~All I know is sometimes things can be hard

But you should know by now

They come and they go

So why, Oh why

Do I look to the other side

Cause I know the grass is greener but

Just as hard to mow

Life's not about what's better than~

It's hard not to feel nostalgic when I think about all of the blooming flowers and beautiful weather that spring in America is currently bringing! All is dry, dead, and hot in The Gambia right now, but the dry season is coming to a close and greenery will soon return. Unfortunately so will the spike in mosquitoes, temperatures, and humidity. The purgatory that is rainy season is just around the corner!

I've been keeping busy lately with work, fun, and travel (more on that later). Sustainable Management Plans for Sole Fisheries and Mangrove Oysters are wrapping up and I've been engaged in associated mapping activities that will soon produce some nice outputs for publication. Work has been very exciting lately!

For fun I've been spending a lot of quality time with my family. My neice Sally likes to come to work with me at the fish market in our village; it works out great because we both like to touch and inspect sea creatures! None of the children know how to swim, but they like to come to the beach with me anyhow. There are many crabs to be caught and sand castles to be built! Our most recent exciting outing, however, was to the reptile farm in a nearby village. I took Sally, Njaka, and Daat. Although most Gambians are terrified of snakes, the children were very adventurous and held pretty much everything! It was a great day!

Although I cannot experience the joys of springtime in America, I'm enjoying the daily grind in the motherland. And most importantly, savoring these nights of sweat-free sleep that will soon fade away. I've been missing family and friends tremendously lately, but all of the support and good vibes sent my way have kept me truckin' on. And everyday I try to remind myself that 'life's not about what's better than'.

The new year has been busy thus far and much has been happening in the world of bivalve molluscs. Oyster season has just opened and the women are busy harvesting and selling oysters. Dr. Rice from URI came for a visit and we explored the potential of cockle harvesting in Kartong, a border village that is situated on the mouth of the Allaheim River that divides The Gambia and southern Senegal. Oyster and cockle harvesting have many social and economic benefits such as providing jobs, a source of income, and contributing to food security and diet.

The women identifying harvesting areas

Dr. Rice talking to the women of Kartong about cockles

Cockles!

The women of TRY (association of women oyster harvesters) have also been working on other income generating projects to supplement their income, such as weaving, soap-making, and tie dye, and have received training in micro-finance and are learning to save money. This is truly one of the most essential areas of need in this country, as savings and management of finances is virtually non-existent.

Along with Dr. Rice, I recently had the privilege of meeting with our new U.S. Ambassador and discussing the Ba-Nafaa Project and some of our current activities. She has an extensive background in development work across Africa, and was interested to find out more about the happenings at the TRY center and meet the women oyster harvesters. Just before the harvesting season opened, the Ambassador paid a visit to the women and expressed her support and encouragement and the event made its way into the local newspaper!

The Ambassador spoke in English, while the Ba-Nafaa Project Manager translated for the women in Wolof

Checking out the micro-finance setup

Can you spot the toubabs?!

For more information on TRY, please visit their newly constructed website: http://try-oysters.com/I have really enjoyed collaborating with the women through my work on the Ba-Nafaa Project and I have never experienced so many motivated and hard working women who truly want to better themselves while protecting their resources. The world of bivalve molluscs involves many different shareholders and I feel blessed to have the opportunity to take part in the process of creating a sustainable management structure for these creatures.

~And the seasons they go 'round and 'roundAnd the painted ponies go up and downWe’re captive on the carousel of timeWe can’t return we can only look behind from where we cameAnd go 'round and 'round and 'round in the circle game~

The African Baobab, or tree of life, is capable of storing large amounts of water, has medicinal properties, and is an important food source. Thus, this ancient tree (~2,000 yrs.) has contributed to the survival of many Africans throughout time. This is one of my favorite trees in The Gambia, and I have the pleasure of boating past Baobab Island once a month when I go out for fieldwork.

The other day I skimmed through the journal that I have sporadically written in during my time in The Gambia. On 24 December 2009, I wrote: "...I think that I'm finally having the "wow, I'm in Africa" moments. I've been so busy since arriving in country, and focused on adjusting here, that I don't think the enormity of it all has really set in. The spatial distance is surreal too!..." It is now 26 February 2011, and I still have the "wow, I'm in Africa!" moments. It was neat to look back on what I've experienced thus far, and I thought you might enjoy some random glimpses at what I've documented.

14 November 2009 "...Proof that our western culture has trickled down: today's sightings included a Lord of The Rings t-shirt, 50-Cent t-shirt, a Dora the Explorer nightgown (worn during the day ofcourse), an air-brushed Barney t-shirt, and Playboy bunny flip flops on my very Muslim host father."

20 November 2009 "...Learned a couple of cultural taboos here- do NOT speak of pregnancy, and do not ask how many children one has. It is considered to be bad luck!"

29 November 2009 "...Today we travelled to Soma, a town about an hours drive from Bumari, to go to the market. The "toubab store" or Soma Mini Market, was rumored to have off brand American items that we would get excited over. I was looking forward to the fake pringles and cheese, but unfortunately they had neither. I did however buy cookies, fake swiss cake rolls, and crackers. Later this afternoon, our PC driver Peter brought over bush pig and we cooked it up!"

13 December 2009 "...As part of our cross-cultural work, we had to visit a fortune teller. Ours happens to be Matt's father Jeta. Jeta also happens to be the Imam (religious leader), the traditional healer, and the husband of our cook. I was apprehensive of the encounter because of witchcraft and spiritual practices of people here...I'm not even sure what I actually believe about this realm, but it seems mysterious, manipulative, and penetrating. But once I found out who the "see-er" was, I felt relieved. The whole ordeal was sort of humorous. You had to pay 5 Dalasis, it only lasts a minute or two, and you don't even get to ask questions. He told me that I'm stomach sick and that i will be better after i give away two kola nuts (one going to him), and that I will have a peaceful two yrs. here and greet my home people in peace. I hope I find all of that to be true!"

27 April 2010 "...I'm growing fonder of Sally by the minute. I don't know how I would manage without her! She helps me around the house, keeps me entertained, and lets me be myself. Today we danced to Grateful Dead together-so cute. So yea, my best friend is a 3-yr old."

7 May 2010 "...Mom went to see Van Morrison last week with Hunter and Lauren! I'm so jealous! This was the first time that he's EVER played in Alabama. I'm really happy that Mom got to go though!"

8 May 2010 "...Lienje and Sally and I went to the futbol game last night...Sally peed while sitting in my lap, so we had to leave early. It looked like i wet myself! I'm sure that's what everyone in the village thought..."

13 May 2010 "...So I was able to reclaim my head of hair! Got all the dreads/tangles out, and now it's looking good!"

28 May 2010 "...Wow, can't believe it's almost June! In 5 days it will be 7-months since I departed the U.S.! Considering I was so incredibly sad to leave and didn't know if I could do it or not, I'm very proud of myself for making it this far! I hope that the remainder of my time here will coast by and be as successful and fulfilling as it has thus far."

29 May 2010 "...So, either my days are becoming less pleasant, or my attitude is becoming negative. Maybe it's a little bit of both. Being here is so emotionally and mentally draining. Sometimes it just sucks."

30 June 2010 "...Last night was my first storm in village. Started around 11 pm, lots of lightning, thunder, and rain. The rain sounds insane on the corrugate roof! It makes me pretty anxious/nervous, but hopefully I will grow to find it soothing. Just tough not knowing if your roof will blow off or not."

"...I would LOVE to put on a mini dress and some funky platforms and go out! However, I'm sitting here in a dirty linen dress with braided hair, cooking instant pasta over my propane stove, and watching the termites eat away at my house."

17 July 2010 "...Dad called last night. Apparently a cap has been successfully placed on the leaking oil well!! Guess that's good news for now that there is no more oil spilling into the Gulf. The dispersants and oil already present have probably damaged the Gulf Coast for my lifetime at least."

"The rains have been steady and everything is sooo green. The banana trees in our compound are growing tall and the fields have been prepped and cassava, maize, and groundnut planted. P.S. There was a beautiful rainbow this evening while I was bathing."

30 July 2010 "...Today it rained sooo much. I went to the beachside to work and about 20 min in it started pouring. I ended up waiting several hours for the rain to ease up so that I could leave. It was kinda nice hanging out with all the guys sitting under the shelter though. I liked watching the boats roll in, unphased by the storm."

31 July 2010 "...This morning at the market I was overcharged-so I didn't end up buying. So discouraging. As I was leaving I was thinking evil thoughts about the uncivilized, ignorant, and racist ways of some people here. And then I tripped an cut my shin on a concrete block. Guess it was karma keeping me in check."

21 August 2010 "...Sitting under the mango tree, good breeze, beautiful day!"

3 October 2010 "...So, after feeling completely depressed and miserable after work Friday, I stopped for pizza and beer on the way back to village. That helped quite a bit!"

10 November 2010 "...This morning I hitched a ride up to the city on a dump truck. Usually it's a lot faster than taking a gele gele, but today it kinda took forever because they had to stop and dump their load of sand on the way. Free ride nonetheless."

20 December 2010 "...Just fed Sally her first bite of chili! It was out of a can, but nonetheless tasty. We sang some songs together, and I discovered she knows the words to "Jenny Jenkins"...well, she knows the version that I sing- I replace Jenny Jenkins with Sally Kunta."

11 January 2011 "...First entry of 2011! The year has been off to a good start so far. Spent the New Years holiday in a treehouse overlooking the ocean. It was really nice."

19 February 2011 "...Took the kids to the reptile farm today...so much fun! This afternoon my little brother and his friends came knocking on my door. They said Njaka told them that he held a snake around his neck today and asked me if it was true. I showed them the pictures and they were blown away and so excited! Njaka was definitely looking like the cool kid in the village. Then they asked me if I wanted to go chase goats with them. I had nothing better to do, so they handed me a cassava stick and off we went."

Sometimes it's nice to take a journey through the past and remember where you've come from and what experiences have shaped you. I'm 17-months into my service and not a day passes that I don't look around and feel in awe of what's around me and the way I'm living.

I have now survived two holiday seasons on the "Smiling Coast". Last year I was fresh from America and learning to adjust to life in the subtropical African bush. This year I feel a little more Gambian, but I have definitely been celebrating American-style! Holiday cheer has been plentiful nonetheless.

Although there are some Gambians that are Christian, you won't exactly find them celebrating in the ways that are nostalgic of your childhood. But luckily (because of the large Expatriate and Peace Corps community that exists), I have had the opportunity to experience things like decorations, music, and various activities that have put the spirit in my stride.

I helped my friend's son make his first gingerbread house...it was an African-style compound, complete with a hippo basking in a pool of chocolate...

I attended the Christmas Program at the U.S. Embassy School. The children's singing was accompanied by a band that consisted of drums, electric bass, and keys. It was a fabulous production and the kiddos did a great job!

And I've been blessed with the opportunity to spend time with friends...

Christmas Day was fantastic!! The day included lots of relaxation and feasting on great food with great company! We even made *real* eggnog!

I wish that I could have shared the holidays with ALL of the special people in my life! But hopefully you felt my cheer from where you are :) Happy Holidays and Much LOVE!!

As the end of the year approaches, life in the motherland has been peaceful and moving at a slower pace. The "cold season" is officially here, which means that daytime temperatures are in the low 90's and you can sleep without sweating at night. Many of the Senegalese fishermen went home to Senegal for the Tobaski holiday in November, and have just returned to The Gambia, after the coming of the Islamic New Year. The Islamic calendar is based on revolutions of the moon, and the new year is celebrated on the 1st day of Muharram, which is the 1st calendar month. New Year's Day is a remembrance of the migration of Prophet Muhammad from Mecca to Medina, and is celebrated in mosques with special prayers and readings from the Koran.

Barbara from URI came for a quick visit at the beginning of December. We attended a fisheries conference about sanitation and trade. Various stakeholders presented material about current challenges and conditions, and ofcourse the ban on export (due to poor sanitation, lack of ice, and threats from benzopyrenes). I had the opportunity to meet and chat with the Minister of Fisheries and Water Resources as well!

During Barbara's visit, we also managed to create some organizational order in the office. It was a lot of hard work, but the results are amazing! (lack of organization is seemingly prevalent in this country...) It was really nice to have her assistance and ofcourse I always enjoy the peanut M&Ms from America that accompany the visit.

As you might know, the volunteer life entails responsibilities and obligations to local communities, host families, and ofcourse representing the American people, on a 24/7 basis. Thus, it is important to take a time out here and there and have some fun. Because work has been slow the past couple of months, I have been able to do just that. Recently some friends gathered at a local beachside establishment in my village for a little weekend r&r. We had a bonfire on the beach and enjoyed the surf.

Another exciting recent occurrence was the wedding of my fellow Peace Corps Volunteer and friend, Jessi. There was a traditional African celebration at the compound of her husband's family, that included local dishes, dancers, and drumming!The bride with her mother and friend from America!Before the ceremonyPlenty of babies to hold in The Gambia!

Within a matter of days, I will have begun and ended 2010 in Africa! What a spectacular year of change!

~Life is strange, life is good, and life is all that it should be...~

The past couple of months have been eventful, weird, frustrating, fulfilling, and entertaining...nonetheless, life is good!

The Ba-Nafaa Project representatives from URI came for a visit at the end of September, and as always, it was really nice having them here. I helped facilitate a Biostatistics Training Course, as a follow-up to the one we conducted this spring. The participation and level of understanding was much better this time around. Overall, it was a great experience.

We also hosted a two-day Sole Fisheries Co-Management and Stock Assessment Workshop. It was attended by various stakeholders such as local fishermen, women fish processors, fishing industry advocates, Department of Fisheries staffs, and even a member of the Navy. Opening remarks were given by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Forestry and Environment, a U.S. Embassy representative, and the Director of International Programs from URI; all of which was taped and broadcasted by a local television station. I gave two introductory presentations on Gathering Local Knowledge and Sole Fisheries By-Catch Assessment (they were translated into Woloof by a co-worker for those who did not understand English). And the participants elected the official Sole Fisheries Co-Management Committee and discussed the mission statement, objectives, committee structure and organization, and sole management plans. It was really neat to be a part of this process and witness Gambians working together and problem-solving. It was very moving.

The Inaugural Meeting for the Sole Fisheries Co-Management Committee was held a couple of weeks ago. I am serving as a Technical Advisor for the Committee, so it's a good opportunity to listen, observe, and learn; but also contribute technical knowledge and skills.

It was decided that the oyster research study and sole data collection activities I'm currently involved in will continue on through June and July of 2011, so I have continued to put a lot of my time and effort into this.

*off to look at oyster growth**our research vessel for the day**fisherman in my village that assists me in data collection*

In other news, my niece Sally Kunta turned 4-years old on October 18th. We feasted on watermelon, boiled peanuts, chicken, and most importantly, birthday cake! The family was overjoyed with all of this and it was neat to teach them a bit about how birthdays are celebrated in America.

All of the recent happenings have led me to conclude that my life is strange...

good...

and all that it should be!

~Who you jivin' with that Cosmic Debris? Look here brother, don't you waste your time on me...~

Unlike some folks, I happen to find astrology very fascinating and sensible, as it interprets what influence the movements of the planets and stars might have on our lives. Lately, I have felt a deeper interest, as I'm experiencing a "Saturn Return". This astrological pattern occurs when Saturn completes its cycle through the zodiac and returns to the spot it occupied when you were born. Because this cycle takes 29-years, you will experience this time of endings and new beginnings as you approach 30-years as well as 60-years old. Saturn is considered to be a taskmaster planet that forces you to confront reality, so this transition period can bring about a sense of urgency; a feeling that you must try to accomplish everything you've ever wanted or planned to do, and goals come sharply into focus. I must say, the reality that this Saturn Return has urged me to consider, is a bright and colorful one!

So, I've officially left my beloved 20's in the past, and am starting to see a bigger picture and color it in! Turning 30 in The Gambia was exciting and I was able to celebrate it just right. Dinner with friends, Dirty 30 Scavenger Hunt, Katchikali Crocodile Pool...

In other news, my sister Adou has moved to her husband's village. Marriage in The Gambia is a gradual process or series of events and the woman's family must provide her with various things before she can go to her husband. My mother finally supplied the cooking pots, buckets, bowls etc. necessary for her to start her new life. My grandmother and close friends of my mother gathered at our compound to see her off. The tradition is that the man's father will come to collect the woman and bring her home to the new family. I waited until 11:30 pm for this to take place, then gave up and went to bed. Gambians stay up so late!

My brother Njaka miraculously passed Grade 1 and will start Grade 2 next week. To celebrate, I took him, Sally, and our cousin Daat to the Abuko Nature Reserve. They dressed in their best clothes and even cleaned their shoes for the big outing. Their excitement and anticipation melted my heart. It was a beautiful day out and we had a blast. The highlight was watching the feeding of the hyenas!!

We fed groundnuts to the baboons at the animal orphanage!

And watched the hyenas fight over a ram's head!

The planets and the stars are working wonders! It's out with the old, and in with the new! But as I reflect on the past, i feel that I've lived a good life and accomplished some amazing things. This Saturn Return definitely has me feeling like a proud 30-year old lady!

~Homegrown tomatoes homegrown tomatoes

What'd life be without homegrown tomatoes

Only two things that money can't buy

That's true love & homegrown tomatoes...~

Sometimes life in subtropical climate provides me with that feeling of summertime in the south year round...sweat, heat rash, sunburn, and a good excuse to jump in the ocean! But still I find myself aching for an Alabama summer! (Never imagined I would speak those words) Homegrown tomatoes, blueberry pickin', river floatin', live music, and friendly faces is what's missing from my life right now! God bless the sweet sunny south!

But I can't complain, life has been treating me well this summer...lots of family time and hanging out in the village, collecting daily fish data at the beach, and oyster study fieldwork...just business as usual.

My host mother took me on a day trip to visit some of her family. I was able to meet her grandmother (Sally's great great-grandmother), one of her sisters, and some nieces and nephews. They have a very nice compound with electricity, ceiling fans, and tiled floors! I was in heaven!

About five months ago a new furry friend became a permanent fixture at our compound. Not knowing how to say puppy in Mandinka, I referred to him as "wuuloo deenaanoo", or dog baby. My family found this hilarious, and the name stuck. Anyhow, wuuloo deenaanoo is very skittish and finally, after five-months, has now let me pet him for the first time. So we totally bonded...and then the little punk ate my brand new flip flops!

Molamin is getting big, growing teeth, and doesn't cry or spit up breast milk quite as often as he used to.

My sister Kaddy turned 14-years old this past month. I guess birthdays aren't really celebrated here...most people don't even know their ages...But I did a little something for her anyways.

I have taught a few of my family members how to play frisbee, and really they are quite good! Even Sally, who turns 4-years old in October, has gotten the hang of it. I also taught Njaka how to build sand castles...

Work has been steady and I've started collecting data for sole fisheries stock assessment at the landing site in my village. A local fisherman assists me with the work and has been teaching me a lot about the different species of fish here. Most of the fishermen are Senegalese, as is he, so they speak either French or Woloof. I speak neither, so communication is tricky at times.

Stoppin' in at a coconut plantation on the way to a job siteIt was a beautiful day at work!

And another beautiful day at work! (This river is on the border of Senegal)

All my hard work has its perks! This was one of the best days I've had here...brought home a bucket of blue crabs...enjoyed them while listening to an old Dead show.

While I'm missing out on homegrown tomatoes in Bama this summer, the rainy season in The Gambia is full of rainbows! Life is good!

Ambulances do exist in this country, but I've yet to see one used for medical emergencies...this one is transporting cockle shells!

"...Money's only paper only ink

We'll destroy ourselves if we can't agree

How the world turns

Who made the sun

Who owns the sea

The world we know will fall piece by piece..."

~Either you a part of the problem or you a part of the solutionWhat's your contribution to life? So many people complain, always talking about changeBut what's your contribution to life?Either you with or ain't with it, if it ain't broke don't fix itYo, what's your contribution to life?Either you give or you take, make moves or you wait, But what's your contribution to life?~

I feel so grateful for all of the support that I've been shown for participating in the Peace Corps. However, I feel that it is important to note that my efforts are merely my contribution to life. I do not view them as noble or selfless. I am not saving the world and I'm not saving people (because they are not victims). But I do hope that through this exchange of knowledge and culture, my actions will somehow make an impact.

With that said, I've been hard at work trying to be part of the solution. My primary focus continues to be my work with World Wildlife Fund (WWF) on the Ba-Nafaa Sustainable Fisheries Project. The past few months I have been back and forth between my village and the city, and all of our project sites. I miss my host family tremendously while I am away, but I feel that in my absence I am serving a greater purpose.

To reach one of the aquaculture project sites in the Tanbi Wetlands National Park (no longer Tanbi Wetlands Complex-now a National Park!), I was paddled in a dugout canoe by Fatou, an oyster harvester pictured above. These boats are so narrow and close to the water...it was quite an adventure taking salinity and dissolved oxygen readings, snapping photos, and recording field notes without tipping over!

Analyzing the oyster spat on our collected aquaculture tiles

One of our partners from the University of Rhode Island (URI) visited The Gambia for a couple of weeks. (It is always very exciting to me when the Americans come...makes me feel closer to home I suppose) We took him on a boat ride through the bolongs to view the oyster harvesting sites and our aquaculture racks.

We discovered an abundance of ascidians, or sea squirts, on some of our strings. Although a pest, they fascinate me.

During his visit, Dr. Rice conducted an Oyster Culture and Water Quality Assessment Training Seminar that was attended by representatives of the Department of Parks and Wildlife Management (DPWM), Department of Fisheries (DoFish), Water Resources Laboratory, Ministry of Health, Livestock Service Laboratory, and Ba-Nafaa Project. We had a great turn out and everyone learned a lot from Dr. Rice. For me, it was very interesting to hear about aquaculture practices around the world, and more specifically in Dagupan, Phillipines where he served as a Peace Corps Volunteer. Some components of our current project design are modeled after his work in Dagupan. I hope to visit there someday!

Okay, so by now you have probably realized that I like to squeeze in some fun with my work. The World Cup has been the highlight of my universe lately. I support some teams based on their skills, and others by the hotness of the players (right now I am loving some Uruguay!). The British High Commission hosted a party for the England vs. USA game...sooo much fun! Even got to chat with our American Ambassador. Luckily, while in the city working, I have managed to catch a lot of the games via big screen at local bar/restaurants.

Gambians LOVE Obama!!

~yes and it's gonna get stranger, some things you just know~

Okay, so it's true that my host mother refers to me as her "stranger", but it's also true that i'm referred to as the "toubab" or white person. And if I'm really lucky, I am referred to as "Sally Bojang", my Gambian name. Many of you have been asking what life is like here, and what's a typical day like...for whatever reason this is a difficult question to answer. But I've grown accustomed to many ideas, sightings, and behaviors that I'm currently surrounded by, and sometimes when I stop to ponder...I feel like a stranger to myself.

Some components of the strangeness....speaking a different language (Mandinka); living in a predominantly Muslim culture...you know, polygymy, prayer five times a day, conservative beliefs; hitch hiking, grabbing taxis, and being patient when the gele gele has to be pushed by several men to get started; admiring plastic jewelry, anything with Obama on it, and shoes with rhinestones; mistaking the dirt on your body for suntan; not cooking for yourself, and eating whatever is handed to you....whether or not it looks disgusting or mysterious; having small children help you do your laundry...b/c they are better at it than you; covering entire body in baby powder to avoid heat rash and chaffing; being fearful of rats and unknown creatures falling through the ceiling while you are sleeping; fighting off ridiculously sized unidentifiable insects and cursing the ants for continuing to create holes in the walls; seeing people blowing snotrockets constantly (makes me gag!); rotted teeth and head to toe skin infections on the majority of people you come in contact with; having a 3-yr old accompany you everywhere you go in hopes to receive less harassment; being gawked at for being 30-yrs. old and unmarried with no children (okay, so people do this in america also but it's more shameful here); being a grown woman living with a family, having to report when and where you are coming and going, being spyed on by little kiddos, and basically having no privacy; random people offering you their children; watching your host mother (who is a grandmother) use her breasts as a pacifier for infant; no longer recycling or having trash pick-up, but rather throwing trash on the ground, burying or burning it; heterosexual men holding hands; keeping mental notes about your bowel movements; meeting people with black gums b/c they willingly poured battery acid on them; and finally,when it is weird to see a white person, you know you've grown accustomed to living in Africa.

I've been comforted by many things which help me to feel more at ease with myself...Bill Maher podcasts, receiving mail, listening to music, shopping at fukujai (an open market that's like a huge american thrift store), reading tons and tons of books, eating candy bars, playing djembe, having a cell phone (i can text other volunteers for free)....and ofcourse, occassional internet access! I appreciate technology like never before (I think that's because it has a limited role in my life now) Though my #1 comfort item is my gift from Bella...

The work on my living space was completed, and I was able to move back to my village at the end of April. I returned to find cashew fruit everywhere, and mangoes ripening. All the tree climbing and fruit picking came to a end though when I experienced a gnarly allergic reaction to the urushiol that is thriving in these trees and fruits. My face was much improved at the time of this photo, thanks to steroids, benedryl, and epinephrine, but still not a sight for sore eyes.

The adjustment to village life has otherwise been going well, and I'm plotting up ways to improve my compound such as building a chicken coup, composting, repairing the damaged fencing, and continuing to help the dogs chase the cattle and goats away. Aside from fencing issues, the biggest challenge I'm facing is convincing the family to put trash in the hole that's been dug, instead of spreading it all around the compound and applying it to the garden. I hope to educate them about managing waste and using compost, and sanitation...like not letting the chickens poop in the cook house, and not letting the kids poop in the yard. I've got my work cut out for me!

The neighbor's cattle help themselves to our mangoes

and have destroyed our banana trees

Being back in the village has also meant lots of reading, family time, football matches, and enjoying bucket baths once again. And I saw my first Kankuran! They are sorta like cultural mascots....the ones I saw had just emerged from the bush and were headed to the ocean with the young boys that had recently been circumsized. They act as protectors for the boys while they spend several weeks in the bush. Supposed to be a magical time in a young boy's life, but hanging out with trippy beings dressed in branches and leaves that are packing machetes is unsettling to me. Didn't have the opportunity to catch a photograph of them, but the other day my little brother's friend dressed up as one....

Sally and Njaka not only help me clean my house and do my laundry, but they also keep me entertained! Sally is the only person in The Gambia that will listen to Grateful Dead with me. Which leads me to my next point; the Peace Corps is not full of hippies! Did you hear that America?!

Several friends have come to visit my village...unfortunately their stellar local language skills lead my family to think I'm a moron that doesn't "hear Mandinka", but we've managed to have some fun anyways. Highlights include celebrating Bob Marley Day, making cheese dip (thank you for the velveeta Sara!!), and hanging out at the beach.

All in all, we're just people living our lives...you know, eating, sleeping, breathing, chatting, working. Although I sometimes feel like a stranger in my own life, I'm okay with it. So let's get on with the show.

"...Yes, and life and song have endless variations

So we embrace the possibilities

The groove is what we all create together..."

Some highlights from last month's happenings here in the motherland include environment training, an all-volunteer conference, and a little bit of fun.

During training we visited a local demonstration farm, Gambia Is Good (GIG), and discussed composting, microgardening, biodigesters, biochar, and other related topics.

Biochar!

Solar oven...i'm hoping to construct one soon!

It's cashew season in The Gambia. Unfortunately, I can no longer enjoy them as I've come to find out that I'm allergic :(

Ladies taco night/Katie's B'day celebration...there was beer-marinated ground beef involved...and cheese. This made me very happy.

The B'day girl...25...hmmm, that makes me feel sorta old.

It was nice spending time with everyone while we were all gathered for training and all-vol. Got in a little beach time, thrift shopping, and also visited a nearby National Park, the Abuko Nature Reserve.

It was really neat seeing the hyenas. They are so much larger than I had imagined...one came within a couple of feet of us (separated by a fence). Their ability to eat and digest an entire carcass, bones and all, is unsettling knowledge when you are close enough to hear their breathing. Yikes!

Monkeys everywhere!

But you really shouldn't make eye contact with them, because they get mad.

Enough said!

whatever they say, keep your day job, don't give it away...

I’m fully embracing my new life as a coastal gal in The Gambia! Hanging out at fish landing sites, learning about sea creatures, and working on sustainable management plans, has become the norm. The weather is becoming drier and hotter by the day, but luckily it is still cool at night. The rains will come in about two or three months and the temperatures will continue to increase. Although the majority of my life has been spent sweating bullets in Alabama, I still can’t say that I welcome heat and humidity at all. Mango season is emerging, as well as cashew, so I think I will just focus on that.The past few weeks have been busy busy on the work front. I have really enjoyed getting to know my colleagues better, and meeting more fishermen! Folks from URI came for a visit, and the Ba-Nafaa Project held a Stock Assessment Biostatistics Training Course, as well as a Sole Fisheries Stock Assessment Co-Management Workshop. Both were very successful and pleasant to be a part of. I contributed a presentation of local knowledge to the workshop, but due to time constraints I didn’t do much talking as it had to be translated by a Woloof speaker!

Co-Management Workshop

Learning Graduate level Biostatistics...I was a facilitator AND a student on this one!

As I’m learning more and more about fisheries, I am also learning about what I find tasty to eat! Butterfish is my favorite at the moment. It is also easy to process and only has one large bone to pull out. I have to block out the mental image of the lips and teeth on this bad boy when I am eating it though!

I experienced the North Atlantic by boat a couple of weeks ago. It was exciting!! I must admit that I was nervous at first, but once we got a couple of miles away from shore I chilled out and it was sooo peaceful. I mapped different areas of interest with the GPS and am currently working on plugging it all into GIS.

Creating a coastal map of The Gambia

Giving Barbara some GPS training in the pool!

Cuttlefish

Red Snapper

Lil' girl

Lil' donkeys working hard, hauling freshly caught fish

Lil' shark fins

Bet ya didn't know you could bathe sheep in the ocean!

Okay, can you tell I LOVE my day job? I promise to make the next post non-workish though! My Peace Corps In-Service Training starts next week; beekeeping and mango tree grafting are on the list. Also, my living space renovations should be completed soon and I will be moving back to village- FINALLY!

...let it go, just enjoy the ride~

I'll have you know, I have been working hard and playing hard! The past few weeks have been filled with some unexpected twists and turns, but ultimately I am enjoying the ride! Due to housing issues (i.e. this is a developing nation and there are no stringent regulations regarding chemical use and distribution, therefore the attempt at termite removal resulted in a little chemical mishap that has left me displaced) I have been staying in the big city which will explain some of the luxurious fun it looks like I'm having.

Things have been busy with the sustainable fisheries project; we visited the major landing sites and have managed to capture some good local fisherman knowledge. Next on the list: going to sea!! I will be assisting with the gathering of information at sea, and mapping of sole fish hotspots and spawning grounds. Exciting stuff! The tiny boats that are used- not so exciting.

City life has brought about opportunities for using the internet, watching movies, and eating real food!! My friend Kelsey's visit to the city turned into a major food splurging spree! I didn't imagine this to be a possible occurrence here, but we dined on delicious things like banana splits, indian cuisine, and nachos!! It was fantastic! Maybe in six months I can afford to do it again!

Another advantage to my displacement and resulting presence in the city, was having the opportunity to see Melissa before her return to America. Unfortunately and unexpectedly, she was not able to continue her service here. To make her last night a little more pleasant, we baked a chocolate fudge cake and had hot foot baths while watching girly movies! I will miss my buddy, it was hard to say goodbye!

I also had the opportunity to hang out with another volunteer before his return to America. Highlights include a toga party and day at the pool. We discovered that my camera does in fact take great underwater pictures; however, I couldn't stay under water long enough...

Today I spent a few hours exploring one of the National Parks here, Bijilo Forest Park, which is known by Gambians as "Monkey Park". A Red Colobus greeted me at the entrance, but unfortunately a tourist walked up and scared it off, therefore ruining my picture. I learned that the name colobus is from the greek word for mutilated, because they don't have thumbs. Hmmm.

I strolled for a while on the trail beside the coast and spotted some Grey Hornbill birds among others that I couldn't identify.

I came across this little guy on the trail and couldn't stop laughing at how he was just sitting there like that!

There were many Green Vervets on the interior trails of the park! So neat!

(Admire the peeling and spotted condition of my face that resulted from the above mentioned day at the pool)

With all that said, life is good, but I am ready to get back to village life! I miss my host family and am losing my local language skills! Not to mention that I am officially sick of living out of bags...10-months is plenty!

It has been great catching up with all of you back home through skype and the net! Much love!!

I'm currently in the beginning of what's known as the "Three-Month Challenge" of my service. It is a time to focus on integration into the community, improving local language skills, and building a relationship with the host family. However, I have also been keeping quite busy with networking, meetings, and work. So far I have identified some really great opportunities to be of assistance, such as Developing Science Curriculum at the Primary School, Coastal Monitoring, Adult Literacy, GPS/GIS Training, Sustainable Fisheries Management, and working with the Scout Group. I am also a Regional Coordinator for the National Tree Nursery Competition and will write more about that later as well!

Environmental Site Investigation with the National Environment Agency

Oyster Harvesters Co-Management Workshop

Discussing the benefits of working together. My favorite one: UNITY

This was the only literate woman in the group; it brought tears to my eyes when she stood up and presented the results of our group's discussion. There was a rush of pride and sense of empowerment that filled the room.

We're all in this together

Lunch and learn today

These pigs like to hang around for leftovers!

I want to share with you some of the fixtures in my new life as Sally Bojang!

This is the Bojang compound. I live in the far right end of the building.

Sally Kunta is my 3-year old niece whom I spend a lot of time hanging out with. Even though I tested at the Intermediate Medium Language Level of Mandinka speaking, my skills are lower than that of Sally. She is very patient with me and helps me learn new words.

Njaka is my 7-year old brother who is a very sweet but spoiled boy. I told Mbaa (my Gambian mother) that in America we call people like him a "mama's boy". It has become a new family joke. The boy refuses to go to school so my sisters laugh at him saying that he will be a donkey driver when he grows up.

Sirifo is my 16-year old brother who I don't see very often because he is a teenager on the go. In the picture he is displaying a wood burning project that he did for school.

The news is out in the village that I like to talk to the wuuloo (dog)...it cracks the Gambians up!! Lion is the wuuloo that lives in my compound...I think I'm the first person that has ever given him attention, so ofcourse he has taken a liking to me. He followed me to the car park the other day and even jumped in the gele gele (rundown public transport vehicle) after me! In America my heart would ache for any animal that appeared to be malnourished, homeless, diseased, or mistreated. In The Gambia, that would be 99% of the "domestic" animals. It has thickened my skin for sure; whether that is a good thing, I don't know, but it is a reality you are face to face with in a place like this. I think my family is catching on though because they have quit throwing rocks at Lion, and the kids help me pull ticks off of him. He is being fed leftover rice daily and I have been giving him water.

I bail water from this well daily. It is a good upper body workout. I'm hoping it will rid me of my arm jiggle.

Admire my new kitchen.

In the afternoons I visit Mbaa at her fabric bittik. She let me pick out some fabric and is having a traditional African outfit made for me.

Oblie Nje Bojang is my closest friend in village so far. He helps me with whatever I need and looks out for me. Last week we watched five Africa Cup of Nations matches at the local video club. Modu (pictured on the left) is currently staying in my compound while he is teaching at the primary school. He is very funny and helps me to encourage Njaka to go to school.

I visited Modu's Grade 4 class last week and was very impressed with their reading and writing abilities. I hope to work with them some in the future.

My sister Rohey (Sally's mom) is tall, gorgeous, and likes to think of herself as the "Gambian Beyonce"! She likes to listen to Akon, Rihanna, Beyonce etc. and dresses in skinny jeans and fancy tops everyday!

My sister Adou also dresses very fashionably and sassy. They put me to shame. Chacos and capri pants don't exactly measure up. Adou's 2-month old baby Molamen cries most of the time. Every time I hold him he manages to coat my shoulder with fresh breast milk.

My bike ride to the beach....

At this point I have not divulged any information on the environmental issues here in The Gambia, and believe me, there is a plethora. Some of the major culprits include the non-existent waste management & disposal system, deforestation, desertification, sand mining, pollution, overfishing and unsuitable fishing methods, and poor resource management, just to name a few. Severe environmental degradation is evident in this region, but there are many initiatives underway that are aimed to improve the current situation.

Yesterday I had the privilege to spend the day learning about Ba Nafaa, a Sustainable Fisheries Project that has recently launched as an ecosystem-based approach to protection of the biodiversity and ecological integrity of this area, while sustaining the resources that support its people. The Ba Nafaa initiative is a partnership of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), World Wildlife Fund (WWF), University of Rhode Island Coastal Resources Center (CRC), and the Department of Fisheries of The Gambia (DoFish).

I joined some representatives of this partnership on a tour of the Tanbi Wetland Complex, a wetland reserve just outside the capital area. The majority of the reserve is forested with several species of mangroves and includes salt marshes, woodlands, tidal creeks, lagoons, and mudflats. This protected area is rich in biodiversity and plays an important role in shoreline protection, provides breeding grounds for many migratory birds, and contributes many nutrients and sediments to the productivity of the marine ecosystem. It is a designated Ramsar site and contains globally significant wetlands. Monkeys, crocodiles, and lizards are common here, as well as some threatened and endangered species such as the West African manatee, Pel's fishing owl, African clawless otter, and the red colobus monkey.

During the dry season, the mangrove forests of Tanbi are a popular site for oyster harvesting. The women navigate the waters in dugout canoes and pluck the oysters from the mangrove trees. The harvesting can be destructive to the mangroves, so efforts to encourage growth on these man-made structures placed in front of the trees have been underway. The original racks were constructed of mangrove trees, but new bamboo ones are being installed in some areas.

These women reside in fifteen different communities along the Tanbi Wetlands and have organized themselves as the Try Oyster Women Association. Ba Nafaa is helping the women to learn improved oyster production and processing techniques, as well as marketing strategies such as packaging and labeling. Part of the goal is to provide technical support but also to empower them through education and the promotion of sustainable development.

But if you try sometimes, you just might find, you get what you need~

As I am preparing to take off for my permanent site, I thought I would extend to you my list of "wants". My "needs" are now being met by excreting my waste into a hole in the ground while squatting; fetching drinking water from a well pump, carrying it on my head, filtering it, then bleaching; fetching bathing water from an open well, carrying it on my head; bathing out of a bucket while sitting on a concrete block; eating rice three meals per day; sleeping under a mosquito net; and seeking shelter beneath a roof that is made of sticks and corrugated tin, and a ceiling made of rice bags that rats run along all night. Thus, I have acquired a strong desire for material things that I might not otherwise be attracted to.

"Wants" include any type of makeup or beauty products (i know, i know). Because my feet stay a nice shade of dirty at all times, nail polish helps me to still feel like a woman. I can always use antibacterial bar soap, facewash, and chapstick/lip gloss as well.

Next is food; ANY type of food. Candy, junk food, processed cheese, drink mix, soup packets, spices, summer sausage, dried fruit, trail mix, and any granola bars, power bars etc. (i love luna bars and cliff bars)

There is a pretty stellar collection of books circulating here, so I have been keeping busy reading anything from the Kite Runner to chemistry text books (yes, I'm a nerd). However, the Peace Corps community here gets pretty stoked about celebrity gossip/materialistic american culture type magazines, so feel free to send any of those! (think cosmo, people, us weekly, etc.) But any issues of something like National Geographic, New Yorker, or The Sun would be awesome!!

Music, music, music. Cassette tapes, cd's, whatever!!! Gambians love reggae, hip hop, r&b...I love anything. Lately I have been craving old Madonna and early 90's alternative.

Movies. Any copied dvd's of anything (there is a tv at the volunteer transit house).

Pictures of you!!!! My family loves to look at pictures of America and of my friends and family, and I do too!!!

And lastly, letters from you!!! I want to hear about your life, what I'm missing out on, has Courtney Kardashian had her baby yet, is Oprah really retiring, does the job market still suck, and how fast your kids are growing up! I miss everyone terribly. Hearing from you and knowing that you are supporting me really helps me to keep truckin' on! I promise that I will get some letters out soon as well! Don't forget to mark anything you send as Airmail!!

P.S. I REALLY enjoy receiving phone calls and text messages as well! Thanks so much to those of you who have been calling, you are amazing! I have really good reception here so you should be able to reach me whenever! :)

This is me with my favorite PC Driver, John, who is taking me to site.

Today we swore in as official Peace Corps Volunteers at the U.S. Ambassador's home on the coast. It was a really nice ceremony and a very exciting time!

View from the Ambassador's yard

The Ambassador welcoming us

The ceremony

The guys I shared a village with during training

Me and Melissa

Me and Kelsey

I have received my permanent site assignment to the village where I will be living and working for the next two years. I am excited to announce that my new home is located on the Atlantic Coast of The Gambia!! It is in a large fishing village that boasts many trees of the palm, banana, mango, papaya, and citrus varieties; but most importantly, smiling Gambian faces. My family is warm and welcoming. I have one mother, three brothers, five sisters, a newborn nephew, and a 3 yr. old niece whom I was named after (at site visit the family named me Sally Bojang, so I am no longer Fatou Samateh). The father lives in Madison, Wisconsin...not sure yet what he's doing there, but I find it random and sort of hilarious all the same. My mother owns a fabric bitik (shop) and seems to be a business woman through and through. She only speaks Mandinka, but luckily some of the other family members speak some English, because my Mandinka sucks! It is really helpful to have them translate sometimes! I will try to post pics of my beautiful compound and village soon, but for now, here are some of my new family members...

Although it was roughly 90 Degrees outside and I was sporting flip flops and tank tops, the holiday spirit was lurking last week. I spent Christmas Eve at Tendaba Camp, laying out by the pool listening to live shows from this year's Newport Folk Fest (Liz Phair, Neko Case, Arlo Guthrie...), and making Christmas cookies with a few other trainees while listening to Christmas blues music!



On Christmas morning we took a sunrise boat ride across the Gambia River and through the Baobolong Wetland Reserve.

This park is a Ramsar listed Wetland of International Importance. It is a beautiful area that hosts many different species of migratory birds as well as protected plant species.



We explored the salt marshes, mangrove forests, and savannah by pirogue....it was an amazing way to spend Christmas morning!

Things have been busy here in The Gambia...learning Mandinka, adapting to a new culture, and receiving technical training (primarily agroforestry).

There are four days left in training, then I will swear in as an official Peace Corps Volunteer and move to my permanent site. I lived near the Kiang National Park in a small rural village for the majority of training. My host family was comprised of a father, three mothers, and approximately 15 siblings. Here is me with my host father and some of the children.

In the Muslim culture, a baby is named one week following its birth. The entire village participates in a naming ceremony that involves traditional dancing, cooking, praying, and naming of the infant. This is from the naming ceremony in my training village. My family named me Fatou Samateh after my sister Fatou Demba.

I spent Thanksgiving at the Tendaba Camp on the Gambia River. It is a popular birdwatching spot and is surrounded by mangroves...very pretty and peaceful. Our group prepared a wonderful feast of turkey and other delicious holiday dishes. It didn't compare to being at home with the fam, but overall it was a nice day. Upon return to the village, I celebrated Tabaski with my family. Tabaski is a Muslim holiday that signifies Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his only son. On Tabaski a goat or sheep is slaughtered to represent the ram that God sacrificed in place of Abraham's son.

The women preparing the Tabaski Feast

The village men going to prayer

The Gambia is a beautiful place! So far all is well! The days have been filled with language training (mandinka, woloof, and pular) and some environmental introductions as well. And lots of immunizations!

The weather is nice but hot and humid...just like bama! Tomorrow I will find out what language I will be speaking for the remainder of my time here. At the end of the week I will move to my training village and will be living with a host family for 8 weeks.

Here are some photos for your viewing pleasure. More to come soon! Love you all very much!

This was the sunset on the beach today!

Me & my new buddy Lucia

Holding a python!

African puff adder

After several days of traveling and not much sleep, I made it to The Gambia!

Might have internet access for the next week, but not sure.

We got our cell phones today, if you would like to contact me, you must dial 011 220 first, then my number, 7339832.

I can receive calls and text messages for free, and apparently the most inexpensive way for you is to use skype to call my cell! You can also use an international calling card....

Please keep in touch through mail and/or phone calls as much as possible!

Thank you for all of your love and support!

I'll post more details later about all of these new experiences!

It's official: time is an illusion. Only 5 more days left in the states!!! And although pre-departure preparations have been on my mind for months, I have now found myself scrambling at the last minute to get everything done. I am a procrastinator through and through.

The past few weeks have been filled with lots of wonderful moments shared with the special people in my life. It makes me really sad to leave it all behind, but comforted by the love and support I will take with me...and come back to someday! Bottomline, life is good!!

I have five more Sundays to enjoy stateside....hopefully they will be as sunny and peaceful as today. Sundays are always such a conglomerate of emotions....anticipating the work week, recovering from the weekend, and relaxing but also catching up on what you've slacked off on all week (i.e. house chores, errands, exercise...)

What I will miss the most from a Sunday is listening to NPR all morning, yummy brunch with a bloody mary and a mimosa (really that should be plural), and going to sleep to Echoes.

Now that I have a regular and consistent work schedule, I have reunited with the Sunday blues that come from anticipating and dreading Monday. However, November 1st will be the Sunday of all Sundays, as I will depart for my big adventure the following day!

~Sunday's supposed to be the day for kicking off your shoes

But how come that's the day I always get the blues~ -Lucinda Williams-

There are 52 days 'till my departure! It is really bittersweet. I am enjoying spending time with everyone (especially my mommy), soaking up all the luxuries I will soon leave behind, and not working very hard or frequently :) However, I am so anxious about what lies ahead that it becomes annoying just hanging over my head everyday.

Although I want to familiarize myself with the country and culture, I want to avoid trying to know too much- so that I don't create a false sense of reality in my mind or have too many expectations. With that said, today I received the Lonely Planet The Gambia/Senegal country guide in the mail, as well as a map of The Gambia (thanks Mom!). As soon as I finish reading The Deathly Hallows (last of the Harry Potter series), I can devote my full attention to scoping it all out.

I am also working on creating a musical empire for my ipod, so please feel free to contribute any of your favorite music that you think I would enjoy!! Listening to music will probably be my saving grace while away!

As I'm typing this, I just received an automated phone call asking if I would choose to re-elect President Obama....guess this is a follow-up to last night's health care reform speech, as well as this week's attempt to promote education and awareness to school children. How dare him, hahaha! :) Well, at least the people of The Gambia love Obama!!

P.S. Aside from music, I am also requesting that everyone start saving $ so that they can come visit me!!!

Now that I have formally accepted my invitation to The Gambia, the race is on to get supplies, learn about the country, and spend time with everyone!

Cool new purchases include a sony world band receiver, solio hybrid solar charger, leatherman wave, and a duffel bag made from recycled materials-yes, it even saved 20 plastic bottles from the landfill!

For those of you who had to look at a map to figure out where Gambia is (I did also)....here are some useful websites that will give you a closer look at the country and culture:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Gambia

http://www.hiddengambia.com/adventure_holidays/gambia_photos.asp

http://www.peacecorps.gov/welcomebooks/gmwb635.pdf

68 days 'till the big departure! I'm so excited but will be sad to say goodbye!

Welcome, this is my first blog ever. I'm not used to broadcasting my life over the internet (okay, except for facebook), but I intend to keep up with this thing so that I can provide you with stories, photos, and updates on my life while serving as a Peace Corps Volunteer.

To bring us up to date, here is a general timeline of the pain that is federal bureaucracy I have endured just so I can live in a mud hut and continue to not make any money over the next two years! :)

Two essays and pages upon pages of questions (education, hobbies, work experience, volunteer experience, medical history, finances, love life) later, I officially submitted my Peace Corps application on January 28, 2009.A couple of weeks later, I received a voicemail from my recruiter, Kyle Jessop, in the ATL regional office requesting an interview. After an hour of jumping up and down with excitement, I called him back and scheduled a phone interview for the next week.The interview was a couple of hours long and ended with Kyle informing me that he wanted to nominate me for the Protected Areas Management program in Latin America.March 12, 2009 I received my official nomination...woohoo!Somewhere around this time I had my fingerprints done and filled out the legal/background forms and sent them off.March 19, 2009 I receive my Medical Packet from the Peace Corps Medical Office.March 23, 2009 I peed in a cup, gave 6 vials of blood, had a physical exam, eye exam, a tb skin test, and spent an hour and a half getting the paperwork filled out with my physician. Also went to the dentist, had x-rays, some fancy kind of dental exam, and had more paperwork filled out.March 24, 2009 I mailed my dental packet and receive Dental Clearance several days later.Upon receiving my labwork results, obtaining endoscopy/hospitalization records from last fall, and having paperwork filled out by my lady doctor; I mailed my Medical Packet to the Office of Medical Services on March 30, 2009.Way the hell later, on June 24, 2009, my screening nurse sends me a letter requesting additional information. As it turns out, the requested information was already included in the packet that I mailed. Unfortunately, when I called to discuss this with her, she was away on vacation for two and a half weeks! So, to avoid any further delay, I had my physician repeat info on a new form, and mailed it to her on July 6, 2009.July 8, 2009 I receive Medical Clearance with no problems! This means that I can serve as a Peace Corps Volunteer in any country!!!July 13, 2009 I receive a call from Yung-Mei, my Placement Officer. She informed me that she was ready to give me my official invitation to serve, but unfortunately, due to discrepancies about my language skills, she couldn't offer me the Latin American position. Bummer!!! August 7, 2009 I received my invitation to serve in The Gambia!! Happy times!August 14, 2009 the invitation packet arrived in the mail. More paperwork, reading materials, and passport/visa info.August 21, 2009 I created an updated resume and aspiration statement (what they quote you from if you die) in their requested formats, and mailed it off to the Country Desk Unit in Gambia.