tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-76073794645173565722024-03-05T02:57:50.841-08:00Amber in AfricaMy life in The Gambia, West Africa.Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05846756158607073314noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7607379464517356572.post-54846343426524936012009-01-03T01:06:00.000-08:002009-02-03T12:58:36.693-08:00A Very Merry Christmas and Happy 2009 to All of You.Hello all:) <div>Well it’s officially been a year of service here in The Gambia and I have to say its been one to remember. I’m anticipating a speedy next year due to projects/work being in full swing and the feeling of urgency to take the things in that I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">didn</span>’t get to last time.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuYFiAisNJ_XvoHt1N_dnUbDQhbqbqYsFS0mvdn4YSSoXvFccKwgoLfHSSFSxA4LLBESzBl8jy-oMl673e0VjubJCLiZn2HmC2o8EslQZQ5_Taw9XDFyHFuzWL_oNayKkMnUIFt0j-wYbg/s1600-h/Picture+029+(Small).jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5286994571048616722" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuYFiAisNJ_XvoHt1N_dnUbDQhbqbqYsFS0mvdn4YSSoXvFccKwgoLfHSSFSxA4LLBESzBl8jy-oMl673e0VjubJCLiZn2HmC2o8EslQZQ5_Taw9XDFyHFuzWL_oNayKkMnUIFt0j-wYbg/s200/Picture+029+(Small).jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><div>I now know the rhythms of this place and yes it took a year. Now I know that mango season last only 2 months and then there is not a mango to be found for the rest of the year. I know that rainy season is full of mold, amazing rain storms, and is the one element that changes the African bush into a hot humid green jungle (of sorts). The dry season is DRY and DUSTY; the sun is so penetrating that to can feel your soul getting sun burnt and all turns to brown. The people I’<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">ve</span> met and the things I’<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">ve</span> seen have left a long term impression on me that will forever allow me to see and understand the world a little differently. I have been blessed with dear friendships that will last the rest of my life and made acquaintances that I will never forget. My work here has forever changed my definition of work, what is work, how things work and I will never again take for granted the value of a good functioning job. Also my view of the US and the meaning of home has changed significantly. But above all, this year has opened my eyes to the beauty, amazement, bewilderment and shock of the whole world and I long and hope my life is full for travel, in the US and abroad.<br /><br />My Environmental Ed Club in village.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNuTG2S2YPbx-IRVkwxTSWj8LI9qZeTk03RKS58TyLA6Uuzv9FL5TuGxJUVCuICwm4ilBLZ61dovpFeKDHmDkpJww_SJJVZPfo2mxXfuzTFArjeAHsc73GYThTPVaPcGG7dR1ClJ_R5u0m/s1600-h/Picture+028+(Small).jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5286997827047977618" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNuTG2S2YPbx-IRVkwxTSWj8LI9qZeTk03RKS58TyLA6Uuzv9FL5TuGxJUVCuICwm4ilBLZ61dovpFeKDHmDkpJww_SJJVZPfo2mxXfuzTFArjeAHsc73GYThTPVaPcGG7dR1ClJ_R5u0m/s200/Picture+028+(Small).jpg" border="0" /></a><br />My "Kids" </div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWb960Lkh1ykpDqdGi0JnQe83Iq70nH5NVsQPGL5KBiVxzy6PU5bUuy0LKvp8xSgSY6BQYC-s_o2ypa8RVHatbtHNkOiv_N7tqy0HnZwQIwETs3n8nJSdek8J4Wd3OG6XH8dgViQZckJIN/s1600-h/Picture+009+(Small).jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5286994546396177586" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWb960Lkh1ykpDqdGi0JnQe83Iq70nH5NVsQPGL5KBiVxzy6PU5bUuy0LKvp8xSgSY6BQYC-s_o2ypa8RVHatbtHNkOiv_N7tqy0HnZwQIwETs3n8nJSdek8J4Wd3OG6XH8dgViQZckJIN/s200/Picture+009+(Small).jpg" border="0" /></a> So one more year to go. For this next year… I hope, I hope, I hope some of my projects will be prosperous and sustainable. I hope to make a mark, any kind of mark. I need to travel!! I haven’t left this country and need to see other parts of Africa!! I’m going to eat too many mango's. Dance in the streets, during a big rain storm, even if the adults think I’m crazy. Do some African bush camping. Join the women in their fields more during rice season (it is the hardest job). And to take all the kids from my village out in nature and show them something that will make them squirm with wonder. We will see.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX5tNp1gwXAr6qnvEMWMOyQQlN6UIGt2c2V4wZo_Vw9BEH-97vAZDQK9yDRKhu4c4p4d6nlpUwUq-IjtgmoGke2iEkMXCKVo6Z7lbUGvWP_VussBspTCz1kN3IbPke-0V5m4fLcU6POuzw/s1600-h/Picture+027+(Small).jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5286994556710669666" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX5tNp1gwXAr6qnvEMWMOyQQlN6UIGt2c2V4wZo_Vw9BEH-97vAZDQK9yDRKhu4c4p4d6nlpUwUq-IjtgmoGke2iEkMXCKVo6Z7lbUGvWP_VussBspTCz1kN3IbPke-0V5m4fLcU6POuzw/s200/Picture+027+(Small).jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Village boys playing in the rain.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrBmle1QUOfzSpmIR9WGWfp4rta9JKD2BPdnLHjRAQrCzOMgo2l0Ux9MpxIZoGHaMokgDdjzItaLLEQ684YvOyoyvAo40dFgMs-TOjeqA5dVVUI7HA5ry0LMXyHwByfMSHQ_j54UsjHx8k/s1600-h/Picture+026+(Small).jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5286994546407272370" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrBmle1QUOfzSpmIR9WGWfp4rta9JKD2BPdnLHjRAQrCzOMgo2l0Ux9MpxIZoGHaMokgDdjzItaLLEQ684YvOyoyvAo40dFgMs-TOjeqA5dVVUI7HA5ry0LMXyHwByfMSHQ_j54UsjHx8k/s200/Picture+026+(Small).jpg" border="0" /></a><br />I had a wonderful Christmas and an amazing New Year, by the way, one that I shall always remember. I missed you all so very much and you were not far from my thoughts. </div><br /><div>Hugs from Gambia</div></div></div></div><br /><br />Look who came to spend X-mas with me. Fun times:)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkCrGxriaCyCrISJYxuKfyooiTQPvtL6XPmaykj4x_cBgh2h09HHETS10pqrEoJ8YU-R_gzbL5TTbhik23hiCCPvnuLOhtVE7l2v2TOpcOGvK2Ee7PRAzdn56OIbXmXvsi4BhyHZWhU9tu/s1600-h/Picture+(Small).jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5286996138002057794" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkCrGxriaCyCrISJYxuKfyooiTQPvtL6XPmaykj4x_cBgh2h09HHETS10pqrEoJ8YU-R_gzbL5TTbhik23hiCCPvnuLOhtVE7l2v2TOpcOGvK2Ee7PRAzdn56OIbXmXvsi4BhyHZWhU9tu/s200/Picture+(Small).jpg" border="0" /></a>Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05846756158607073314noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7607379464517356572.post-31979014326937478152008-11-05T08:39:00.000-08:002008-11-05T08:47:23.858-08:00I very delayed HelloHello everyone!! So sorry it’s been so long since I’ve written. I can believe it’s been since August, time is just flying by. Things here are very well, still happy and healthy. My birthday was so much fun; turning 32 in the Gambia was a delight. I got a call from a few of you, which was wonderful. It always makes my day/month to talk to my beloved friends and fam. For the day, all my good friends came into town to help me celebrate, we cooked a delicious dinner and I made pineapple cake for everyone. <br /> I’ve come into kombo to doing some work and for the elections (Obama won hurray!). My work has picked up I’m very happy to say. I’ve started a new and improved Environmental Club at the Lower Basic School in Dumbuto. Also the school has built a huge cinderblock fence behind the school which will be developed into a school garden/orchard and partly to be used as a community garden. I will be helping with the designing and planting, it will be awesome.<br /> I’m the new Regional Coordinator/judge for the All Gambian Tree Nursery Competition; this is a contest the schools can participate in. The goal is to have the school establish a tree nursery where students will grow native trees, all while learning about the importance of the trees and their environment. They then go out plant the trees in the bush as a reforestation effort. I organize and inform all the schools in my region (about 100 schools with about 25-50 who participate) and I’m also one of judges that look at the nursery’s and effort of the school and students. Its hard work but really fun and it gives me an opportunity to see the remote villages in my region and to work with the school system and Gambia’s Forest Service. <br /> I have organized a beekeeping workshop at Kiang West headquarters and I think it is going to actually happen I’ve been trying to get something like this going all year but with very little success but things are looking very promising. Peace Corps and the National Beekeepers Association of Gambia are coming on Nov. 21-22 to do the first part (the seconded part will be in Dec.) of a very intensive educational and hands on workshop for 25-30 Gambians from neighboring villages. You can mach SO MUCH $$ here in honey and there are native hives that can be constructed with on need for any money up front. Plus I will be able to help out and get my beekeeping groove on. I really enjoy beekeeping and plan on having a hive when I get home so in the future if you need honey you should keep me in mind.<br /> The park is finally getting some much needed, very overdue TLC. Some of the rundown lodges are getting refurbished and the road to the park headquarters is getting worked on so it will be car savvy. I had no part in the organization of this but I’m told my monthly bitching to the Dept. of Parks and Wildlife Management has helped tons. This will allow people to actually come and enjoy/visit/stay at the park, now it’s barely being used. <br /> Village life has been good! Everyone is harvesting their rice, millet, maze, and peanuts, it’s been a good growing season and everyone is very happy about that. The rainy season was very wet, last year rainy season was very dry and many crops failed. It stormed 2-4 times a week. I’ll miss the storms they are amazing. The rice I helped the women get, the ATM3 super rice, is a big hit. I ask the women, ”Ila maanoo be naadii?”(How is your rice doing?). And they respond “Tallaa maanoo a beteyaata bake!” (Amber rice is so awesome). They have named the rice after me and tell me they will always remember me, so sweet. I’m happy their happy. They (the women) amaze me! They walk 7km to the river everyday (a walk that takes 2-3 hours) to harvest and protect their fields. My father told me that the women I heard crying the other day lost most of her crop to wild animals (the monkeys and bush pigs eat it), so it will be really hard for her this next year. When the women aren’t in the fields they are cooking (camp style), gathering wood, watching their kids, doing the families laundry (by hand), fetching water, organizing events etc. The men do very little except work in the fields of a few month of the year and build things if it’s needed, the rest of the time they are “relaxing” or socializing in the shade somewhere. I’m just saying the women here kick major ass. So now the rainy season has tapered off and it hasn’t rained for 2 weeks, the humidity has dropped and its about 70-75 at night which is freezing to me now (I’m going to be in sooo much trouble when I get home). However during the day the sun, my God the Sun, is so F-ing hot, it’s rays in compose you and you can feel them penetrating your skin. Most people, myself included, stay inside or under the shade of a tree between 11-3pm, it’s actually really dangerous. I would say it reaches maybe around 120 degrees in the sunshine.<br /> My personal life is very well. I still have my occasional bought of home sickness but they come and I miss you all and then it goes. Over all I’m very happy. I’ve started doing yoga and running on a daily bases which has helped me stay physically fit. I realized how out of shape I’ve been in and its time to get on and stay on the fitness wagon. I’m still learning guitar and playing everyday. Reading lots of books just finished “Out of Africa”, very good. My two cats are getting big and catching lots of bugs and mice. I plan to be kombo for Thanksgiving and I’ve noticed that the phone connection is much better when I’m here so if any of you want to give me a ring…<br /> So that’s all for now. I miss you all terribly and hope all is well. Please enjoy some of that beautiful Portland Autumn weather for me, I miss it so.<br /><br />Big hugs from Amber in Africa<br /><br />PS I've tryed to post some photos but it's not working for some reason:(Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05846756158607073314noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7607379464517356572.post-3196976441727145022008-08-30T05:33:00.000-07:002008-09-11T05:52:02.827-07:00Just chillen.Hello everyone:) I hope all is well with you all. Miss everyone! I know its been a while but there is nothing really going on. The end of September will mark a year here in The Gambia, which is crazy to think about. It is a down time. People are working in the fields and Ramadan is starting in a few days. During this month long Islam holiday, Muslims will fast (no food or water) from sunrise to sunset. This is a time of reflection and forgiveness. I have decided <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcPgM007vROVuSVE-bJ6LvsqQyFu5Rl5SVkMQrfTiwmGCLC_O4gLem-TSltXW4zzQdP7rh9sSAWWtslEULIh9pk1xqgJ6LBZura9OKMG5JT-Ov6yXXBQ2OA64cfBg8F05J3cMjySDUL1_D/s1600-h/Amber+Pics+013+(Small).jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240317955643976658" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcPgM007vROVuSVE-bJ6LvsqQyFu5Rl5SVkMQrfTiwmGCLC_O4gLem-TSltXW4zzQdP7rh9sSAWWtslEULIh9pk1xqgJ6LBZura9OKMG5JT-Ov6yXXBQ2OA64cfBg8F05J3cMjySDUL1_D/s200/Amber+Pics+013+(Small).jpg" border="0" /></a>to do a little fasting so I can see what my fellow Gambians are going through also to understand how hard it is to do it for a month (people get very grumpy). Plus I think is cruel to ask my family to cook for me when they are fasting and hungry.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />I am still doing smashing. I'm excited for school to get back in session (on Sept. 15th) so I can start the Environmental Club again, its sooo much fun. The kids love it and I feel like I'm doing some real work. I'm helping plan and establish a school orchard. Also helping out on "perfecting" the school garden.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkYfVaLzNGCoEgSkXhEdT48Xte1z2SQ1I6bKIw1JR3YAsDiBk85IbFDSdpDq64Yq14I5zzUJqDMctBKh0XFz3ImpWSKL6jwN_PCi3zwdr9g20FCmePN5H5YEjFQzYn3zcuPqDcGqEuC6BH/s1600-h/Amber+Pics+011+(Small).jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240317957463331346" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkYfVaLzNGCoEgSkXhEdT48Xte1z2SQ1I6bKIw1JR3YAsDiBk85IbFDSdpDq64Yq14I5zzUJqDMctBKh0XFz3ImpWSKL6jwN_PCi3zwdr9g20FCmePN5H5YEjFQzYn3zcuPqDcGqEuC6BH/s200/Amber+Pics+011+(Small).jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdP05frNiRgGnrT5Sks0aZ02uzrSHsyXUZsytAmGLmNfjcpuuaCs_uq9htGbR3adVTtv21tDjL-A0CRC8ZPVjlHD9LHV1JXv8ILdtelbObXtpl2sREtA1QrsDfdSTJsbkbtQ7PQ_f5orPi/s1600-h/Amber+Pics+010+(Small).jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240317950865884978" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdP05frNiRgGnrT5Sks0aZ02uzrSHsyXUZsytAmGLmNfjcpuuaCs_uq9htGbR3adVTtv21tDjL-A0CRC8ZPVjlHD9LHV1JXv8ILdtelbObXtpl2sREtA1QrsDfdSTJsbkbtQ7PQ_f5orPi/s200/Amber+Pics+010+(Small).jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Work at the park is slow due to dysfunctional and politics. Its really hard to put energy into something that is uneventful and pointless (sorry to say). So I'm waiting to see how some things go. I'm going to start a tree nursery and grow Moringa trees which have nutritional value and want to start some bee hives. Also I'm collaborating with another PCV and trying to develop wildlife survey protocol and schedule for all the National Parks in The Gambia. They do flora and fauna surveying but the records are few are fare between. So we want to prefect it and get it rolling for now and the future.<br /><br />I've excepted some positions within PC so I can keep busy until things get rollen again in a month or three.<br /><br />Other that every things is great. I have a friend coming to visit me in December for Christmas which I'm ecstatic about. The rainy season is still in full swing so everything is green and lush and beautiful. Plus the storms and sunsets are amazing. I have also adopted two kittens that I'm raising until they are big enough to defend for themselves, they will probably become my outdoor cats, but they are super cute and very entertaining. Reading lots o books, doing lots o yoga, playing lots o guitar, playing with my garden/growing some good stuff and doing lots of exploring. I have realized that my picture taking has slowed down quite a bit so I'm going to <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJOlCOtnSTrUd4ovzrqYoavNRX1mAjZdCXcLLTswtvwlNWuGIrCRJyLecBy5u8QSsu3h0hbfQXu2_taXOxxYNho68n1Bw8EEDWBQrVHKE1WAVtIvIcpwT1MLP1q0K5lW5tcVj713yIZ9gc/s1600-h/Amber+Pics+061+(Small).jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240322902840411826" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJOlCOtnSTrUd4ovzrqYoavNRX1mAjZdCXcLLTswtvwlNWuGIrCRJyLecBy5u8QSsu3h0hbfQXu2_taXOxxYNho68n1Bw8EEDWBQrVHKE1WAVtIvIcpwT1MLP1q0K5lW5tcVj713yIZ9gc/s200/Amber+Pics+061+(Small).jpg" border="0" /></a>remedy that.<br /><br /><br />So... to close (for now) I'm going to include some of my favorite photos, most are artsy; all have a story.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240316663622665282" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivuHX8pWo0WJ5c3qJuCV6HFJX4LPEOUtySIgwXrhc8z-epiaq5TQPF0IM6RQpoJaTCU7GGzb4-HRl-mRRu-SmCio3R_eSewmD91zbZXgTy9V7D3dKMDrn9IoxIYoV19usZLAzcog5tLzWZ/s200/Amber+Pics+002+(Small).jpg" border="0" /><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlzWJBg5S3BrXpzy1w-KrsutFdAmRomcvtMwm5DjFtcW3Dl_zrqAl1yTjR5yqOo21fqeVibs6U1VXvH0_iNFjdnfp8H7xVm4calpxZixijW7RgscXAGBUlI0FdUaX9Nb9P5U3IvfQBOGcQ/s1600-h/Amber+Pics+003+(Small).jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240316661921403282" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlzWJBg5S3BrXpzy1w-KrsutFdAmRomcvtMwm5DjFtcW3Dl_zrqAl1yTjR5yqOo21fqeVibs6U1VXvH0_iNFjdnfp8H7xVm4calpxZixijW7RgscXAGBUlI0FdUaX9Nb9P5U3IvfQBOGcQ/s200/Amber+Pics+003+(Small).jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioLBFW3ZcVteBH7bZxh1Tj65A7_iOtPM1dBFUVYd8IaeIISn0MYS5tkJbiGfqR01qzaRAGOGodLfgRXzyCyeN_gleRptAN9u97T5TCj1wHVPSSsvJPRwKyMPfA7x9bABJsFE54JpSNzzWI/s1600-h/Amber+Pics+001+(Small).jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240316661931041362" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioLBFW3ZcVteBH7bZxh1Tj65A7_iOtPM1dBFUVYd8IaeIISn0MYS5tkJbiGfqR01qzaRAGOGodLfgRXzyCyeN_gleRptAN9u97T5TCj1wHVPSSsvJPRwKyMPfA7x9bABJsFE54JpSNzzWI/s200/Amber+Pics+001+(Small).jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiVVhDpY8SEar9qvYFaSHwb8v_bb1RqkrrUOZ7b3jVC_gml4I6LvE8GCnqa_o7yvvs_fByPaqht4Tf_XGr0Ip-FO2KMTyc_AQsw__jdE1VE3u_JMAKyZlhgi7-vQb8cxuYh3bBtLFNbbX0/s1600-h/Amber+Pics+007+(Small).jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240317948345756802" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiVVhDpY8SEar9qvYFaSHwb8v_bb1RqkrrUOZ7b3jVC_gml4I6LvE8GCnqa_o7yvvs_fByPaqht4Tf_XGr0Ip-FO2KMTyc_AQsw__jdE1VE3u_JMAKyZlhgi7-vQb8cxuYh3bBtLFNbbX0/s200/Amber+Pics+007+(Small).jpg" border="0" /></a><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240317951142679506" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpeXQ0VA_mKvr58pUTryG5HvAr8nFgLdEsAMXqoSJxg2NA3AIh3FIS7DB7h8VH4yyyIV-F47oSPWhugJ5-5cGMsnqHjcsqDB_JawRD6wwoGaevkB-Fwvo7I55Z1j_li5bNoiZyrwP1PWv-/s200/Amber+Pics+009+(Small).jpg" border="0" /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240316667903707698" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyZn7ni00swB9-GzDp2i9mgv0MEBIxNeqikex_qfm62yOl8oACyBVxRWQ1ivLFsRN6kH9aBcSaRlTM4kJ_8JKh67Tibo4fVMYzfUoxKUY635jUgdAc0dneNaA_LP3uvzxIwHxTvsXPyRGK/s200/Amber+Pics+006+(Small).jpg" border="0" /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivuHX8pWo0WJ5c3qJuCV6HFJX4LPEOUtySIgwXrhc8z-epiaq5TQPF0IM6RQpoJaTCU7GGzb4-HRl-mRRu-SmCio3R_eSewmD91zbZXgTy9V7D3dKMDrn9IoxIYoV19usZLAzcog5tLzWZ/s1600-h/Amber+Pics+002+(Small).jpg"></a></div><br /><div align="left"><br /><br /> </div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4TFV90upTzJaSMNFaM5F77gUfJndNrzdKBx6YJ6NsvcMfPObFhsenAZncNRKCP-dmo8U3OTFWu2wyMELuJ_1wNIzn4Om9UUcp4kyz3jWZEgsbNee3f-VZOAP_4UoN8hbeF-T28hE5Hwwk/s1600-h/Amber+Pics+005+(Small).jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240316668466499186" style="FLOAT: left; 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MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifGQFQ1U0ynn4mSexp0ej4KlXOU6f-93BcZOPIVkcWIuWtvl9fLm5yxGuNw3i6Iy_Uhx9_vZ5Ab4xp00K4s1tqR7iDY7g93OkPTu_hP6AVDL_g8HWHjjU8s2K4gh3MyujZq2OYOXfj8Rsb/s200/Amber+Pics+065+(Small).jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMJPsGncV7WFHllqO65Ie8ycGI73ir5KYYU8t3oA6yeQtIt058X9N7zeV7Ij1Gy1MCsWATFLYpemGxA3KHNj8HpOz-qN7GzG1D9tZNNKaWsu2VUp0TG__r7HfyW1wTO_Idy1nunbrqtTJx/s1600-h/Amber+Pics+(Small).jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240322909437870882" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMJPsGncV7WFHllqO65Ie8ycGI73ir5KYYU8t3oA6yeQtIt058X9N7zeV7Ij1Gy1MCsWATFLYpemGxA3KHNj8HpOz-qN7GzG1D9tZNNKaWsu2VUp0TG__r7HfyW1wTO_Idy1nunbrqtTJx/s200/Amber+Pics+(Small).jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7cHoQ5fJPDKXRTvol903R7AIV8J83xjh0hkaELGu6aGARUJ1gAe7x4FuB4JKrcdYczEWboMIISgfusSoC7mgz5DYJd7dNTVnPF1zR6wB4YPgeHGbYHT_8_5C-QoV5PzsmFgXX1XeLnDBl/s1600-h/Amber+Pics+050+(Small).jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240322108076537026" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7cHoQ5fJPDKXRTvol903R7AIV8J83xjh0hkaELGu6aGARUJ1gAe7x4FuB4JKrcdYczEWboMIISgfusSoC7mgz5DYJd7dNTVnPF1zR6wB4YPgeHGbYHT_8_5C-QoV5PzsmFgXX1XeLnDBl/s200/Amber+Pics+050+(Small).jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-y2GzqCol_7ke24CJv8prF256ZRzZDYizPvu3yvDwJ8kjg84sweDTCj0NUzRJ66RgDrft1MY_cWWirUf89tIM2TRxgsJrWN2_xdlDUYkgft8xb67916mPQGWyrfSm36hl5lwroVVKK5yI/s1600-h/Amber+Pics+051+(Small).jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240322111768583026" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-y2GzqCol_7ke24CJv8prF256ZRzZDYizPvu3yvDwJ8kjg84sweDTCj0NUzRJ66RgDrft1MY_cWWirUf89tIM2TRxgsJrWN2_xdlDUYkgft8xb67916mPQGWyrfSm36hl5lwroVVKK5yI/s200/Amber+Pics+051+(Small).jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM2nO6Kzds-ZRt1697ZEhspf0Xe-9GLUmnped5vAwGDMEfcI2DtISuYZ550iJjjC7xsVUfxS7puMUbU6NF9MBz3AURtBwLj5EKgzErUIKRBXkhctI4_XQDj7qrgL0In-G7lhHn0eViOXbX/s1600-h/Amber+Pics+042+(Small).jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240321435740058194" style="FLOAT: left; 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MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeXzgS6QpLRkCkIYqXX5aAPRBz3_GSbj1Lpee3XJFJAuD1pQGJ59ZKEK3EknJB3eaJgpzbneK3BTp87wHJVCgsL_85ClL-EgHAzuPQkotNW96VuE8fDoMk1JCPJVM84gVbLbpu2q-WHR76/s200/Amber+Pics+044+(Small).jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2-OsMNUNQLNULFZIn8Xsrwf1UkSvcqsbgakETDEDRSacOEfFXrT-nJDfN_nJq1Vw98iEZYAj6TtsuDah_YgpAHhUgiTq-roEyrYuji2Vsqt5IXZYFeyxWwRLgTpQVuDgKbVcMLG9Bw768/s1600-h/Amber+Pics+047+(Small).jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240321437243289618" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2-OsMNUNQLNULFZIn8Xsrwf1UkSvcqsbgakETDEDRSacOEfFXrT-nJDfN_nJq1Vw98iEZYAj6TtsuDah_YgpAHhUgiTq-roEyrYuji2Vsqt5IXZYFeyxWwRLgTpQVuDgKbVcMLG9Bw768/s200/Amber+Pics+047+(Small).jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitedT3ktdCD6Tc4ok5WUtbftjQ7gcWxeodluq-2QM4pXUIoEnjElLmVBH4jPMiZZSKmdGorQ9B2nVsQSSn8l99zORogxd4i969RTFzc7E_dD6VvQv5EAuKsRLM4hOfim9H3QxKlEyz22Ml/s1600-h/Amber+Pics+048+(Small).jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240321443378521698" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitedT3ktdCD6Tc4ok5WUtbftjQ7gcWxeodluq-2QM4pXUIoEnjElLmVBH4jPMiZZSKmdGorQ9B2nVsQSSn8l99zORogxd4i969RTFzc7E_dD6VvQv5EAuKsRLM4hOfim9H3QxKlEyz22Ml/s200/Amber+Pics+048+(Small).jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK7sWKVNKQV9zzFVCks3mOK_LJ_SAaVdfr2PhIqph0SavLKjxDe3J8mYJgz9J82DQpXetMB1X_FOAaPzy01Sm-WKQzobKKcnyR342nwE5HIgBTi7J7tZaLrD6FyEVoKdHcs4auVmqtsBNu/s1600-h/Amber+Pics+031+(Small).jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240320947749887586" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK7sWKVNKQV9zzFVCks3mOK_LJ_SAaVdfr2PhIqph0SavLKjxDe3J8mYJgz9J82DQpXetMB1X_FOAaPzy01Sm-WKQzobKKcnyR342nwE5HIgBTi7J7tZaLrD6FyEVoKdHcs4auVmqtsBNu/s200/Amber+Pics+031+(Small).jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7D1QYIwrp8-hrhNyD9rIccaB0T0Bg3xI68QzKhxN6JV4M_9c2h_coJ_gIkgITqbTFYplAMChJEEEtGrZlaTpjUCek3xw79fgTuQLrEKDz808UJJrMBu2NIZaXuYg3NNq9gNRQJXgjf9fK/s1600-h/Amber+Pics+032+(Small).jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240320952735676018" style="FLOAT: left; 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MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguWiB43usHO_4pawGc2Bn65_2ARrUxIYeqwnH7wsOdnG6NClgB11QfSAO_tDR1EADc21vEqSHPiT_U0vu4Xg4XCRAH0rPtkZWeiWCaGdxe9iDHKeh_jLElqZhRYdVoM0L2_eMwu6qOed4w/s200/Amber+Pics+025+(Small).jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaR3Cdhk47_ggahGvjds2-FmXuXMhYjVU0xEMfbDE00-iwde4iKLg5sQWCsrh1KAea30aLoXPNsFBsV2HINPdSyzpPIqiRqJ2Duub5QFbGsgS_OWTz3JdlKQ5xQrYINHGp7axgeSSB7So4/s1600-h/Amber+Pics+029+(Small).jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240320066895336098" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaR3Cdhk47_ggahGvjds2-FmXuXMhYjVU0xEMfbDE00-iwde4iKLg5sQWCsrh1KAea30aLoXPNsFBsV2HINPdSyzpPIqiRqJ2Duub5QFbGsgS_OWTz3JdlKQ5xQrYINHGp7axgeSSB7So4/s200/Amber+Pics+029+(Small).jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHI_nuMoISwktgB-DBq5xjvInjCYkOtaDfaGIFa1uRDYZf2Urmln_64EuY6UvaVzC79gSJ-9-ZvN6S1OsX94NUCCtJH6qYSn1iS_2WkKh8ElVjKkeEqdhsRUUwOv1-xG2tdTgwx0nlS_jq/s1600-h/Amber+Pics+014+(Small).jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240319281482089122" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHI_nuMoISwktgB-DBq5xjvInjCYkOtaDfaGIFa1uRDYZf2Urmln_64EuY6UvaVzC79gSJ-9-ZvN6S1OsX94NUCCtJH6qYSn1iS_2WkKh8ElVjKkeEqdhsRUUwOv1-xG2tdTgwx0nlS_jq/s200/Amber+Pics+014+(Small).jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiZwBrReslV7Lh9U6As8l2_JFS5Y4sSkWs33N4z6mLC29XbNWAMocDCN08WmvVY1MO_r2r7tTSh0ePFc2Y92OZXChM1WOHZJVv8oWMRo7cP3p-cEV81jNX_uUFdcFmu-INkJczH9Xf8Mqn/s1600-h/Amber+Pics+015+(Small).jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240319282377634946" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiZwBrReslV7Lh9U6As8l2_JFS5Y4sSkWs33N4z6mLC29XbNWAMocDCN08WmvVY1MO_r2r7tTSh0ePFc2Y92OZXChM1WOHZJVv8oWMRo7cP3p-cEV81jNX_uUFdcFmu-INkJczH9Xf8Mqn/s200/Amber+Pics+015+(Small).jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyXNzGdTo9CYLkDU9Z5NKBm1eFgDlQqCp9v0H-vzFPDoMCQ2xNvZWUCvbflXAlExFt_MRu-jiLNBabCtfdVagVhwcE331NyVOEpnfT4KXUwhISdDmiC5bhL402Le7jdGxR_GNKrCC44-rW/s1600-h/Amber+Pics+018+(Small).jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240319286032409938" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyXNzGdTo9CYLkDU9Z5NKBm1eFgDlQqCp9v0H-vzFPDoMCQ2xNvZWUCvbflXAlExFt_MRu-jiLNBabCtfdVagVhwcE331NyVOEpnfT4KXUwhISdDmiC5bhL402Le7jdGxR_GNKrCC44-rW/s200/Amber+Pics+018+(Small).jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240319286206845474" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0kmc9veL1gpOUi4L0M-9wGRgUXC1ddvQBWEEvwmHBHUGirySGd08KPep6m_4G-0lKgBir67rqAZBGjc5id5-ijdQO7LHBh8Z4VHmeEWVHrQOix_mPYGu9HPVYJnDa32e_3-N34kkBBJIk/s200/Amber+Pics+022+(Small).jpg" border="0" /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDPjGP7jzuI11yjIgufxhfBOGVN7sUtVPc6A0inMDmy4kd9AHr2Mi65qd41Z2ga_HMz6gdpFFjRBiPcg8sumDCi2z1btFb9_axsMOM8lXHpfXUdgtXNziiSnhyphenhyphenegxUCN0Kfv7PGrDXp6iB/s1600-h/Amber+Pics+024+(Small).jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240319288600289730" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDPjGP7jzuI11yjIgufxhfBOGVN7sUtVPc6A0inMDmy4kd9AHr2Mi65qd41Z2ga_HMz6gdpFFjRBiPcg8sumDCi2z1btFb9_axsMOM8lXHpfXUdgtXNziiSnhyphenhyphenegxUCN0Kfv7PGrDXp6iB/s200/Amber+Pics+024+(Small).jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div>Will write more soon. sending hugs to you all. Amber</div>Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05846756158607073314noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7607379464517356572.post-43792003384435495652008-07-04T00:13:00.000-07:002008-07-06T10:15:54.194-07:00Walla walla ding ding:)<div align="center">Hello everyone! First, Happy 4th o July! I will be missing hangen out & doing 4th stuff my with peeps. Second, I'm sorry I haven't written sooner. Its been two months & I'm sure you are wondering whats become of me. I'm very well and still enjoying The Gambia. Things have defiantly normalized for me in village (fetching water, growing my food, laundry by hand, the community based living, language, etc.) but now what is surprising me is what the new season brings. </div><div align="center">April-May was prime mango season. I'm lucky to live in Kiang West because the surrounding bush is littered with mango trees. These trees swell & droop with their big nibblets. One of the daily sounds included the heavy drop of this big fruit which was followed by the running of children's feet. I ate about five mango's a day and they where delicious. </div><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrXfpCKsrBo8wK8p8WXchHUO-Rs11I8Yc8-FxN-X6yogvbq5iIM6Q5jcbiLmqrTvf-FdJTnXhbjanIArus3LVJV8TZ9c4hInAcWZpqYJC_T8jUj2A_huBUQ7qJl0KHr-SWA_3-BoxYA3VH/s1600-h/leslie+001+(Small).jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5219061045262574498" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrXfpCKsrBo8wK8p8WXchHUO-Rs11I8Yc8-FxN-X6yogvbq5iIM6Q5jcbiLmqrTvf-FdJTnXhbjanIArus3LVJV8TZ9c4hInAcWZpqYJC_T8jUj2A_huBUQ7qJl0KHr-SWA_3-BoxYA3VH/s200/leslie+001+(Small).jpg" border="0" /></a>The big project Ive been working on these last months has been setting up a tree nursery at Dumbuto lower basic school. Gambia has been subjected to major deforestation in the last 20 years and the government/environmental agencies are trying to push tree planting. To help, The Gambia holds an Annual Nursery Tree Competition where nursery's are established on the school grounds and eventually the trees are out planted in the bush. This tree nursery competition have judges from the Forestry Service and a Peace Corps that go around and look at the number and quality of the nursery's. The winners (1st-3rd place) get tools for their school gardens. I will become a judge for my region next year. </div><br /><div align="center">Growing mango's, chews & mahogany. Grow baby grow.</div><br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5219061051903611202" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSva-CVPMTq6vb9mgpIxKUDJmhCrLoL9uBGcz081mr5TFNy1oHdP6E-nQ1puFUq5D_jVlSfTGRlYnGZc8MiivwlyjoLZXxoqlZTaGuITlyldL7mfvXrom7OpDapP_0BAYKkuWnR7bPPw8o/s200/leslie+002+(Small).jpg" border="0" /> This is a spot we call the g-spot (dubbed the girls spot). There friends and I go to watch the sunset when we are in kombo. I find the spot enchanting and the fact that no one is around is astonishing.</p><p align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5219061055673304914" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMj-2ApY9ZXihr_WBGI0945Hp8rinkLdsZ2E6Pzsde_Fsb1nHCBNPJ3GXkgbkcQbmE3_URw6hXs3NYagNR3_6COW6ka7QXSFj9aCOEoKLVwYR5m7Dv5QOJfabxB-C4jMM3xp7dSQmEoemY/s200/leslie+004+(Small).jpg" border="0" />Chillen like villains.</p><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj71slH1fWDTPjNMaxdD0w3glH60hu-obYRxVh13d9tHVVfKzqvRG2rn9Pn3SYkl8ZRpTjIWFZikyszmTEdBrM1q_U2mj1e_4tjkYh0-SnHrPaHGQKHLXDm0Dij1CYIRRb5ku0LsPCFoAwM/s1600-h/leslie+005+(Small).jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5219060566693721122" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj71slH1fWDTPjNMaxdD0w3glH60hu-obYRxVh13d9tHVVfKzqvRG2rn9Pn3SYkl8ZRpTjIWFZikyszmTEdBrM1q_U2mj1e_4tjkYh0-SnHrPaHGQKHLXDm0Dij1CYIRRb5ku0LsPCFoAwM/s200/leslie+005+(Small).jpg" border="0" /></a> So now its July and it is officially the rainy season. After not a drop o rain, it now rains on a regular basis. Then temperature has gone down about 10 degrees but its been replaced by 100% humidity at the peak of the day. Its really nice to have the rains come in and this weather reminds me a ton of Portland in Spring time. The thunder & lightning storms here, which roll through regularly, are amazing! These storms are nothing like I've ever seen back home, the big ones are actually really scary and intense, which if you know me well I totally dig on.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqU8pz3uq7dgxqTkGZGblT80XE9Ag1DqkqNx9I6b55lpLyfc02fELWwBZ9ovLCiisgdjU411tYafHh8m5V6HXC6cZKbIfrhaHo3xcVZFKHgzIkHjcHYvSOsZc6UY8NEejSmMT4O1NgANkf/s1600-h/leslie+006+(Small).jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5219060571738939906" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqU8pz3uq7dgxqTkGZGblT80XE9Ag1DqkqNx9I6b55lpLyfc02fELWwBZ9ovLCiisgdjU411tYafHh8m5V6HXC6cZKbIfrhaHo3xcVZFKHgzIkHjcHYvSOsZc6UY8NEejSmMT4O1NgANkf/s200/leslie+006+(Small).jpg" border="0" /></a> With the beginning of the rainy season comes the beginning of the farming season. If you want to eat here in The Gambia you have to grow it. The men grow coos and sorghum crops and the women grow the rice. In the morning and evening my village grows quiet because everyone is out in their fields. This will cont. until Dec or Jan. I myself have acquired a small plot out side the village where I will grow about a kg of rice seed. I'm excited to go out and work with the women, they are a hoot.</div><br /><div align="center">Its very hard work thou, no machine you can sit on and do the work for you, its all by hand.</div><div align="center">My mother Jara prepping her rice plot. I love her, she is amazing.</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu21g6gNJOVUBsugr3omowJ7r9bFLNxO5yFqUel8tP9_pQdHuTZ2pnNcZcamq9X94DUl6zkPoc-jTg3PO1O0_oj5bc1PXBJBDMlA345YORJuGzh_f-GIIDLD-yTvSTlCmFccUjW9_C1JW_/s1600-h/leslie+007+(Small).jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5219076334151276338" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu21g6gNJOVUBsugr3omowJ7r9bFLNxO5yFqUel8tP9_pQdHuTZ2pnNcZcamq9X94DUl6zkPoc-jTg3PO1O0_oj5bc1PXBJBDMlA345YORJuGzh_f-GIIDLD-yTvSTlCmFccUjW9_C1JW_/s200/leslie+007+(Small).jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a>Hello Green!!! Flowers and grasses are growing and the bush has become lush and beautiful. A big change from dry, brown, desolates of the dry season.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5219060582747099698" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA3NlG8D8loYqXKUdo46Qy162aYnA1ESbHd2YnWBIhxNkiaO1gyUiqzvut674eJ771KwqLwXe-s3JaVaQTfj2jLUz-tQ91zAP6qe6BsKmYe3kUDJ2n8RSf3Di1bYDnxtVoteYTlrzGuSxM/s200/leslie+008+(Small).jpg" border="0" /> This is a baboon that we named Booboo. She was rescued from a family a few villages down. Booboo was raised by her human "care givers" as a form of income to entertain people at the luumos or weekly markets. This is illegal here just like in the States but not really regulated. Booboo will dance and play dead for her food which is reactionary for her. Unfortunately she is very imprinted and releasing her back in the wild will be a great challenge.</p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcNc7QzI0eHiGMvwxe6HNQhXTHbcRDz43oM7Ihzbv5YIoQjv6_uRJBdQfnVNGBaGtIzc-CL8XgDxoLZIxr4fVkfDK9NTkmJvkChTWF_66kktEr9P8Cotq9vbQZ2_cuc5IMfe3mctyHmeF7/s1600-h/leslie+009+(Small).jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5219060584686972226" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcNc7QzI0eHiGMvwxe6HNQhXTHbcRDz43oM7Ihzbv5YIoQjv6_uRJBdQfnVNGBaGtIzc-CL8XgDxoLZIxr4fVkfDK9NTkmJvkChTWF_66kktEr9P8Cotq9vbQZ2_cuc5IMfe3mctyHmeF7/s200/leslie+009+(Small).jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a> She likes to make sure your clean. She will always sneak up behind me and start grooming me, a social and bonding behavior they do for each other. Its her way of telling me "I think your cool and we can hang".</p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjza0nDbQfxId9LqulPkdFf3mECc-HCP30q_PoOE5OlTV-S0CPHePtmf6w3DE_Tq2FlLq37k5v2OoCD48mE-IXCPr-VGKvqDFv_hphFTNF5KK5mVPwMc8gEkaHavCDVgDQn5BiE-a8wIyOm/s1600-h/leslie+011+(Small).jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5219059183017386290" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjza0nDbQfxId9LqulPkdFf3mECc-HCP30q_PoOE5OlTV-S0CPHePtmf6w3DE_Tq2FlLq37k5v2OoCD48mE-IXCPr-VGKvqDFv_hphFTNF5KK5mVPwMc8gEkaHavCDVgDQn5BiE-a8wIyOm/s200/leslie+011+(Small).jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a>With the rains come clouds, which give way to beautiful sunsets. This was taken from my back yard. However I'm scoping out a sunset picture taking spot.</p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRHOOjRpz8G3WCZ5ErgdLA94v8sGFtp5fpHG8IltS1BP6G-S0mX4FF6OuKruyKOZlGbxBwDNRdoQnz4PZUxQJiFzHsuzlh-eA6JNIcjMRfvkHtReTbG3B_6II86twSQfDVRh_Z5d3obABU/s1600-h/leslie+012+(Small).jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5219059185401357570" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRHOOjRpz8G3WCZ5ErgdLA94v8sGFtp5fpHG8IltS1BP6G-S0mX4FF6OuKruyKOZlGbxBwDNRdoQnz4PZUxQJiFzHsuzlh-eA6JNIcjMRfvkHtReTbG3B_6II86twSQfDVRh_Z5d3obABU/s200/leslie+012+(Small).jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a> I wish I had some amazing story to tell but things have been really good and the strangeness of Gambia has become quaint and predictable for me. What hasn't changed is the fact that I miss you all terribly. Your calls, letters and e-mails make my bouts of homesickness more bearable, thank you a thousand times over. I will make a better effort to post anything that you all might find interesting, even if its mainly photos (they speak a thousand words you know).</p><p align="center">Big hugs from Africa, your Amber:)</p>Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05846756158607073314noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7607379464517356572.post-32135356631530105252008-04-27T04:38:00.001-07:002008-05-14T05:07:31.135-07:00Beeeezzaa & Honey<div align="left">Hello everybody! I hope you are all well and miss you all terribly. These last two weeks I've been in IST training and its been a ball. The subjects of this training were beekeeping, fruit tree nurseries, tree grafting and gardening. I really enjoyed the beekeeping as you will see.<br /></div><div align="center">Me making a native bee hive out of grass. Its like making a basket:)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcYnMtl7m6gC1puDDsPaDPXCKluMotnKAevLYWm8INNlvuyq7IsbplYucHovHgLaOd1lJdxUN2oyNhmR7sdyEFjVPgfNnBvK3I5f6F7FJ418gSYy81MG4n81sige_xmPv7tHQT3PQK-Xst/s1600-h/Am+009+(Small).jpg"></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5193890323583234978" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcYnMtl7m6gC1puDDsPaDPXCKluMotnKAevLYWm8INNlvuyq7IsbplYucHovHgLaOd1lJdxUN2oyNhmR7sdyEFjVPgfNnBvK3I5f6F7FJ418gSYy81MG4n81sige_xmPv7tHQT3PQK-Xst/s200/Am+009+(Small).jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a>The Bees<br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXK9MaKJEDBkgJd1IRGv67O74b6jyEcanW0aksCKjnWAw5wlnnbg3jIoYkUl7quVJD5AIwgZvPY9drSgVK7s9Kn0L99oruV7YTYjvsB3DTLV8-eKbZacJmS3Ic49Q1Y96BxjsxPnsO5Agl/s1600-h/Am+010+(Small).jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5193890327878202306" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXK9MaKJEDBkgJd1IRGv67O74b6jyEcanW0aksCKjnWAw5wlnnbg3jIoYkUl7quVJD5AIwgZvPY9drSgVK7s9Kn0L99oruV7YTYjvsB3DTLV8-eKbZacJmS3Ic49Q1Y96BxjsxPnsO5Agl/s200/Am+010+(Small).jpg" border="0" /></a> As I said beekeeping was completely thrilling. I only got stung once but it wasn't when I was invading the hive stealing the bees loot, it was a random act of nature that occurred while walking through a Cashew orchard. The suits are fun! I took a few moments to pretend I was an astronaut and a member of a bio hazard control unit, characters the suit satisfied.<br /><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYXJVLuaIjN04RRTMehemBWT61GmHBF_vPq5J0HciBOvTJFHHiI9uumJng6gJ5HBsXT_y9FQfgSISVwbyihJDRmKyNgb-5rdTEDI_LbaRwfVWzDk177pVLhJCXewkRO1y3xv1UPqA-anaY/s1600-h/Am+011+(Small).jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5193890332173169618" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYXJVLuaIjN04RRTMehemBWT61GmHBF_vPq5J0HciBOvTJFHHiI9uumJng6gJ5HBsXT_y9FQfgSISVwbyihJDRmKyNgb-5rdTEDI_LbaRwfVWzDk177pVLhJCXewkRO1y3xv1UPqA-anaY/s200/Am+011+(Small).jpg" border="0" /></a>The practice hive and gear.<br /></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjNbiufaSquzFlBFjrh6UIWkYFiuIlhO56vPwqKM43hJAyBfX-nUvNltTqrJNk6KF_N2sAGoogYs-6CG4_4VrkILrSxw0KstMKIsqMaTwU1bPb2GxZnh6kOQdeKOoHo-g9zCPfvcW5SRd3/s1600-h/Am+001+(Small).jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5193889803892192066" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjNbiufaSquzFlBFjrh6UIWkYFiuIlhO56vPwqKM43hJAyBfX-nUvNltTqrJNk6KF_N2sAGoogYs-6CG4_4VrkILrSxw0KstMKIsqMaTwU1bPb2GxZnh6kOQdeKOoHo-g9zCPfvcW5SRd3/s200/Am+001+(Small).jpg" border="0" /></a> I was part of a group of 4 and we each had a job. One is a cutter (cutter of the comb), a light source, a bucket manager and a smoker. I was the smoker. Once we maneuvered are way into our oversized bee suits we walked through a Cashew orchard to there the hives where. And like a thief in the night (@ night bees are calmer) we smoked them, grabbed their gold and looked over the intricate workings of the colony, all this while beeing swarmed by female workers. The workers are the gathers and protectors of the hive and they let us know by swarming us, buzzing in our ears and covering us with their "gettem scent".<br /><div align="center">My bee task force!</div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEObEZs-t2s9Ob7UcXh1zYvuF1El124NWu8gx2e5hfzdWT6kABmU9kJXpwBNBFXcsg2nx5YHEe97HG6JBdp6Mq9nXfZBsYYwJOFaAqNA-kM0I1_wEEtZHnRSS3mjjZ9HBGOJ916EdZRviF/s1600-h/Am+012+(Small).jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5193890323583234994" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEObEZs-t2s9Ob7UcXh1zYvuF1El124NWu8gx2e5hfzdWT6kABmU9kJXpwBNBFXcsg2nx5YHEe97HG6JBdp6Mq9nXfZBsYYwJOFaAqNA-kM0I1_wEEtZHnRSS3mjjZ9HBGOJ916EdZRviF/s200/Am+012+(Small).jpg" border="0" /></a> Our honey!!!!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYZZyPJ6tY33WD56NdGCdliVBqAEDG5lpGRU46kpnHnIDoQLf7bdLBrxxCM85bTEiAKeEUmkjNUeAYm98-vP6ys4_2WXkPhT5l5R8cjL907ijyqNoUCZLGVBjF4CD5FRzFlVc804A4Cwdf/s1600-h/Am+006+(Small).jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5193889825367028610" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYZZyPJ6tY33WD56NdGCdliVBqAEDG5lpGRU46kpnHnIDoQLf7bdLBrxxCM85bTEiAKeEUmkjNUeAYm98-vP6ys4_2WXkPhT5l5R8cjL907ijyqNoUCZLGVBjF4CD5FRzFlVc804A4Cwdf/s200/Am+006+(Small).jpg" border="0" /></a> We got a heaping bucket of honey and the next day we learned how to extract the honey, process the bees wax, make bees wax hand & foot cream and marketing of it all.</div><br /><div align="center">Yummy yummy honey in my tummy;)<br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5193895112471770098" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgQDKIMJdB5XCJCNr2g2g-e2_bc-U5TxOeDgtRoQGHBgkbIh6Q8w-EONwMy_BpiwXiljOcySrE4XbivmXugsc35WDgolql9LiU2eZZh1BGQTXWz1fGUJrbeDkkaIdZqXRUOzHNVCNibB5-/s200/Am+004+(Small).jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center">Extracting honey for the comb.<br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNLuuENxguLFIeeuMk6tMEqn86IF76qAYFWHaovecl6EgEAUZFioqUdyhGkQO8Zqo_bdf74FUeQnZzlZA2xLh-fZM6SCZWnCzwW2e9HCRUZtJb9kXDB77a1Ox_ct583MEyz3gTu6oWuLEX/s1600-h/Am+005+(Small).jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5193895116766737410" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNLuuENxguLFIeeuMk6tMEqn86IF76qAYFWHaovecl6EgEAUZFioqUdyhGkQO8Zqo_bdf74FUeQnZzlZA2xLh-fZM6SCZWnCzwW2e9HCRUZtJb9kXDB77a1Ox_ct583MEyz3gTu6oWuLEX/s200/Am+005+(Small).jpg" border="0" /></a>Ok don't freak but I ate 5 bees that had drowned in honey. Very sweet and a little crunchy. Its a common thing to do after harvest, honest.<br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyKebv5eNQvkuLvTH_c9Jq383dsP5B86H5h7-rJ1qCd4hYIAyE48VDK-OC59c9l_EPPd2oblIrVwezn6fHGxHBP4cVRZ7G9xfs7HhhIYeuJOUF3bwWInxd0pNzEUmDxU6o1RzUoBvdIK3C/s1600-h/Am+003+(Small).jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5193889812482126674" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyKebv5eNQvkuLvTH_c9Jq383dsP5B86H5h7-rJ1qCd4hYIAyE48VDK-OC59c9l_EPPd2oblIrVwezn6fHGxHBP4cVRZ7G9xfs7HhhIYeuJOUF3bwWInxd0pNzEUmDxU6o1RzUoBvdIK3C/s200/Am+003+(Small).jpg" border="0" /></a> I'm going to try to set up some hives at the National Park in the hopes that it will be a source of income for the park, which it needs. Slowly Slowly as they say. After the bee charming we moved onto trees and grafting. I'm learning some really cool skills that I've always been interested in, I just hope I can put them to use someday.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQZfOOGbtH5gVpRJDRBcYfEsXXz8USQaF443jl_DVeoJT55QddAPQ0SzCz8_j3FwaAQntbbp6CwxhcYVY02AyWRSNhNE0tYj9tG680dtn0VRZj0KaCMVqtTn91thYz1-FYO1qSaGE_SrC1/s1600-h/Am+013+(Small).jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5193907280114119698" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQZfOOGbtH5gVpRJDRBcYfEsXXz8USQaF443jl_DVeoJT55QddAPQ0SzCz8_j3FwaAQntbbp6CwxhcYVY02AyWRSNhNE0tYj9tG680dtn0VRZj0KaCMVqtTn91thYz1-FYO1qSaGE_SrC1/s200/Am+013+(Small).jpg" border="0" /></a> Citrus Nursery<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8HraHOFpsFdLTihSmjvgALLGPd2M4DVOWR7zF-pqQhH9beZP8t60uhEPwpZ2tw2CkAVtkCZCeZFGI_1qov16wHFoH_XQI4Uk6O1bhj1bQNmrdGk8RwCmAPvEdX-OUsTq1hXPTyLPSvz6o/s1600-h/Am+014+(Small).jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5193907288704054306" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8HraHOFpsFdLTihSmjvgALLGPd2M4DVOWR7zF-pqQhH9beZP8t60uhEPwpZ2tw2CkAVtkCZCeZFGI_1qov16wHFoH_XQI4Uk6O1bhj1bQNmrdGk8RwCmAPvEdX-OUsTq1hXPTyLPSvz6o/s200/Am+014+(Small).jpg" border="0" /></a> So now that the training is over I have to say good bye to my wonderful peeps and friend here, head back to site and start some REAL work. I may not be able to write next month because I need to stay at site and invest some much needed time. But I plan I writing lots of letters. So keep your eyes on your mailboxes.</div><div align="center">The pic below shows a local Gambian paper and one of headline is "Peace Corps Volunteers Not CIA Agents", funny;).<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHX5Qz8KooVXlJf6nkvvY_WB8XDQT5yw-25p7FoGTDWFpzFbWzYjA_FbbtlzC-BHEVz6tx2Nwzo1tydVL2gupbQMACfkXOQd2xJcBcdEH4JzRZraEcLAJtOfBtHxZhKT7Fo8sNGh03dyC2/s1600-h/Am+002+(Small).jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5193907292999021618" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHX5Qz8KooVXlJf6nkvvY_WB8XDQT5yw-25p7FoGTDWFpzFbWzYjA_FbbtlzC-BHEVz6tx2Nwzo1tydVL2gupbQMACfkXOQd2xJcBcdEH4JzRZraEcLAJtOfBtHxZhKT7Fo8sNGh03dyC2/s200/Am+002+(Small).jpg" border="0" /></a>I miss you all and thinking of you:)</div><div align="center">Hugs </div>Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05846756158607073314noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7607379464517356572.post-39820057696876579352008-04-07T06:52:00.000-07:002008-04-07T08:32:16.096-07:00Just A Quick HelloHello everyone! I've been here in The Gambia for 6 months now and time is starting to fly. I'm also starting to feel more at home and less like a visitor. However the more at home I feel the more amazed and taken back by everything. I've noticed that my culture shock is being replaced by astonishment. Every single day I feel that sense and think "holy shit I'm in Africa!", it never ceases to amaze and daze me. This place can be so beautiful in every way, so f#%$ed up in every way and sometimes both at the same time. I can say that I'm learning a lot about myself and I've found I'm much stronger than I thought.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoXxWjr2H5yz2zK69zjOqCGbWEnqW3JxawX11EFI6MjFPdol1pNXMmjGCfcsPhjqKYuCdoco7AJrLC1mV6rV_mUrxgas91-99EvqcMfL0CDj9pCeRTOk2dRfPafOR4w2acMjSizsVEOhWD/s1600-h/Picture%20020+(Small).jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5186516132595827474" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoXxWjr2H5yz2zK69zjOqCGbWEnqW3JxawX11EFI6MjFPdol1pNXMmjGCfcsPhjqKYuCdoco7AJrLC1mV6rV_mUrxgas91-99EvqcMfL0CDj9pCeRTOk2dRfPafOR4w2acMjSizsVEOhWD/s200/Picture%2520020+(Small).jpg" border="0" /></a> Dancing with the girls at my friend Alicia's site.<br /><br />Work is getting easier in the sense that I'm getting good ideas. If they take hold and actually evolve is another story entirely. My garden has sprouted! I'm growing tomato, cucumber, garlic, basil and lettuce in one bed and I have a smaller bed where I grow my seedlings of Moranga and Pigeon Pea trees. The trees are very cool because they have highly nutritious leaves and fruit plus they're delicious.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRQoE7NwbjmnXbT1Mz02jYu59LcmE1Vq0QWD5cFJ4xtH7c4NEHGQpN8ljlLMVLOhwDyPeajO7wguNA7l8pn9O1kV8r7ZbtbzsFWrms0Om7AM6SbZZ08eAzKgePTZihdkrqrXcMpiBglzsX/s1600-h/Picture+016+(Small).jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5186512610722644578" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRQoE7NwbjmnXbT1Mz02jYu59LcmE1Vq0QWD5cFJ4xtH7c4NEHGQpN8ljlLMVLOhwDyPeajO7wguNA7l8pn9O1kV8r7ZbtbzsFWrms0Om7AM6SbZZ08eAzKgePTZihdkrqrXcMpiBglzsX/s200/Picture+016+(Small).jpg" border="0" /></a> My (baby) garden.<br /><br /><br />My town and family are still wonderful and I'm very happy. I'm doing lots of exploring when I'm not working or visiting with my family or neighbors and found lots of cool spots to hide in in case I need to get away.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfXF4jkDthQUxlNVEhCF7kqEFBNsDZmniPOm6Rlk0K8i7kPl8Fxbze9AKsPAJwBNzY2s6Z-ejW4HRSji0Fbw231ZjSWc0adkDzkLXo7kW-pB-UQ9cqxg02YaqEPFhDSv8aaXGQ951hH9pa/s1600-h/Picture+017+(Small).jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5186512615017611890" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfXF4jkDthQUxlNVEhCF7kqEFBNsDZmniPOm6Rlk0K8i7kPl8Fxbze9AKsPAJwBNzY2s6Z-ejW4HRSji0Fbw231ZjSWc0adkDzkLXo7kW-pB-UQ9cqxg02YaqEPFhDSv8aaXGQ951hH9pa/s200/Picture+017+(Small).jpg" border="0" /></a> This is a Red silk cottonwood tree that is by my village and it is HUGE and striking. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig4A66sTuKsrHIO7GiqhQ1xBCMG3CziZDDwuK9qntxGGfiCPnwqAB3KMvB1HGar-7z9F1Wx_I9bjnJhNZsEFfiABfIzXsNjgKl7Af2w6TbEbS9aDqX9oT1MBOSyGMHjK8rHZgNV00Xnan0/s1600-h/Picture+019+(Small).jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5186512615017611906" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig4A66sTuKsrHIO7GiqhQ1xBCMG3CziZDDwuK9qntxGGfiCPnwqAB3KMvB1HGar-7z9F1Wx_I9bjnJhNZsEFfiABfIzXsNjgKl7Af2w6TbEbS9aDqX9oT1MBOSyGMHjK8rHZgNV00Xnan0/s200/Picture+019+(Small).jpg" border="0" /></a> I love to play in the grooves and scare the lizards<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvzY1Q6laXGWh37hLkZMfVJNcPZMxlebRsUDZteQ5V_1fQ9lOyuAZOGwy9QxLIjoPuWysqDcLO7vUckUVIJB8pDGNA77ByKVNhmSeYtZWJudv_JO6f61alwXqYLW8sgJSJRDTLa3dD8bsy/s1600-h/Picture+018+(Small).jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5186515071738905266" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvzY1Q6laXGWh37hLkZMfVJNcPZMxlebRsUDZteQ5V_1fQ9lOyuAZOGwy9QxLIjoPuWysqDcLO7vUckUVIJB8pDGNA77ByKVNhmSeYtZWJudv_JO6f61alwXqYLW8sgJSJRDTLa3dD8bsy/s200/Picture+018+(Small).jpg" border="0" /></a> My momma musa is so beautiful and kind to me. We sit on her mat in the heat of the day and she helps me with my Mandinka (even though she doesn't speak a work of English) or we just hang out. I will miss her terribly when I go home.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqGMikYo5Lg-2o5IppBtn995DkJiyOFpiyymvfM8Q6LE2Eq8yBFd-ftH2ZXbXPEc8lSfxEiH_-Uv-LJjhfcMiFtq2HQPwNpqtEYf0ybAD128nHdcejkWk1Q0t7yrEk-UTbllghuKNSwdU_/s1600-h/Picture+023+(Small).jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5186515076033872594" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqGMikYo5Lg-2o5IppBtn995DkJiyOFpiyymvfM8Q6LE2Eq8yBFd-ftH2ZXbXPEc8lSfxEiH_-Uv-LJjhfcMiFtq2HQPwNpqtEYf0ybAD128nHdcejkWk1Q0t7yrEk-UTbllghuKNSwdU_/s200/Picture+023+(Small).jpg" border="0" /></a> The culture can be very raw and takes some getting use to. I've seen more animals killed for meat and ceremonies than I could ever imagine. The way Gambia's treat their animals is one of my on going inter battles. Especially the animals that we love and care for back in the states. Dogs and cats are especially treated horribly. There is no such thing as animal right here. Love you pets people, love them!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCBPD3N7thzOLBGwP7Tg5gwtGQsurVQuZU9SIICxfnoHSr8A1STYwsdHSHJVGSxblhaFGYRAOGOXS9bhfxh2a43ilM4n1Ddh9YF2HJgjqWUVqvcweaE1Evx01RZplUfRNIQB3l1Cdibztr/s1600-h/Picture+020+(Small).jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5186512619312579218" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCBPD3N7thzOLBGwP7Tg5gwtGQsurVQuZU9SIICxfnoHSr8A1STYwsdHSHJVGSxblhaFGYRAOGOXS9bhfxh2a43ilM4n1Ddh9YF2HJgjqWUVqvcweaE1Evx01RZplUfRNIQB3l1Cdibztr/s200/Picture+020+(Small).jpg" border="0" /></a>This cow was bought by 5 families during a religious holiday and will feed those families for a week. Food is very much part of holidays or celebrations here. It very common for families to bye a goat or share a cow so they can feast during these times.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRejeBFDvScuRgvDurnftxnEui2fkxsuizU5wxks1shu_Fl004xouRTK-qydiKKtjNcWUy2Gs7NBf89juUiu280blmYO7pXOY2eDnR5C2thejYpOVuizyhMgv2YTTi6vvPqZPY3_ug8fIh/s1600-h/Picture+021+(Small).jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5186512619312579234" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRejeBFDvScuRgvDurnftxnEui2fkxsuizU5wxks1shu_Fl004xouRTK-qydiKKtjNcWUy2Gs7NBf89juUiu280blmYO7pXOY2eDnR5C2thejYpOVuizyhMgv2YTTi6vvPqZPY3_ug8fIh/s200/Picture+021+(Small).jpg" border="0" /></a> You all should know that I've been taking some videos with my camera so I can show you them when I get home. They are short and sweet but say volumes.<br />Its strange but there is nothing more to say now. Is that a sign of settlement? However these next months coming should be full of story's for I have lots of projects in mind.<br /><br />Miss you all and think of you everyday!<br />Big fat hugs from The GambiaAmberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05846756158607073314noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7607379464517356572.post-44383314106152769222008-03-02T02:31:00.000-08:002008-03-02T04:06:40.489-08:00Getting my groove:)<div align="left"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_iI8PnbgxUhxiWebW-bVB2rkD2v8xEGM5eJ8y7iXsqKk84UI_eRY2Cs7GPfEVhpU9kt6hPhVp0SYaQQPmmPRXEdh9gghHJ4bty9Lckc95uHb_6Z9aPynvXXwq8PYmy8GhGX954hgmsiEB/s1600-h/Picture+001+(Small).jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5173095084822214114" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_iI8PnbgxUhxiWebW-bVB2rkD2v8xEGM5eJ8y7iXsqKk84UI_eRY2Cs7GPfEVhpU9kt6hPhVp0SYaQQPmmPRXEdh9gghHJ4bty9Lckc95uHb_6Z9aPynvXXwq8PYmy8GhGX954hgmsiEB/s200/Picture+001+(Small).jpg" border="0" /></a>Henna art its so fun and lasts about 2 weeks.<br /><br />Hello to you from The Gambia:) It is March and in 8 days my three month challenge will be over and I will be a seasoned volunteer. It's really crazy getting dropped off in the middle of a country and the place/village that is to become you new home without being a little freaked out. Especially since you don't know a soul, don't speak the language and you are the only "<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">toubab</span>" (white person) for kilometers around.<br />Note: Being a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">toubab</span> in The Gambia immediately makes you into a celebrity, everyone knows your name, wants to be around you and talk to you so you are NEVER alone and always noticed where ever you go.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUd5g5251knCRYbyXSVHnNpqkJwtSvhDqTlYrlaZNKa76pRVbSJ6mscppzSTsg8BpD4pXfLO-MImu19HoXWiqez-jui2wATw_FiYjCqqLHB8LBvHles8J-4j8DLPa5DWJmGo8NRvQ57Fb8/s1600-h/Picture+003+(Small).jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5173095093412148738" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUd5g5251knCRYbyXSVHnNpqkJwtSvhDqTlYrlaZNKa76pRVbSJ6mscppzSTsg8BpD4pXfLO-MImu19HoXWiqez-jui2wATw_FiYjCqqLHB8LBvHles8J-4j8DLPa5DWJmGo8NRvQ57Fb8/s200/Picture+003+(Small).jpg" border="0" /></a>There was a big bush fire right outside my village. Everyone had to run out and beat/back burn so it didn't reach the village.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5173095102002083346" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOuztrx631p1-ABjiXZjWuNsr-w9nOfrTwcLYTBbDJbEKoPBqTCV2_uYGFToLg7DxVdkku3KHhUwlaO6lDeRog6GM6fI-rBblqVqK8g7C8UznIEIU5jgeNRBX8NUbOhrlyCKSHArZKGmhm/s200/Picture+004+(Small).jpg" border="0" />Bush fires are common in the dry season and can be dangerous. This one burned all day and throughout the night and covered hundreds of km. However they are not as devastating as the ones back home because they are never managed, they are left to burn and so its apart of the bushes ecology. Almost all fires are started by careless people.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM4674KzpAZso67f-nTf1wTvoQIudtW1VX9BdFTfB8DDlrZ1l57hHuUgkPE9d6AUQJQtjZhsRR5n5qzz34-bwr_9-mXzWJWcKUnnqxs3vUVxwE0afRNOUm5UWadQFgEFZ5yf8rKjMu-hfs/s1600-h/Picture+005+(Small).jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5173095106297050658" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM4674KzpAZso67f-nTf1wTvoQIudtW1VX9BdFTfB8DDlrZ1l57hHuUgkPE9d6AUQJQtjZhsRR5n5qzz34-bwr_9-mXzWJWcKUnnqxs3vUVxwE0afRNOUm5UWadQFgEFZ5yf8rKjMu-hfs/s200/Picture+005+(Small).jpg" border="0" /></a>My mom sporting my sun hat, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Yaya</span> my bro, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Howa</span> (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">spozen</span>) and her boy <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Mahamabo</span>.<br /></div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left">I've realized that 3 months is my (or maybe most peoples) perfect time for me the find my groove. My language (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Mandinka</span>) is more fluent, I've made friends and acquaintances, I’<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">ve</span> gotten to know my family better (they still kick ass), explored the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">wuloo</span> (the bush) around my village and within biking distances and had a few adventures.<br /><br />My work is coming along slowly but surely. PC tells us that our busiest time will be during our 2<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">nd</span> year because your relations are stronger, language is functional and you have a better idea of what projects will be successful. I've started working but nothing major with the park because that seems like a very sensitive job and I want to feel it out a little more. There is a very fine balance between success and "failure" here.<br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPXrPdikVQ7NpAHJzCKbroOUdY9svTCW0V7j9_2t_7RyHhFYEpdt_czXUQkIeI7nREjAasQdKC-B8X-3YVooOasYZyd7MTf999Qt-8PCzl0AQZZFSzBv6mF-_kZXTygqND8aJTA5eLL975/s1600-h/Picture+006+(Small).jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5173099603127809586" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPXrPdikVQ7NpAHJzCKbroOUdY9svTCW0V7j9_2t_7RyHhFYEpdt_czXUQkIeI7nREjAasQdKC-B8X-3YVooOasYZyd7MTf999Qt-8PCzl0AQZZFSzBv6mF-_kZXTygqND8aJTA5eLL975/s200/Picture+006+(Small).jpg" border="0" /></a> My lunch, rice and fish. Its really really good. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Howa</span> is my cook and she always makes <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">delicious</span> food for me. It just that there is ALWAYS rice. </p><p> </p><p>I've started an Environmental Club and the grade school in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Dumbuto</span>. It has 35 members in grades 5<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">th</span> and 6<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">th</span>. One day a week I teach a class in environmental science then we go out for an afternoon for a few hours and apply the lesson concepts. It’s a blast and the kids really love it. </p><p> </p><p>I've also joined the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">kafoo</span> or women's group in the village. They are the wives, mothers, gardeners, rice farmers, caregivers and overall glue of the family. All the women are strong, fiery and amazing to be around. We all meet once a week under the big Silk Cottonwood tree and discuss issues in the village like gardening, market, marriage ceremonies and naming ceremonies.<br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh8dG2Yp_6ApI_37cLZb8-_5NxL5QA43mzsEE3qlWZoqSuEhVUmR7Abq0ee0YGxT-_aIyqhR4IJAKvFBTGQ97E-_clpOvrp_V-1T9LM4d9KEMdiAqajDwlac-m7B0hZDjAz_7M1eNptjAs/s1600-h/Picture+007+(Small).jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5173099607422776898" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh8dG2Yp_6ApI_37cLZb8-_5NxL5QA43mzsEE3qlWZoqSuEhVUmR7Abq0ee0YGxT-_aIyqhR4IJAKvFBTGQ97E-_clpOvrp_V-1T9LM4d9KEMdiAqajDwlac-m7B0hZDjAz_7M1eNptjAs/s200/Picture+007+(Small).jpg" border="0" /></a> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">Kafoo</span> meeting.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdtMhsVhL3YyM82ln6eThjjL-8vahJl8cMomiXZVshnR9ApgXVWvnDBLiVzkbrBh6I_HTySDJhbYvgVx5iVDPFaJFJ2lM1FgH4NEoO9CSc98np2OeKz9eITgQdbLVZPEjh-wcrRuGCojdv/s1600-h/Picture+008+(Small).jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5173099611717744210" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdtMhsVhL3YyM82ln6eThjjL-8vahJl8cMomiXZVshnR9ApgXVWvnDBLiVzkbrBh6I_HTySDJhbYvgVx5iVDPFaJFJ2lM1FgH4NEoO9CSc98np2OeKz9eITgQdbLVZPEjh-wcrRuGCojdv/s200/Picture+008+(Small).jpg" border="0" /></a> As for the park some things are getting done. Repairs and rebuilds are in process and I'm mainly trying to learn how the park is REALLY run, getting to know the rangers and working on small projects like painting park signs, organizing and cleaning the library and "research office", and other small but needed tasks. </p><p>Weekly <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">Luumo</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjptSRz3Kz4G9wsRgYm4BRen1w9ObTRWnui2O-QKAFRJ0RJMZQPV90Ydp9u_e7P0FmUZJ5FXQi1WywK6lJ1rYmYKeS7VL_DumM7ayBq3ifUHMnbdZa9oP3pOfH4wDX3k348jSxeXwkgdmdg/s1600-h/Picture+009+(Small).jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5173099611717744226" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjptSRz3Kz4G9wsRgYm4BRen1w9ObTRWnui2O-QKAFRJ0RJMZQPV90Ydp9u_e7P0FmUZJ5FXQi1WywK6lJ1rYmYKeS7VL_DumM7ayBq3ifUHMnbdZa9oP3pOfH4wDX3k348jSxeXwkgdmdg/s200/Picture+009+(Small).jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5pYbIsWYxewKIuc6b_jFANFEedf17wbXYj8KleZyNYMKpyMV6HWXnTKYJI02Iirnq_htek37ushArInBKcp9Tv4CXdKKlMsLdxKbjZiHn5X-AQRwL0WfwNKEAfs5b8fuskieQ9FFzXbKS/s1600-h/Picture+010+(Small).jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5173099616012711538" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5pYbIsWYxewKIuc6b_jFANFEedf17wbXYj8KleZyNYMKpyMV6HWXnTKYJI02Iirnq_htek37ushArInBKcp9Tv4CXdKKlMsLdxKbjZiHn5X-AQRwL0WfwNKEAfs5b8fuskieQ9FFzXbKS/s200/Picture+010+(Small).jpg" border="0" /></a> I go very week to buy my weeks worth of fruit, veggies and peanuts<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj46U61DSiKhK4C0EAfikQuMMKyQCfBl3CYqwEQupSN0gBoFsoJV05iRVrdLbDif5FnyYGMUilYo22YofjY3WQYq5HXIrkyldCvPN1KdnA0T4yB_HNVXmR6h_RARD0rYp5loFGOSCtJhgCY/s1600-h/Picture+011+(Small).jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5173101419898975874" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj46U61DSiKhK4C0EAfikQuMMKyQCfBl3CYqwEQupSN0gBoFsoJV05iRVrdLbDif5FnyYGMUilYo22YofjY3WQYq5HXIrkyldCvPN1KdnA0T4yB_HNVXmR6h_RARD0rYp5loFGOSCtJhgCY/s200/Picture+011+(Small).jpg" border="0" /></a> Sometimes I get fabric and get cloths made<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMsDJI_Rm3G-9xa_gFaWrY0d6Cu16IjUdj9vhiAdaCYMjLpEqJtZKYqlZQyl1_hcQpaU82ZEksgW4hXv8sXAkKs71DYKrKcgZioY00YwKCetiYsGofgsrAlnOcSCrwAjtppHDQ_4gybUo0/s1600-h/Picture+012+(Small).jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5173101428488910482" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMsDJI_Rm3G-9xa_gFaWrY0d6Cu16IjUdj9vhiAdaCYMjLpEqJtZKYqlZQyl1_hcQpaU82ZEksgW4hXv8sXAkKs71DYKrKcgZioY00YwKCetiYsGofgsrAlnOcSCrwAjtppHDQ_4gybUo0/s200/Picture+012+(Small).jpg" border="0" /></a>I still spend most of my time hanging with my family, visiting other compounds and exploring the area. I get together with my site mates a few times every month and we go to the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">luumo</span> (weekly market 7 km away), go on a hike or just visit. I'm very lucky because I have 4 awesome site mates and I love them. Note: a site mate is another <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">PCV</span> that live close to you. Some <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">PCVs</span> only have one. So I’m never lonely.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg68AODCAHDRghYoe-EnSuTAyiEk6YTDbEmq3rKLfXKsfrSCkLs8KgzKH3FFfPDblIUhADtaeG9qXHy7oLTYP55j7veC3QLIuJprGWcjBHUbp8OAn_p0eK2ofVL4PLqd_ZDcOAkgYjyZ7NA/s1600-h/Picture+014+(Small).jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5173101437078845106" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg68AODCAHDRghYoe-EnSuTAyiEk6YTDbEmq3rKLfXKsfrSCkLs8KgzKH3FFfPDblIUhADtaeG9qXHy7oLTYP55j7veC3QLIuJprGWcjBHUbp8OAn_p0eK2ofVL4PLqd_ZDcOAkgYjyZ7NA/s200/Picture+014+(Small).jpg" border="0" /></a> My site mate and good friend Kat (with her cat).</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyGC2c5OvVPESIFLl1pQ3wJUI9brs-GOsvVQQ69OJL20DIFhJ0KD8qcTmHb0qJMFfUiNdaFYTBAe_DzcOXs1yH5UCy6K33B_EkKxq_OVMr7B2jRx5NHwQyqmaKIq7AFO6v79OicQZfMoYd/s1600-h/Picture+013+(Small).jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5173101432783877794" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyGC2c5OvVPESIFLl1pQ3wJUI9brs-GOsvVQQ69OJL20DIFhJ0KD8qcTmHb0qJMFfUiNdaFYTBAe_DzcOXs1yH5UCy6K33B_EkKxq_OVMr7B2jRx5NHwQyqmaKIq7AFO6v79OicQZfMoYd/s200/Picture+013+(Small).jpg" border="0" /></a> Yeah some of the things I've had to deal with lately is the 110-125 day temps and scorpions in my house. They tell me that the sting of a scorpion will make the toughest man cry all night. I hope I don't get stung.<br /><br /><p><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">OK</span> signing off for now. Know that I am happy and still healthy and doing very well:)</p><p><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">OXOX</span></p><br /><p></p></div>Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05846756158607073314noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7607379464517356572.post-42737156257767515062008-02-02T04:18:00.000-08:002008-02-02T07:40:51.084-08:00Happy New Year from The Gambia!Hello all! It feels like forever since I've written and a lot has happened. Of course I can't tell you everything because somethings/stories will be better told in person. I've been there in The Gambia for 4 months and all is going well. I've been in my village getting to know my family, my community and my work. <br /><br />My village is composed of 50 compounds some with large extended family living in them. Most are farmers or small local business owners (selling veggie at the local market). I’ve realized that I haven’t taken any photos yet of the village itself so I will make sure to send you some next time.<br /> <br />I live on the SE corner of the village in a house (that I love) that’s right next door from my family’s compound. My family, the Njie, are a very happy, kind people and are so very helpful to me. My “father” and “small father” both speak pretty good English which is nice when I’m having a bad Mandinka day. My mother is sweet and smiling all the time and my “mamma musa” and Mammadu (my grand mother and father) are the happiest nicest old couple I have ever met. Momma musa also is my language tutor in village.<br />My House:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-pl_sXbaIoMbteC-J_NEtDrJB6jOFrsdCBIZi3qEXxftNi2RmZokB5Ju43Hofn_IDyaPZpeyQMbVEzjhWrmDQmUFGcKRSRfILrUqUILlpHkP7q6hzOZHP3CzgSTy4eAdS0f62ig8Dei9b/s1600-h/Amber+G+020+(Small).jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-pl_sXbaIoMbteC-J_NEtDrJB6jOFrsdCBIZi3qEXxftNi2RmZokB5Ju43Hofn_IDyaPZpeyQMbVEzjhWrmDQmUFGcKRSRfILrUqUILlpHkP7q6hzOZHP3CzgSTy4eAdS0f62ig8Dei9b/s200/Amber+G+020+(Small).jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5162361495409822274" /></a><br />Inside my house:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRSt362Aw65DH6P6vfv95Q9Xx8l-dO6ZaL7663e0P6Sb9-ZKBmirQZ7FhHrfma5Wn4Svu_QJy8pp9lWv7GknzkssB6IzCFnqG-kk57sFs8gP4zAw9OgF1Ip4zrAprfYMBw_dIbGOlojbdI/s1600-h/Amber+G+016+(Small).jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRSt362Aw65DH6P6vfv95Q9Xx8l-dO6ZaL7663e0P6Sb9-ZKBmirQZ7FhHrfma5Wn4Svu_QJy8pp9lWv7GknzkssB6IzCFnqG-kk57sFs8gP4zAw9OgF1Ip4zrAprfYMBw_dIbGOlojbdI/s200/Amber+G+016+(Small).jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5162361499704789586" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0We3WzU9Gjdblprcdno_adN8V9VSaJVFwLa0d6imC1htDvC8jMNbEtfiM_gkjO9nj_3WQCzb1zyaPoFY3N5FYT3HdnBamKckvQFNKrFwy7gTyuzaR8SZrqWgNBNDzotU2VDTAiP3CXBN4/s1600-h/Amber+G+017+(Small).jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0We3WzU9Gjdblprcdno_adN8V9VSaJVFwLa0d6imC1htDvC8jMNbEtfiM_gkjO9nj_3WQCzb1zyaPoFY3N5FYT3HdnBamKckvQFNKrFwy7gTyuzaR8SZrqWgNBNDzotU2VDTAiP3CXBN4/s200/Amber+G+017+(Small).jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5162361499704789602" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlp9FpPLJ4QFPa9dL7CE10U0ZznJ6mNDNCzV1Kee8VbQqwAeVD35lO7AN3o58GjnGq-xxs9Pt1dqID-gzNdpeznBaANuP2dlJBOeI7WinPrqS7aA0Aec5zO-GKASlb7nfcjskbtUAzPDMt/s1600-h/Amber+G+018+(Small).jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlp9FpPLJ4QFPa9dL7CE10U0ZznJ6mNDNCzV1Kee8VbQqwAeVD35lO7AN3o58GjnGq-xxs9Pt1dqID-gzNdpeznBaANuP2dlJBOeI7WinPrqS7aA0Aec5zO-GKASlb7nfcjskbtUAzPDMt/s200/Amber+G+018+(Small).jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5162361503999756914" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlcW4KNikfOLWDy3BbQvLiG94e87e3DM_St9jipP5z8qnU9tr0DcU8j2qicVt-OTRjawiYKF4zGh2qm2sh0HpDq6otGnRjv30iQmcSN3x1NAWVGuNMPEZ44_a9QkPIjg2VkhmZU1tZkTfv/s1600-h/Amber+G+019+(Small).jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlcW4KNikfOLWDy3BbQvLiG94e87e3DM_St9jipP5z8qnU9tr0DcU8j2qicVt-OTRjawiYKF4zGh2qm2sh0HpDq6otGnRjv30iQmcSN3x1NAWVGuNMPEZ44_a9QkPIjg2VkhmZU1tZkTfv/s200/Amber+G+019+(Small).jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5162361508294724226" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTG2CTDy0Eqg3HEnK499UvZ5PO44HEuufgpZsOIOyMb7QXvH_j1l1cmR8e4d5AGBNCFdhuUWcyUAezzLH1aSYyoMFVjtkr3Kz8rtSSDqbEg7JXYA0veUe7JkLqaCkwonNAz2r5Cks8vp0u/s1600-h/Amber+G+022+(Small).jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTG2CTDy0Eqg3HEnK499UvZ5PO44HEuufgpZsOIOyMb7QXvH_j1l1cmR8e4d5AGBNCFdhuUWcyUAezzLH1aSYyoMFVjtkr3Kz8rtSSDqbEg7JXYA0veUe7JkLqaCkwonNAz2r5Cks8vp0u/s200/Amber+G+022+(Small).jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5162407760797535138" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbnXxtm8qcTMu1izKgJryBH1h-fvr_4QY9lhZSIXqqhmu9jDFvbn1LxDMgyHzIbiIzBJoZVexTLozrJSrMqal6lWzEl3fLy0-WWlr4R5j5z6KOYQ5km3uDXdU1PtxYAx_m7M1Pp6IGz34M/s1600-h/Amber+G+023+(Small).jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbnXxtm8qcTMu1izKgJryBH1h-fvr_4QY9lhZSIXqqhmu9jDFvbn1LxDMgyHzIbiIzBJoZVexTLozrJSrMqal6lWzEl3fLy0-WWlr4R5j5z6KOYQ5km3uDXdU1PtxYAx_m7M1Pp6IGz34M/s200/Amber+G+023+(Small).jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5162407769387469746" /></a><br /><br />This is my family, again they are wonderful! I am missing 6 people. I’m planning on organizing a family prorate soon.<br /><br />My grandparents (I love them!)<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3C2PFPNG7Wu1dQfiDO9E3-HwicFeWwUfMhBBX4Mg_Z-8Q6WP0SuHwdURQn0tlMiqg1GHA586IcyRxvPT6oVKgHwHDBscwjBHguDBvQz1q9H15AThnSAyNdPf6hM3rLDvtRpJTQtVTFuiL/s1600-h/Amber+G+005+(Small).jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3C2PFPNG7Wu1dQfiDO9E3-HwicFeWwUfMhBBX4Mg_Z-8Q6WP0SuHwdURQn0tlMiqg1GHA586IcyRxvPT6oVKgHwHDBscwjBHguDBvQz1q9H15AThnSAyNdPf6hM3rLDvtRpJTQtVTFuiL/s200/Amber+G+005+(Small).jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5162363063072885426" /></a><br /><br />My father Ibrahama and little bro Yaya<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUgNbAvxCydoEpPuU7KS7JFtCdP9ulBj44hBpasLdCv3VN9RMtkzrPK-oG7q4t-ypyFltguyWej8tGi37kiyQpdNJgDP8auBqYw_y3Gxrs3ZqygEIo3FAWATpuiR_cC_Z9lMWiuAjdTfqX/s1600-h/Amber+G+007+(Small).jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUgNbAvxCydoEpPuU7KS7JFtCdP9ulBj44hBpasLdCv3VN9RMtkzrPK-oG7q4t-ypyFltguyWej8tGi37kiyQpdNJgDP8auBqYw_y3Gxrs3ZqygEIo3FAWATpuiR_cC_Z9lMWiuAjdTfqX/s200/Amber+G+007+(Small).jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5162363067367852738" /></a><br /><br />My mother Jara<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtrJfisNyo3iKsbB9Z0vCJBPU-df1oyg9A-hg_yKDriIfnshPtpcHZmJkj4DswmN73o0oM_1uqlWeEk5sGv2wXJZL-j_uxS5N1lhKtOIuR3Pe4AuylMkl2GmxDc6ltABP9Ti5nod5coPqy/s1600-h/Amber+G+008+(Small).jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtrJfisNyo3iKsbB9Z0vCJBPU-df1oyg9A-hg_yKDriIfnshPtpcHZmJkj4DswmN73o0oM_1uqlWeEk5sGv2wXJZL-j_uxS5N1lhKtOIuR3Pe4AuylMkl2GmxDc6ltABP9Ti5nod5coPqy/s200/Amber+G+008+(Small).jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5162363067367852754" /></a><br /><br />My small father aka uncle Lang<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXYA7Jfetr9IME430EUPIB6M9NuPve2PEqg9IKXnVomV0g_5ziGW0BHvWAv-Qwrd1TF-oF3HiD2_at_6_6NAhG-hiaDkvn9NZuM0vq7a9sSSLAJwm1spoItCtjMgAl1qvYhcQHeIIpTRlS/s1600-h/Amber+G+(Small).jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXYA7Jfetr9IME430EUPIB6M9NuPve2PEqg9IKXnVomV0g_5ziGW0BHvWAv-Qwrd1TF-oF3HiD2_at_6_6NAhG-hiaDkvn9NZuM0vq7a9sSSLAJwm1spoItCtjMgAl1qvYhcQHeIIpTRlS/s200/Amber+G+(Small).jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5162385182154459874" /></a><br /><br />Yaya, my little sis Birkama and me<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLh_MAfIDAN9m7s1j9qOLbXrmPU_Xl0Kl2R8W2m8DSpJcVWX78vd0pa1hNjyGZqF6Flk3Vl-E2JwHjxdPWA3vzD8zULv6PjxMm0RUm6BhSyjfMPnSnWod-7vxGYzNSPJqZGbMXBRcubrbz/s1600-h/Amber+G+009+(Small)+(2).jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLh_MAfIDAN9m7s1j9qOLbXrmPU_Xl0Kl2R8W2m8DSpJcVWX78vd0pa1hNjyGZqF6Flk3Vl-E2JwHjxdPWA3vzD8zULv6PjxMm0RUm6BhSyjfMPnSnWod-7vxGYzNSPJqZGbMXBRcubrbz/s200/Amber+G+009+(Small)+(2).jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5162385186449427186" /></a><br /><br />Some randoms<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLZcNjTCRUn7ts8Ss1tk4uwy5r21gSCu7v3fA07a9drDy6Su-21Pms2gV-Xe5QX8tPlv_nut6j-YQCdht8i96CKRCCi0GPmLISAHHqtErFWJVI6FyYnSzri00GZ0Gpgfk58uE8jKNzyssQ/s1600-h/Amber+G+026+(Small).jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLZcNjTCRUn7ts8Ss1tk4uwy5r21gSCu7v3fA07a9drDy6Su-21Pms2gV-Xe5QX8tPlv_nut6j-YQCdht8i96CKRCCi0GPmLISAHHqtErFWJVI6FyYnSzri00GZ0Gpgfk58uE8jKNzyssQ/s200/Amber+G+026+(Small).jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5162385190744394498" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJnLgBNwuJWNlieIblnm5-DlXuOSeoELmP02lLFNZpHvsYIzBSHVE_ewDVcM4lO37deULlAxvdCdk1GrpawYiDkUub-Ks2ifMippBW8AszYWgU0Pd_fzNHn96g1S1Bh78jQHcwD0F0JB6S/s1600-h/Amber+G+025+(Small).jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJnLgBNwuJWNlieIblnm5-DlXuOSeoELmP02lLFNZpHvsYIzBSHVE_ewDVcM4lO37deULlAxvdCdk1GrpawYiDkUub-Ks2ifMippBW8AszYWgU0Pd_fzNHn96g1S1Bh78jQHcwD0F0JB6S/s200/Amber+G+025+(Small).jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5162385195039361810" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgahzgwuQelw-6RnJ5o29lDpnIhDe804DIW7oRFwk59Lxmh33ZlWKYhd5_-I0dhvuzM3VKxlbJkGFxq5EqjR-SQKksgdRz-K9nBd4Zz997sG2FGCfjHBL7ZHl4YvQ7jrFa_7d-WZSJTCsLt/s1600-h/Amber+G+010+(Small).jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgahzgwuQelw-6RnJ5o29lDpnIhDe804DIW7oRFwk59Lxmh33ZlWKYhd5_-I0dhvuzM3VKxlbJkGFxq5EqjR-SQKksgdRz-K9nBd4Zz997sG2FGCfjHBL7ZHl4YvQ7jrFa_7d-WZSJTCsLt/s200/Amber+G+010+(Small).jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5162385195039361826" /></a><br /><br />My days usually go like this…wake up about 6:30am to the call to prayer from the mosque, birds cheering, women pounding (rice in a big mortar & pestle) and donkey’s heehaaing. I have a nice breakfast of oatmeal, fruit and mint tea.<br />Side note: Mint tea has become a bit of a problem for me. It grows in the bush so it’s always around. I collect it, dry it and have mint tea with honey 5-8 times a day. My name is Amber and I’m addicted to mint tea. The first step to getting help is admitting you have a problem. <br /><br />Then I get washed, dressed, water my veggie garden and then go greet (or say good morning) to my family. Then I start wahatever. I either:<br />-go to Kiang West NP with the rangers.<br />The posy of Kiang West<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVG9bCB2oPnJ6XUQtXGibGO4NGzo03lJzJM2XoPGQuQRFNpFPfmpnX5Y7dWZAXenOE4JlGq-qh6xY0-GRCUPsUAlArxyX0i_PZT9QY8Uo4qzmEA63v7zqKUpdr2OpCTaFyYIBoFRKj2xPP/s1600-h/Amber+G+013+(Small).jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVG9bCB2oPnJ6XUQtXGibGO4NGzo03lJzJM2XoPGQuQRFNpFPfmpnX5Y7dWZAXenOE4JlGq-qh6xY0-GRCUPsUAlArxyX0i_PZT9QY8Uo4qzmEA63v7zqKUpdr2OpCTaFyYIBoFRKj2xPP/s200/Amber+G+013+(Small).jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5162389563021101874" /></a><br />Baboons<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0HgVnnTJIMSpS4i98m9hq56-WjSRxw4xBcG8fjpcqG_7pTLjEjCxKwtb4lnwlV61_YPlJ1j7qWUBT_ydFogRDc0eXszcYjSrs4rd-wy5nFEgFqt8amm4mpsa42b1F2ekAtu0zUdj6rtGV/s1600-h/Amber+G+014+(Small).jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0HgVnnTJIMSpS4i98m9hq56-WjSRxw4xBcG8fjpcqG_7pTLjEjCxKwtb4lnwlV61_YPlJ1j7qWUBT_ydFogRDc0eXszcYjSrs4rd-wy5nFEgFqt8amm4mpsa42b1F2ekAtu0zUdj6rtGV/s200/Amber+G+014+(Small).jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5162389575906003778" /></a><br /><br />Hooded Vultures<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEuyWsOhEi-epLKp0-TOkZz2lzO97No9t2QjxFNGZrwTf444gK_WoSTUDoFnbFVcDCexAzu2pLV4plXia7G75ikRNrnl_4Y2EhKIHbBsqtcrLsvl5myag5dkgBKN15FxWGg3__6sTPBndP/s1600-h/Amber+G+015+(Small).jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEuyWsOhEi-epLKp0-TOkZz2lzO97No9t2QjxFNGZrwTf444gK_WoSTUDoFnbFVcDCexAzu2pLV4plXia7G75ikRNrnl_4Y2EhKIHbBsqtcrLsvl5myag5dkgBKN15FxWGg3__6sTPBndP/s200/Amber+G+015+(Small).jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5162389580200971090" /></a><br /><br /><br />-work in my garden<br />-ride my bike to the market<br />-go hiking<br />-visit other compounds in the village<br />-ride my bike 20-40k to see my asome PC site mates<br />PC posy and my good friends Kat, Matt and Tim. New Years Day hike<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4mDFIJThBrrJL0zQNjDyiZphNQCWIRf9iW8b3xRIEr9Co2wr0dtsnPd8LoGSoGhRKN1GGFRTFdzaeM2_3Q-kAgSqMkv9y6MC_UNpZPoCh07U9NBSXVKXi9_v7wHiGSOdvyaqjGSGh4-O3/s1600-h/Amber+G+028+(Small).jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4mDFIJThBrrJL0zQNjDyiZphNQCWIRf9iW8b3xRIEr9Co2wr0dtsnPd8LoGSoGhRKN1GGFRTFdzaeM2_3Q-kAgSqMkv9y6MC_UNpZPoCh07U9NBSXVKXi9_v7wHiGSOdvyaqjGSGh4-O3/s200/Amber+G+028+(Small).jpg" border="0"alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5162389584495938402" /></a><br />-write in my journal<br />-get stoked because my friend that came to visit from the States<br />My dearest friend Andrew<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIFjm9nNCASr9Zfsq_a72tJZMRgNW8aOaEOunqTJEw9L1wmwG3PNIlgVWa6M8lMCFWyO2LRgK6iygIUpq5J-zAckm0DQWCXNDaX6Z2GQnjwtAUtt3hiWlv3xCH4sLKWLNyMMgDpCb2EWwu/s1600-h/Amber+G+011+(Small).jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIFjm9nNCASr9Zfsq_a72tJZMRgNW8aOaEOunqTJEw9L1wmwG3PNIlgVWa6M8lMCFWyO2LRgK6iygIUpq5J-zAckm0DQWCXNDaX6Z2GQnjwtAUtt3hiWlv3xCH4sLKWLNyMMgDpCb2EWwu/s200/Amber+G+011+(Small).jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5162400145820519298" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjktW_fV53MeEbJ-UJ194_Zs84UBiZoZBZ6LFPtrKG-Czat5oG8m3SfbMZ6fF3ukFjNV41gYtO2VhN4ORU6V-MVrWTh0N2VLBdVtgkk-XOdBIUg4domilSDOWOhjrtjFo_gAmpAmwSOaBWB/s1600-h/Amber+G+029+(Small).jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjktW_fV53MeEbJ-UJ194_Zs84UBiZoZBZ6LFPtrKG-Czat5oG8m3SfbMZ6fF3ukFjNV41gYtO2VhN4ORU6V-MVrWTh0N2VLBdVtgkk-XOdBIUg4domilSDOWOhjrtjFo_gAmpAmwSOaBWB/s200/Amber+G+029+(Small).jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5162400154410453906" /></a><br />-do laundry, all by hand mind you<br />-do research on the Park<br />Or go hang with my family.<br />My 2pm it's to hot (100d) to do anything so I read (I've read 4 books in 6 weeks:)<br />After 5pm it cools down and I begging domestic chores like dishes, fetching water, sweeping my dusty house (it’s always dusty). Then I read some more, eat some dinner and get ready for bed. Sometimes I have a fire and do some star gazing. <br /><br />When March rolls around and my 3 month challenge comes to a close then I will start my job, I could go into it but I should save some things for later and talk about them as they develop. I will also be able to do my once a month e-mailing and blogging. Please still continue to write snail mail though, its so nice getting tangible letters.<br /><br />Overall I am happy and healthy still. No crazy sicknesses or infections. My stomach agrees with the food and I’ve acclimatized to the heat or I’ve just learned how to deal with 100 degrees everyday.<br /><br />Its still shocking to me to be here (and the idea this is just beginning). Sometimes I see a certain tree or bird or see something that hits the depths of soul and it still hits me...I'm in frecken Africa. Some things I've seen have been so beautiful it's taken my breath away and I soak it up for however long it last. Some things I've seen have left me shaking with shock, hurrying home so I can cry. I'm learning so much about myself (sometimes I feel myself "growing") and I'm defiantly getting a different view of the world we live in. It's all so scary and amazing to me.Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05846756158607073314noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7607379464517356572.post-49245953973361024482007-12-07T12:25:00.000-08:002007-12-07T12:42:25.617-08:00Heading up country.I want to wish you all a happy and safe Christmas!!! I will be thinking of and missing you all very much.<br /><br />Andrea thanks for sending a photo of you and booz, I've missed him.<br /><br />I head up country to my site in the next few days and I'll be there for 3 months so "snail mail". I'm planning on writing lots of letters and will be able to with training being done. I have to say that my job will be challenging and I'm looking forward to my new home and village.<br /><br />My phone is up and running (see your e-mails for the number:) <br /><br />It's official I'm a Peace Corp Volunteer!!! I swore in today with the rest of my group.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivx_hGzo7A4M9LENamRczrsg2ctiih_LXYvxQirupeRaNYxzSelzTlDk04cnQUgY9Cl5fzD0wVMxDUsLLdn5n2lAaGp6gLmoVcEBifVHq2KbZtmkRtuZAqoOM8Na6zag-dCbYHf0g9PnWG/s1600-h/Amber+G+004+(Small).jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivx_hGzo7A4M9LENamRczrsg2ctiih_LXYvxQirupeRaNYxzSelzTlDk04cnQUgY9Cl5fzD0wVMxDUsLLdn5n2lAaGp6gLmoVcEBifVHq2KbZtmkRtuZAqoOM8Na6zag-dCbYHf0g9PnWG/s200/Amber+G+004+(Small).jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5141330408740478962" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYq77ByYPF9yVx_YhF8fPTgKS54BUwmqBbW4TIWmXz0ov75J8IjSoSea3LUDyPZnQesmP_125EcXF-J9D2WCtN-fEAyIUuftIe3_o0bIjBOOIcdSoLXpoM72TwYFujSRBI5pcxbpWcm4lL/s1600-h/Amber+G+002+(Small).jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYq77ByYPF9yVx_YhF8fPTgKS54BUwmqBbW4TIWmXz0ov75J8IjSoSea3LUDyPZnQesmP_125EcXF-J9D2WCtN-fEAyIUuftIe3_o0bIjBOOIcdSoLXpoM72TwYFujSRBI5pcxbpWcm4lL/s200/Amber+G+002+(Small).jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5141330413035446274" /></a><br /><br />Sending much love from The Gambia!!!!!<br />Big fat Christmas hugs,<br />Amber<br /><br />PS I noticed if you click on the photo's it blows them up for you:)Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05846756158607073314noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7607379464517356572.post-31869746583851546832007-12-02T09:08:00.000-08:002007-12-07T12:47:54.961-08:00Heading out soon.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiejTUSs3cvInWiB6PmGqFwaxEyHb0fLIR66A9v_nYbs0p3a2u-y-UInPWjDnQFzzRtJ9xvg1zlo6Ia8o7dlR529l2suEz7cNSc4i0DQA3oilQ0ZpqrdMixXFwaYb6vUoZRlNh4BQAX9C5P/s1600-r/Amber+G+010.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdVr9MEEeyjZs6K1t8bHB8J_YVNZtLi7MuUhl9Hhjm2tDvEzRz9xzEdrppHyK26bARK1hS8sKfajh9-86l7pyD9m5RkYahfhjGW39ARIqlIJ00STrSwxwiXQUdCeQEQrt0-SWFowMj9Hzx/s200/Amber+G+010.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5139435863898108434" /></a><br />Sitting on the main S. highway.<br /><br />How are you all doing? I can't believe it Dec. I'm picturing you all bundled up against the cold and the holiday season is in full swing. Here it is still about 90 degrees during the day and around 75+ at night. Well I'm in Kombo (what they call the city area) for another week, which is full of more training. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge2YKv0-Mkzb6uqj0e0haT9Fvd9kstGY2C2w5pSOyE0mL8Cv26MUOXXQR7bW2xR_bJE6xsjVSmffU0AyOzqTocMsg4qxqcqCugiDk_ZrH4dlzzB_DzLduWNAKJTR0hdupnnz3PgKPjZefg/s1600-r/Amber+G+003.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJeesN1NfKq1-SCcXhTN-OyMQQ-KUKJtTnjF-CbAbYe-Q_4J2OdapL1557BcihNgCknOvNHdDRoKh_aQkuB6GzODSJZ7PfKR3myzDMaC0sTgJd7oz1EH7vnX3nsfwsr_PS5pm9EvtyHyFv/s200/Amber+G+003.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5139435881077977634" /></a><br />My Peace Corps crew. They're awesome!<br /><br />At the end of the week I will go to the markets to gather up all the stuff I will need for the next two years (things like a stove, bed, dishes, etc.) then I will head out to my official site which is on the South side of the country right off the Gambian highway. It's a sweet little village and my host family (Njie's) are awesome!! They are so happy, kind and thoughtful. I'm the 14 volunteer they've hosted so they understand Americans a little more than most, so that's nice. My job is working with Kiang West National Park, Gambia's biggest natural park. As far as my work...it's wide open. I'll do what ever is needed, which is a lot. It's a beautiful park with lots of hiking and wildlife (African wildlife:)<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1J_YfXhKVlPkoFBBRuhBRr3Z_1vZzbBXo21BaoJC-pwSNPAjsbPZAIpY15Mhl7djm4N8ovX-GHux-aPbZwSM4lPMtdbS5cL9Rgx5_Z_N4qWbKzYCDhv1LhEvAz0caneQ_QaZ22lVsbpPF/s1600-r/Amber+G+011+(Small).jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE8YlMa_Gg-aYzXqAlR3giK96YA5krvxMgf9dXHVGY8Hl33Tt6dRKYdAN2zc3J7kt0vi63VgdfDMdKtu1oN_cilubNrrTnnpF6ZaKZ5xfwlVs3JtqLqWioxOR3XGk9m8nTAvmAS7zAHmOT/s200/Amber+G+011+(Small).jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5139435881077977650" /></a><br />My Thanksgiving in a really fancy home with all the PCV's in The Gambia. Sorry it's blurry.<br /><br />I LOVE my house! It's big with a little back yard that's big enough for a small garden and my home is shaded by a big tree. I'm really eager to get done with training, move into my place, unpack the suitcase I've been living out of, start to get to know my family and community better and start some actual work. I will be in my village for the next three months solid (PC calls this the 3 month challenge) it's a crucial time to get to know your community and for them to get to know you. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMQ7KIQJ2jvPCerTVwt3K_HHuNPirKQL7pN8eu6YesFJO2OkoG3XwcXwcrUHuq5rP9wsUqucfP3zOIGsTeoCW-ypNx4D8I1HO61D-DiWJb5Lv8Sy4JWFhkq-yGjDnLemLjLSzRKMQWUl2e/s1600-r/Amber+G+002+(Small).jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_9uN20FTL9mUQ4v2JYuLu8uwpgcLyfjlOL1dC3xFJ2NraRA89xvrmoTxHpBkKOMO2j4_NM7NHwiCrJi5cqt0Gp2-G5_eC_MWBkoToHfNIDBGFvHoY-7WQYF0AHHhtW7s9UUCq7GWx0k3t/s200/Amber+G+002+(Small).jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5139435881077977666" /></a><br />Hiking with a boy.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGh-NaYdzrcSb8Jp5kUyRFv7MPO0JpreHdHsUiMdTAa9DWglJNO7ok4vJx3yJK62hyB2AU_E5Hq9PsmoyQtkPiZXKF5zbqdxZXgB6ByGWD74V9UINjpKLM19Cjy7HeL7HhRHI6VwmgQY20/s1600-r/Amber+G+005+(Small).jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_B00Dg6z78IZWbQ4_PVXMNCI0g7PezlbWz41ayp5Q_xVBv_XgTQ02IvfFPPmfl4XsqzG6A7Fn6ARus72bn4nuJq4Wm0tK9E1dVFU7v20csKXAdIAi6V-bgJf-XBww_xrABl288nZ94wk5/s200/Amber+G+005+(Small).jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5139435885372944978" /></a><br />Rice field art.<br /><br />I will not be able to write during this time or anytime that I'm at my "site" because there are no computers by or in my village but I will be getting a cell phone in the next couple of days so a chat is very likely. I will be heading into the Kombo area at least once every month though so I will continue to write and post photo's after 3 month challenge.<br /><br />Write again before I leave.<br />Big hugs,<br />Amber<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA_80IEImmwCb35dvZgz9MmV_-FmVA_oy1UR4kev4b8lpcA_w_0ilbN96_NNkWU8W-Qfd3iuFIjWka-YuxlX9g1NS9TTXD1LPQQWdWSZEI3qMEbfa219gsRG4qGN9BO2iD76UwnHfUWLdR/s1600-r/Amber+G+007.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9vZXPBA2ug0uIlWJQI2vo4pLmKcb8P3c2VM9_-dYQVgbS9jLF4FFAaeMTJ_DzNaBmNUPok8oWXmsyHtCo1DMwDAZmjR7_R4QCjKXpwKXNLb3XdFCPMjVc73x72HkJY6YgbCdh5vyMblK5/s200/Amber+G+007.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5139438264784826978" /></a><br /><br /><br />PS Any names or details (my phone number, name of my village, etc) will be sent to personal e-mail accounts. That's just the way its got to be.Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05846756158607073314noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7607379464517356572.post-55631940018791451332007-11-28T05:07:00.000-08:002007-11-29T11:02:46.341-08:00Hello from the bush. Yes I have falled in once or twice.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyZdWhotslrt7sfcgTEzcSyqEaF_7fn0_rmabCkwIlm2dsnexoq0BaBzDqTGdCN_LjWxVZ7X6IPtrGXKClRvVI0m0vFFgFzMYphSlHfF9BbzUNnqCFrVKJ5Ruh6HlEJ_PCoIwCGykxWFfx/s1600-h/Amber+G.+004+(Small).jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyZdWhotslrt7sfcgTEzcSyqEaF_7fn0_rmabCkwIlm2dsnexoq0BaBzDqTGdCN_LjWxVZ7X6IPtrGXKClRvVI0m0vFFgFzMYphSlHfF9BbzUNnqCFrVKJ5Ruh6HlEJ_PCoIwCGykxWFfx/s200/Amber+G.+004+(Small).jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5138317359400473314" /></a><br /><br />Hello to you all!!! <br /><br />1st: I'm safe, well, healthy, very happy and kicking ass.<br />2nd: Both Gambia and Gambians are/is very beautiful, kind and hilarious. The peace that has been held in The Gambia for centuries is soley based on the joking relationships they have established amongst the different families and each other. It is both silly and sarcastic so I fit right in.<br />3rd: I've been "biririn baake" or very busy (as they say in Mandinka). <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsDE-9zzKTSrRX638w4Lkbar2J1A3hPtqMZi8kAU-kMStBQRl99SEhld1TYY3YD2gBkzel9z1fBflTup2PBTPvCTssqHDhRL3zmFswFMVRazdCjMz19PvHMr7C4EW8gPEQLZyb07ulzx4d/s1600-h/Amber+G.+002+(Small).jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsDE-9zzKTSrRX638w4Lkbar2J1A3hPtqMZi8kAU-kMStBQRl99SEhld1TYY3YD2gBkzel9z1fBflTup2PBTPvCTssqHDhRL3zmFswFMVRazdCjMz19PvHMr7C4EW8gPEQLZyb07ulzx4d/s200/Amber+G.+002+(Small).jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5138318974308176642" /></a><br /><br />The fallowing is Amber's Gambian List:<br />Note: this is a breakdown...so put on some beats.<br /><br />-For the last 2 months or so I've been in a small training village up country. There I lived with a host family the Samates. I had one father, 3 mothers and 13 brothers and sisters all living in the same compound. The family was very good to me.<br />-Mornings consisted of waking to "the call to prayer" at about 6:15am from a speaker at the mosque. I love waking in this way, a soft chanting in Arabic which puts me in a mood for Morocco.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn0_Rona_V7xiTru8MltJcwbrCepP1S5Awck-APQ2aNCk_eytemQhaEINQKmqLU5P3hBeHsSwLP69-VjBAb0brMwGFhZBHOB15nzhL1VILsnhqkfK5FVlxMwN5zzbISjrahRBTUulIN1fo/s1600-h/Amber+G.+006+(Small).jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn0_Rona_V7xiTru8MltJcwbrCepP1S5Awck-APQ2aNCk_eytemQhaEINQKmqLU5P3hBeHsSwLP69-VjBAb0brMwGFhZBHOB15nzhL1VILsnhqkfK5FVlxMwN5zzbISjrahRBTUulIN1fo/s200/Amber+G.+006+(Small).jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5138330141223146258" /></a><br />-Nature in the Gambia can make me cry it's so beautiful.<br />-It's hot, all day everyday.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN3IRGfc2dLMEXlpflgOIp5N01Ua90h3xJJL-ivQdL38eq-eWqxAJ0HLzUBUQrdeoSEVYOOw_0oZ4MWyt5NTjPWDHfr60v5ElcxkzvRdGINVN1aYSSk8Qc4if4kKaHBrzieY8u-KdJPJOD/s1600-h/Amber+G.+010+(Small).jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN3IRGfc2dLMEXlpflgOIp5N01Ua90h3xJJL-ivQdL38eq-eWqxAJ0HLzUBUQrdeoSEVYOOw_0oZ4MWyt5NTjPWDHfr60v5ElcxkzvRdGINVN1aYSSk8Qc4if4kKaHBrzieY8u-KdJPJOD/s200/Amber+G.+010+(Small).jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5138334998831158194" /></a><br />-I bath under open skies.<br />-I go to the village pump, fill a bucket and walk back with it carrying it on my head.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPIG2QzUp2FV5aaSJiL4OE97CiP81vN-8qRpmK7_a7eC6vacp133prg0Ao0LRn2I9XQ64QZ2GO7IAw6Wsd4M5TTSxgmqEqP44iXMun3TlLUOoBchL4_XjKbfpDtMjCVnsNSHIfPNI5edit/s1600-h/Amber+G.+008+(Small).jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPIG2QzUp2FV5aaSJiL4OE97CiP81vN-8qRpmK7_a7eC6vacp133prg0Ao0LRn2I9XQ64QZ2GO7IAw6Wsd4M5TTSxgmqEqP44iXMun3TlLUOoBchL4_XjKbfpDtMjCVnsNSHIfPNI5edit/s200/Amber+G.+008+(Small).jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5138330145518113570" /></a><br />-I've mastered brewing attaya, the local tea that is a social event and takes some skill to do.<br />-Bugs, bugs everywhere, sometimes one flies in my eye.<br />-My feet will never be clean again.<br />-Thank God for my journal, camera, music and bike.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH054xi8bVLjN17R_oGE5WqDeYkfckoMOmNcpu_6F54oxNmftdCfGlWTIWbWUTiiKr_bDjqvoocj0MVzkA086Uph3f5_g2VaMRwcs8F5mXVtTA0TX1Uy9hX9y-liouh0KYtUfQXnwuTCCr/s1600-h/Amber+G.+009+(Small).jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH054xi8bVLjN17R_oGE5WqDeYkfckoMOmNcpu_6F54oxNmftdCfGlWTIWbWUTiiKr_bDjqvoocj0MVzkA086Uph3f5_g2VaMRwcs8F5mXVtTA0TX1Uy9hX9y-liouh0KYtUfQXnwuTCCr/s200/Amber+G.+009+(Small).jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5138330149813080882" /></a><br />-I think about Lisa and the baby everyday.<br />-It's like I'm camping every night with my trusty headlamp/candles.<br />-Mosquito's love me here just as much as they did back home (thank goodness for my malaria med's).<br />-I really like Mandinka and hope to speak it very well. <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvJ3NVt_1-1-nC2klocGPeQShSoDHfZmjH3uTAmGrmAhz4mtjjv6Q8UGSO-QaO1j2TAUeFVJsNsDdZZXX0pLvZDPFId75DT2n7x6bsa9YUre1PV6P5bXWI3W7Vhf1TatcrLoHPZbATQNQu/s1600-h/Amber+G.+015+(Small).jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvJ3NVt_1-1-nC2klocGPeQShSoDHfZmjH3uTAmGrmAhz4mtjjv6Q8UGSO-QaO1j2TAUeFVJsNsDdZZXX0pLvZDPFId75DT2n7x6bsa9YUre1PV6P5bXWI3W7Vhf1TatcrLoHPZbATQNQu/s200/Amber+G.+015+(Small).jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5138332499160191842" /></a><br />-I love the kids and some of us have a on going game of tag throughout the village. I never win...fast little buggers.<br />-I've never seen the moon so bright, I don't need a flashlight at night.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJnjM4ln5nQhaxMU3Ru4biCL8yY6wJknZRVV91z2H-jaepC-FEqzSr1faFFo0zl2OuprVXHprjN1yTuf8ZvUJHY1tBtC1NF_udmPs6Gl7nPIIke2dJ85Z28nfiMGX2pmLPSZP0jzcydWk0/s1600-h/Amber+G.+013+(Small).jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJnjM4ln5nQhaxMU3Ru4biCL8yY6wJknZRVV91z2H-jaepC-FEqzSr1faFFo0zl2OuprVXHprjN1yTuf8ZvUJHY1tBtC1NF_udmPs6Gl7nPIIke2dJ85Z28nfiMGX2pmLPSZP0jzcydWk0/s200/Amber+G.+013+(Small).jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5138332550699799410" /></a><br />-Livestock (chickens, donkeys and goats) are free roaming, sometimes they even sleep on your porch.<br />-I don't think I'll ever get sick of peanut butter.<br />- Rice poorage for breakfast. Rice with peanut sauce, veggies and chicken for lunch. Rice and fish sauce for dinner. All very delouse!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaaUOkghmQ2zazQVjFcNxYQn16iOYStIr_ZpM3ACqulkFGXOjY4g5Or_KwkIGSWzt56uJqjvBJH7OJW4U8TuZqKbYYHI5X4tvX2DKR-_-Qb9Y6Mrili1rTzz1Thr-H4CQouVodH81lO5MN/s1600-h/Amber+G.+016+(Small).jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaaUOkghmQ2zazQVjFcNxYQn16iOYStIr_ZpM3ACqulkFGXOjY4g5Or_KwkIGSWzt56uJqjvBJH7OJW4U8TuZqKbYYHI5X4tvX2DKR-_-Qb9Y6Mrili1rTzz1Thr-H4CQouVodH81lO5MN/s200/Amber+G.+016+(Small).jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5138332554994766722" /></a><br />-When it rains it pours and is complemented by plenty of thunder and lighting.<br />-I dance with children very day (while in village).<br />-When I clime in to bed and my mosquito net encompasses me I feel like I'm in one of my childhood forts...every single night.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihP_QAraljTgQmQPOeR1DSEO1Hf4xxkTpgLqrd_o8eP7KAyM6PJiQ0phRBeLuFTr_8P_ld_54fo84uuyEuBEXUOjvnFoCnIukKPZQnh5vk5pzZA6HKR-1sZ3eDI2UfwkM2uLXXzKLDSjgH/s1600-h/Amber+G.+017+(Small).jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihP_QAraljTgQmQPOeR1DSEO1Hf4xxkTpgLqrd_o8eP7KAyM6PJiQ0phRBeLuFTr_8P_ld_54fo84uuyEuBEXUOjvnFoCnIukKPZQnh5vk5pzZA6HKR-1sZ3eDI2UfwkM2uLXXzKLDSjgH/s200/Amber+G.+017+(Small).jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5138332580764570514" /></a><br />-Wait...did I just trip over a donkey tail in the road. Yep I sure did.<br />-I never really appreciated my health until I came here.<br />-Crickets chirp me to sleep every night (they are in my room).<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEissF14bwGAqcRfN0kYY7J1Cei1_dJUpBlrGjDbmOhMkTmRXmRmpR9LjbBrnyEXEoNMm4eUHHiq9eEOVOpNmmCPJPX3BTKHxlgRLQtTvPl5nGgnKFd3E2mdoL7f4VDjsEaH_fzTLKNOzw-L/s1600-h/Amber+G.+018+(Small).jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEissF14bwGAqcRfN0kYY7J1Cei1_dJUpBlrGjDbmOhMkTmRXmRmpR9LjbBrnyEXEoNMm4eUHHiq9eEOVOpNmmCPJPX3BTKHxlgRLQtTvPl5nGgnKFd3E2mdoL7f4VDjsEaH_fzTLKNOzw-L/s200/Amber+G.+018+(Small).jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5138332580764570530" /></a><br />-Andrea and beautiful people of the Janzen Morgue...I received your package...I love it...and was much needed. Thank you a hundred times over.<br />-My gambian name in Talaa Njie.<br /><br />I'm heading back into the bush and my permanent site on Dec. 9th (I'll write more on that in a day or so). <br /><br />Big fat hugs from me in the bush!!!<br />Amber<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLnmd2feg7_Qj-gxOZNXfTnvtz8n_zGouPR_IhO3mjX-0_VhmUgp_W2iye_WYdNY0Nqi9gpKAHrMczt_hmK3Qfweosftqo2oAt-F1uJBSshECTZDZw7hE-h3DA09cXIgQuNIvw1JrlOKdv/s1600-h/Amber+G.+027+(Small).jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLnmd2feg7_Qj-gxOZNXfTnvtz8n_zGouPR_IhO3mjX-0_VhmUgp_W2iye_WYdNY0Nqi9gpKAHrMczt_hmK3Qfweosftqo2oAt-F1uJBSshECTZDZw7hE-h3DA09cXIgQuNIvw1JrlOKdv/s200/Amber+G.+027+(Small).jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5138335037485863906" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />Oh PS I'll be buying a cell phone before I leave so phone calls will be possible:)Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05846756158607073314noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7607379464517356572.post-45567909518601767222007-10-03T23:59:00.000-07:002007-10-04T00:23:49.620-07:00Off to my training village.It's so good to hear from you all! Thanks for sending your love. Tomorrow I'm off to my training village that located in the center of the country. There my language, cross-culture and tech. skills will improve immensely. For the last week I (as well as my follow trainees) have been in the Kombo area, which is the general city area of West/coastal Gambia. Although it still feels like Africa, leaving this area will be much different, authentic and "old world". I will have my very own hut within a family compound. I'm very excited!! <br /><br />This will probably be the last time I can write on my blog spot for the next 8 weeks because there is no internet access in the training village. So start sending you letters! After training my time will open up immensely and I'll be able to elaborate on the tiny/cool details and post lots of pics too. Sending love to you all!<br />Hugs.<br /><br />PS Congratulations baby sis!!!!!!!!! love you.Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05846756158607073314noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7607379464517356572.post-57872633441996336182007-10-02T14:02:00.000-07:002007-10-02T14:22:19.350-07:00Braken in.I miss you all! This has to be quick unfortunately, eight others are waiting to write home. I had a fantastic birthday here in The Gambia. My follow volunteers sang me Happy Birthday 6 times (all by surprise) through out the day. <br /><br />I've been assigned my language, Mandinka it is. It's the wides language spoken here in Gambia. My teachers name in Muhammidoo and he is very fun. <br /><br />I, along with several others have been "broken in". I've just got over the big sickness that everyone is expected to go through but I'm all better now.<br /><br />I will write more before heading out to the training village (this Friday). Send me your letters!<br /><br />Big hugs!<br /><br />PS Lisa so glad to hear it (about jess). So know what the baby is yet?Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05846756158607073314noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7607379464517356572.post-22323330014797661732007-09-28T09:00:00.000-07:002007-09-28T09:13:53.847-07:00I'm here in The Gambia safe and sound!Hello to you all. I'm having an amazing time with all the new scenery, food and language. It is so beautiful! I can't write for long because others are waiting for the computer but I will write more later. I can say that the urban wildlife is fun...lizards on the walls, big beautiful spiders, African vultures circling over head and I've already stepped out in the middle of the night to experience my first rain storm. I am very safe and I'm well looked after. I have no worries what so ever and already feel at home. The people are very friendly and smile easily. I have a feeling that my job will be to write and teach wildlife curriculum. I'm so in love with the idea but we will see if it's to be soon. I'm going to The Gambia coast on Sunday so my B-day will be one to remember. Again the people in my group are all wonderful and I'm happy to have them as piers. Big hugs from Africa!!! Write again soon.Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05846756158607073314noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7607379464517356572.post-65573144304968262572007-09-24T21:02:00.000-07:002007-09-24T22:02:22.115-07:00Hello to you from Philly!!Peace Corps training has officially begun and I have met the other 24 environmental volunteers that I'll be training with, all of which have a good sense of humor and seem like wonderful people. Tomorrow is the last day of orientation and Wed. we start our immunizations and our journey to The Gambia. Wednesday afternoon we will be driving to JFK airport where we will begin are way across the Atlantic, with a stop in Brussels, then we make are way to Banjul. We will all stay a week in the capital where we will continue with training, go on field trips and embrace culture sock. Then the 24 of us will split into smaller groups of 4 or 5 and venture to a training village up country for the following 2 months.<br /><br />As for me... I am surprising myself for I am clam, cool and collected. I'm very excited but with hardly any anxiety (I'm sure this will change soon), instead I have this "lets get this show on the road" attitude. <br /><br />As for now my fellow trainees and I are getting to know each other (they come from all over the US with various backgrounds and ages) and have been soaking up the last pleasantries the US has to offer. It is also wonderful that the Peace Corps has set us up in a nice hotel so we can thoroughly enjoy our last days in the good old US of A.<br />Big fat hugs to you all.Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05846756158607073314noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7607379464517356572.post-65712236351786603732007-08-17T12:03:00.000-07:002007-08-17T12:16:58.128-07:00Starting to really sink in.I leave for Africa in about a month and it's starting to sink in what my experiences may be. I've been reading up on The Gambia and journals from Peace Corps volunteers, the things I've read have confirmed speculations on how amazing and crazy it will be in every aspect. I'm more excited than ever but with that come nervousness.Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05846756158607073314noreply@blogger.com3