Blogs from Gambia, Africa - page 13

It happened. The very pinnacle point of your life where you invariably see the bright light at the end of the dark tunnel and crawl to it in an incoherent stupor. It happened. It’s called malaria. Despite the high fevers and cold chills, projectile vomit and diarrhea, abdominal and back pains, headaches and hallucination/dizzy spells, it was quite an amazing experience. Although I looked like the bride of death and was not in the mood for people visiting me, they still did. All of my Gambian friends came over every night, just to check on me, and see that I was alive. It’s through experiences like this that you see the human in every person. It also taught me an important lesson that I knew in theory, but not in practice. You are able to change ... read more

If I had a nickel for every time someone asked me, “What drives you, why do you want to live in Africa, why do you love it so much?” I would be a rich woman. If I had a nickel for every strange face, smart-ass remark, glazed over look, I received when I tell people about my life in Africa; I would be an even richer woman. To answer the first question, and to potentially put an end to the second effect, I need to speak up. It’s taken me time to formulate why I love Africa so much, and a season of extreme frustration with the continent to make me realize these things. It’s not one thing, it’s a plethora of small things that equals one big word, LOVE. 1. Even when I’m pissed about ... read more

I got to thinking about religion the other day. My life here is saturated with religion all around me. 95% of the Gambian population is Muslim; about 4% are Christian, and about 1% practice traditional religions such as animism. It is not uncommon for someone to ask me upon our first meeting, “Are you a Christian”? Christianity here is different than the traditional Christian living we associate with in the United States. It’s not Jerry Falwell, born again, hand raising in church Christians. By saying you are a Christian basically just says you are not a Muslim. It doesn’t matter if you believe in Buddha, buddy Christ, or St. Christmas as your personal god. If you believe, and you are not a Muslim, you are a Christian. Saying you don’t believe in god, religion, or just ... read more

(The internet has been out for several day, and the electricity has been on and off, which is why these two posts are back to back. There is about a week’s time in between them.) I went down to Gunjur again this weekend, with my friend Babadingding, and his sister Kaddi. Time spent in Gunjur is always appreciated. Both by the people I stay with there, and by me. It is a nice get-a-way from the every day life in Bakau. Saturday was a track and field competition for the secondary schools there, and in the evening, there was a “club” at the school. Let me tell you, both were phenomenal. Everyone from the village of Gunjur, and people from the surrounding areas came to this event. The field was packed with screaming onlookers as the ... read more

I'm only going to put a quote in this posting. I'm tired, and hot, and hungry, and I haven't showered in four days. And besides, sometimes people can say things better than I can. So today, I will gladly let them. Quote of the day- “Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.” -Howard Thurman ... read more