Blogs from Western Division, Gambia, Africa - page 4

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Africa » Gambia » Western Division » Kololi February 19th 2008

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

Africa » Gambia » Western Division » Kololi February 19th 2008

It’s been a whirlwind week. Between working and school work, bouts of the runs and fevers, cleaning, and trying to find my kitten (he ran away for two days), I’m glad for the long weekend. Dad, I know you’re reading these since you’re a rock star and subscribed to my blog, so don’t worry, I don’t have malaria. Also, my iPod blew up. As an aside, let me just say that iPod’s generally blow. They break, and then you can’t fix them, and if you’re outside your warrantee, you’re screwed. I plugged it into the wall (with out a power converter…whoops), got a few shocks, and then it was dead. The shocks weren’t as bad as the time my desktop blew up. It was making weird noises and sending funny signals, so like a dumb ass; ... read more

Africa » Gambia » Western Division » Kololi February 12th 2008

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

Africa » Gambia » Western Division » Kololi February 10th 2008

Perhaps one of the primary reasons I am not interested in having children is because I know I’m going to have “embarrassing parent syndrome”…all the time. I got a kitty yesterday, his name is 3pac. Like 2pac the martyr rapper (who is still alive, like Elvis) only with a 3. He is gorgeous, white with grey splotches and big Yoda ears. Anyway, I was chasing him all over the house yesterday to try and get him to take a picture. I took about 20 pictures of the friggin cat. A symptom of embarrassing parent syndrome for sure. My compound friend, Fatou, had a son on Thursday. He came home from the clinic today, and what do I do? I march myself into their bedroom and take photos of the child, like it’s my kid. Perhaps these ... read more

Africa » Gambia » Western Division » Brikama February 10th 2008

(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

Africa » Gambia » Western Division » Kololi January 29th 2008

I feel like an African woman. Although my strength and fortitude is in no parallel, I'm beginning to re-live my life as on, a white, less strong version of one. I have been very domestic lately, which is fairly unlike me. Especially in the department of cleaning. Because of all the bugs and sand and little critters that get into your home, it is essential that you scrub the floors, BOP spray (insecticide) and sweep frequently. Otherwise, your house becomes a sest pool of insects you dont even want to look at in a magazine. So I decided to be very efficient, and I trecked my hot sweaty ass into the market the other day to by brooms, wash buckets, soap, pots, and pans, and things of that nature. Again, I looked like a drunken fool ... read more

Africa » Gambia » Western Division » Kololi January 24th 2008

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

Africa » Gambia » Western Division » Kololi January 23rd 2008

I had a most tremendous, productive day. I met my friends Kelly and Greg at Come In for a little lunch, and then Kelly took me to her internship sight. She works at the Center for street child and child trafficking. The director, Mr. Louis, has such a great passion for getting Gambian kids off the streets and into schools. And I felt that passion, I really did. He offered me work there and opportunities to go on several trips with his organization. The place also deals with child sex-tourism, which is a huge problem here. I would love to do work in that field, obviously not working on the street as a prostitute, but formulating ways to perhaps make it stop. I would like to work there very much, and put my efforts into seeing ... read more

Africa » Gambia » Western Division » Serrekunda January 20th 2008

After 2 long days of mind-blowing travel, I have finally arrived. The journey started out in DC, then I flew to London for a small lay-over, 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 ride wasnt there. The intention from my friends to pick us up at the airport was completly honorable, except they thought we were coming on saturday. With no where to go, and no ride, we got some dude at the airport to drive us to my former land lords house, where we spent the night on the floor. We finally arrived to our ... read more

Africa » Gambia » Western Division » Serrekunda January 11th 2008

Life is funny sometimes. Jacked-up, 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 re-booking 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 should be pushing shopping bags in a grocery cart and barking. However, this next week I have before I leave gave me more time to do things I should have really done before I left. Like go to the dentist for the first time in 4 years. I had a tooth ache for a while, and never got it checked out. ... read more




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