the eco resort getting introduction to the service and the Gambia (picts). After we started language trainings in the villages. I am learning Mandinka language and will be living in Kombo area (the main city) for the two year service working as an environmental volunteer.
The day we arrived in Madiana village is still clear in my mind. Tired after long day training and wanting just quiet time and sleep I stepped out of vehicle and immediately was surrounded by lots of kids shouting 'hello' and 'tubaab'. My host dad greeted me and I was relieved that he spoke some english. After I met all my host family: mom and four sisters....and many other children...Ebraima, Ami, Adama, Mamudu, Teneng, Fatou, Fatou, Buba...names, names....I could not retain any of them...except for Fatou, my oldest host sister who spoke english well. The sun was coming down and I still had to get situated: make my bed, set up water filter, and mosquito net, get water from the pump. The back yard had a path to the open latrine which also serves as a bathing area. When I saw my new place, first question that hit my mind was: what I am doing here? Afterwards I felt embarissed for this thought. Accomodations and ammenities are not the reason.
My host family is wonderful and not very traditional one. I have only one mom but other volunteers have two or even there. Luckier?:)) The polygamy is still common in the Gambia and many men have more than one wife and LOTS of children. There are some families in my village that have up to 20 children. Gambians do not like to count members of the families and trying to figure out their immediate family trees is a quite a job. They might raise children of their friends, relatives, maybe even neighbors. Sometimes extended families live in one compound (residence). Back ot my family...My host sisters names are: Fatou, Adama, Ami, Musa and Mariama. My host parents are Teneng and Ebraima Conteh. As I mentioned previously my family is rather small acording to the average family in the Gambia. They garden and raise some chickens. No bigger animals though. To note - the Gambians do not tie their animals during the dry season (~November through May). Donkeys, cows, sheeps, goats just wonder around the village or city (!) looking for a patch of grass or leftover food. And everyone knows their and their neighbors' animals!
To be continued...(ignore any grammar mistakes:))
