http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Gambia/Western-Division/Serrekunda/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Africa , Gambia , Western Division , Serrekunda en-us Sat, 05 Dec 09 07:24:26 +0000 Sat, 05 Dec 09 07:24:26 +0000 Ok so Travelblog just attempted to autosave my really long update but then the browser crashed and there was no saving. Lame. So I won't be rewritting all i just wrote.Left Dakar at 6am avoided most of the traffic jams but not all.Car broke down in Kaolak and so I got to see a bit of an untouristy Senegalize city. It was ok. Still children everywhere asking for money.Crossed the border w http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Gambia/Western-Division/Serrekunda/blog-419431.html I am seriously hungry right now and have been for the past week. Itrsquos a pretty viable assumption that I probably have a tropical parasite in my tummy eating all my food and giving me the runs. My friend had this problem while living in Mexico and the local solution for her was to not eat for 2 days to starve the little critters and then drink vodka to get them drunk and confused and kil http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Gambia/Western-Division/Serrekunda/blog-264042.html After one night in Ziguinchor where a large spider in the bathroom had me awake most of the night we made our way to Kafountine in the northern Casamance. We checked into another paradise this time 'Le Paradise'. We were the only travellers staying here and a couple of local fellows who we saw only briefly. It was like having the whole place to ourselves The owner Eve claimed that the http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Gambia/Western-Division/Serrekunda/blog-262015.html For some queer reason I have been frequently getting the ldquoWhat do you want to do with your life what are your career goalsrdquo question lately. I usually stare at the person with glazed over eyes and drool hanging off my chin in response. I usually donrsquot have much to say and when I do say something people look at me like Irsquom not ambitious enough that I wonrsquot amount t http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Gambia/Western-Division/Serrekunda/blog-260609.html I am reading a wonderful book at the current called ldquoThe White Manrsquos Burden Why The Westrsquos Efforts to Aid The Rest Have Done So Much Ill and So Little Goodrdquo written by William Easterly. Irsquod like to share an excerpt from his book that I found to be particularly moving in my world and hopefully yours.ldquoI am driving out of Addis Ababa Ethiopia to the countrysid http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Gambia/Western-Division/Serrekunda/blog-260608.html I got to thinking about communication and if understanding every part of language is really vital. Could fluent communication perhaps take away some beauty that lies in body language eye contact and understanding a person in other ways I live in the modern day tower of babble. English is Gambiarsquos official language because it was forced that way from colonialization thumbs down. Howeve http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Gambia/Western-Division/Serrekunda/blog-252764.html After 2 long days of mindblowing travel I have finally arrived. The journey started out in DC then I flew to London for a small layover and then to Madrid for the most tummultuous and angry 11 hour lay over ever. After being charged an extra 650 dollars to check our bags through SpanAir Julia and I were thouroughly pissed. We arrived in Gambia at 2 am on friday and surprise surpise our rid http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Gambia/Western-Division/Serrekunda/blog-237755.html Life is funny sometimes. Jackedup but funny. I have been preparing for my move to The Gambia for several months now. The night before I was supposed to be in they sky my friend who I was traveling with got real sick. Many phone calls and a stupid rebooking fee later our flight was postponed for a week. I've been walking around the house the past couple of days looking like a bag lady who sho http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Gambia/Western-Division/Serrekunda/blog-234973.html My title is one of Gambians' favorite sayings. It's true for themthey're very friendly. Wherever I'm walking to it's guaranteed that at least 4 adults say Hahlo or How ah you as I walk past. It's too much at first but now I'm used to it. Some days it gets annoying but it actually is nice to connect with people especially the ones I walk past everyday. On the other hand random guy http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Gambia/Western-Division/Serrekunda/blog-131735.html Well I have way too much to say in one entry so I'll try to start from the beginning. Basically it took us a really long time to get here and we got very little sleep. When we got to Dakar Senegal it was nighttime. We stepped out of the plane. It was humid and it smelled like smoke. The ground was packed sand. Immediately I knew I was in Africa even though I didn't really believe it. http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Gambia/Western-Division/Serrekunda/blog-126319.html