So I am now in the city again with a yeast infection from my neck to the tops of my feet. I am miserable!!!!! I went to the nurse and she said "Oh my I have never seen anything like this before." So she called the doctor to come in from the Gambia Hospital. he came about an hour later and diagnosed me with a yeast infection. It sucks. I itch and burn like mad crazy. When I scratch it is euphoric. when I don't scratch it burns. But not to worry I have a body scrub that burns like my skin is on fire. They also gave me a cream and 2 kinds of pills for a fungus. hopefully I will be better in no time.

Three of my friends and I are planning a massive and equally as awesome trip around africa. It consist of 42 countries in 120 days. We are planning on buying a car and driving the entire way. I have made a seperate blog full of the details of this trip. The tentative date of departure is April 8, 2010.

120daysaroundafrica.blogspot.com

This has all the details and will have more as the departure date gets closer.

I live in the Gambia and i love it...so far. I have been here for 5 months so far and have another 21 to go. I am in Peace Corps, in the Health and Community Development sector. I came in with 16 other people. At the present date there are 12 of us left. We spent the first 10 weeks in training. Most of that training was in training villages. Mine was Sare Samba, a wollof village. This was conducive to me learning the Wollof language. On April 18, 2008 15 of us had our swearing in ceremony at the U.S. ambasador's house. It was a very special day. I think I was even more proud than I was at graduation.

Now I live in a village called Ngayen Sanjal. Ngayen Sanjal is about 15 kilameters past Ferifenni, the third largest city in The Gambia. I don't have electricity or running water. My toilet is litterally a whole in the ground. It is surrounded by concrete though, thank the lord.

I enjoy my village quite a bit. It can get overwhelming at times but thats any job I think. Living there and communicating with the people is part of my job. I also go on trek 6 days a month with the health clinic for RCH clinics. RCH clinics are mobile clinics that give care to pregnant women and children under 5 years of age. They weigh the children and monitor malnutrition, give vaccines, and a nurse is present for anyone that is sick. I usually just do the baby weighing, which in theory gives me a chance to meet the women and children. In reality these clinics are crazy and unorganised, but they are still a huge step in the right direction for development of the country. During the school year I was teaching a seventh grade science class once a week. Science and math are a problem in this country. The teachers are not given a lot of training in these subjects so it is difficult for them to teach it.

Most of my work as of now is done in the gardens. I have five gardens going right now. My biggest accomplishment to date is the Women's garden that has just been started. I will give more details on it when it is better established and starting to be productive. Well I am presently praying day and night that is will become established and productive.

I live in Ceesay Kunda. It is a very big compound. Here is the family tree

Samba Ceesay (80 years) compound head

Sonja (50 years) his 2nd wife. The first wife died a few years ago.

Ida (35years) his 3rd wife.

Samba Ceesay actually has a 4th wife as well but she was inherited by a brother that pasted away and does not live in the compound with us.

Ousman Ceesay (35 years) the oldest child of Sonja and Samba.-he actually lives in Brikama because of his job, but his family lives with me and he does come one weekend a month.

Adgie (33 years) His 1st wife.

Kadjo (28 years) his 2nd wife.

Now for the children

Mat (19 years) child of Ida and Samba

Ami (17 years) child of Ida and Samba

Lamin (15 years) child of Ida and Samba

Fattou (13 years) child of Adgie and Ousman

Sanabou (11 years) child of Adgie and Ousman

Seer (10 years) child of Adgie and Ousman

Man Kumba (9 years) child of Kadjo and Ousman

Meer (9 years) child of Ida and Ousman

Ami (6 years) child of Adgie and Ousman

Mustapha (5 years) child of Kadjo and Ousman

Nday (2 years) child of adgie and Ousman

Samba (16 months) child of Kadjo and Ousman

I cant lie I have my favorites. Little Ami amd Mustapha are my little special ones.

I also have a good for nothing dog named Percy that is a heathen if I ever saw one. But the kids love him and everyone else tolerates him so I guess he is a part of the family.

I am starting this a little late but plan on updating it at least once a month. My address here is

Jenni Cook PCV

P.O. Box 582

Banjul, the Gambia

West Africa

I really would love to get letters. It gets lonely and boring in village sometimes. It is good to here what is going on back home.

If anyone wants to sent packages here is a list of things that would be much appriciated;

Tuna packets

dried fruit

shampoo

licorice

Lipton past packets

dried soup

mac n cheese

raisons

sunflower seeds

cereal (cherios, froot loops)

seeds for gardens (anything is worth a try)

arts and crafts supplys

Anything is nice.

I have tons of pictures up on facebook at:

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=5023157

There are more pictures at this link too:

http://gamlangs.googlepages.com