Bumari

Bumari was a very small village, about 300) on the south bank about three hours east of Serekunda. It is very conservative but my family was very nice and I miss them already. I stayed in Saamaatee Kunda, a family compound in my own room attatched to the rest of the family. I had four host mothers (3 of which are named Fatou), one father, off course, and 12 host brothers and sisters. We had two hand pumps in village so I can now carry my water on my head without spilling it and the entire village (the entire country) is full of donkeys, goats dogs, chickens and there poop is absolutely everwhere (I wonder why there is so much disease) My name in training village was Naanke Saamaatee which not even Gambians can say for some reason...and I ate rice three meals a day for the 59 days I was there....and I'm still eating it now although the thought makes me ill.

Things I learned in training village;

Gamians spend a majority of there lives greeting each other

They dont sleep...hence now I don't sleep

Roosters crow at EVERY hour of the day, not only sunrise

Goats stay awake all night knocking on doors...I stay awake all night listening to them

Donkeys make the most disturbing sounds, as if they are being raped, ALL night

A dead goat on a string is a toy for young boys

Old batteries are toys for babies

Cashew fruit is delicious and very juicy and does not come out of your clothes

I don't really like pizza and burgers in the States but I love them in Africa

You really appreciate life and the people you love when you don't have them around anymore

EVERYTHING is different in Africa

Things I can count;

Peace Corps

THE GAMBIA

Me in the URD

Feburary 1st: Arrived in Banjul Airport for the beginning of 11 weeks of training...much like high school just in Africa...

We spent one week in Serekunda, Kombo area where we had electricity, internet, running water, and cold drinks, which I appreciate much more now that I've been without them for the past 10 weeks. I then went to my training village for 10 weeks, back to Kombo for the last week, then swearing in and off to 'three month challenge' (three months in site without leaving...which nobody actually EVER does)

I just figured out how to start a blog and thought it would be a really good way to keep in touch and share my stories and pictures with all my family and friends...but bare with me, I still need to figure out pictures and I'll post a link to all of them at some point but with internet once every couple months I have no idea when that will be...

I miss you all so much!!!

DAD I can't wait to see you...3 weeks and counting!