Salaamaleekum! October has arrived, which tends to be hot and humid. Per some volunteers it is the most miserable month in the Gambia. I am still to see that. However, it did not seem September to be much different. I remember October last year in Minnesota – I was taking a picture of the snow on the ground wishing the winter and coldness to still stay away for a bit longer. I forgot how 30F feels, even 50F! However, I miss the colors of the fall and cold/rainy days when one can lock himself in the house and spent a day sipping on tasty tea/wine biting into tasty pastry/chocolate while reading a good book or watching a movie. We have similar time here during the rain events when everything stops/slows down but they do not last long. I enjoy sitting in my house and listening to the rain bouncing off the corrugate roof or watch the rainfall with my family. During heavy rains it is so loud that nearly impossible to hear the person speaking next to you.

I like the rainy season here because of that. It also takes away a heat and makes the weather more bearable and the vegetation is abundant. However, it is a mother of molding. First time I saw my palm bed covered in green, yellow, and white mold I was shocked. I was not able to escape this experience. Yes! My clothes, shoes and anything that is prone to molding – has molded or smell moldy. Upon returning from the Portugal the rainy season should be over. Inshallah! So I am planning a major “chase the mold out” activity. Anyone is interested?

The new school year has started last week and our house is crowded and noisy again - my host sisters came back from the summer holidays. Even my five-year old host sister, Asi, is eager to go back to nursery school each day.  The money for the water project in my village lower basic school has arrived so I spent last week there digging the trenches for the distribution pipes together with some community members and schoolboys. Organizing the community as it was agreed previously turned out to be a problem, which fortunately has been sort of sorted out. Let’s say I am happy the earthwork is almost finished. So I hope we (in particular contractor) will be able to complete project before I leave for vacation in a bit more than a week. Inshallah!

I have been using a lot phrase ‘Inshallah!’ which is the most certain thing here and it is comfortingJ My Mandinka language skills are improving!... at slow pace (as everything else here) but I can communicate better with the people and surprise them when I speak Mandinka. Also when some younsters are screaming ‘toubaab’ or ‘toubaab, minti!’ (‘white person, candy’) I answer to them in Mandinka which leaves them in state of shock. I do not hear a single whisper from their mouth anymore, just a blank stare. Haha – I love it!

I am very sad to see mango season  coming to an end… my favorite fruit here! Well, oranges, bananas are fruiting and soon papayas will be ripe to satisfy fruit cravings. Rice (sometimes three times a day) can get overwhelming but I am getting used to that as well. I am fortunate to live by the city area so our food bowl has some vegetables and fish in it.

How is the fall on the other side of the ocean? I want to see it through your eyes/words. Lots of sunshine to each of you!! I hope you enjoy the reads! Any suggestions? – send them my way:)

Ramadan (September 1st)

This entry is way overdue but I still hope you will enjoy it.

It is different to know about Ramadan and to actually live in the community where almost everyone is fasting for a whole month. I am happy Ramadan is coming to an end!

I tried to fast as well to see what it is like, to understand what people are going through so at the end of the month the days I fasted aggregated to fifteen days - some with only water and some without water and without food. I bow my head for women and men who spend days working in the fields without a sip of water and a bite of food. Some people say that it is a pure torture and I agree but they are lead and inspired by the faith.

Friday, August 26^th, was the prayer night when one should not sleep but spend the night praying and reflecting, listening to prayers and teachings that are broadcasted through mosques’ speakers (or radio) or just conversing with each other. Some people spend the night in mosques, some at their homes and some at relatives’ houses. My family stayed at home and, well, went to sleep later in the night. So some people choose not to follow it...

The Ramadan is over when one sees the moon so the Korite (end of Ramadan feast, Mandinka - Saloo) was going to happen on August 30^th or 31^st. It was unknown until Monday, August 29^th. There is not much work happening during the week of the Korite. People are getting ready for the three/four day celebration. Women are getting new completos (clothes), having their hair done, buying new clothes for the children and cooking. The Banjul (government, state) decided to go by Saudi Arabia time and announced the end of the Ramadan on August 30^th. However, some people chose to fast that day because they did not see the moon with their eyes. My family was ready to break fast according to Banjul so we have a regular breakfast and lunch. Everyone was relieved.

During Korite children are dressed up in their new clothes and they go from compound to compound collecting saliboo (Mandinka) – charity, which is usually small coins, candies and etc. Girls are wearing nice dresses, hair are nicely braded with beads. Sometimes even the youngest ones are wearing makeup (like my five-year old sister). My host moms spend part of the day preparing my host sisters for the saliboo. I refused to go to the village on those days – was not prepared to hear crowds of children screaming “toubaab”. I get enough toubaabed during the regular days. Before they left we had a fun doing photo-shoot, practicing to smile in the pictures instead of showing sad faces (common practice here).

  Me with Sima, Asi and Sona (behind is the door to my house).

  Asi and Sona

 Sona and Asi in saliboo completos

 Me with two of them.

  My host moms Juju and Sima together with Sona and Asi (on the porch).

I spend day with my family cooking, getting the girls ready for saliboo and just chilling in the compound. We did not dress up nicely and did not go to visit relatives, but had a relaxing time at home.