Getting my groove:)

Henna art its so fun and lasts about 2 weeks.

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 "toubab" (white person) for kilometers around.
Note: Being a toubab 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.
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.
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.
My mom sporting my sun hat, Yaya my bro, Howa (spozen) and her boy Mahamabo.

I've realized that 3 months is my (or maybe most peoples) perfect time for me the find my groove. My language (Mandinka) is more fluent, I've made friends and acquaintances, I’ve gotten to know my family better (they still kick ass), explored the wuloo (the bush) around my village and within biking distances and had a few adventures.

My work is coming along slowly but surely. PC tells us that our busiest time will be during our 2nd 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.

My lunch, rice and fish. Its really really good. Howa is my cook and she always makes delicious food for me. It just that there is ALWAYS rice.

I've started an Environmental Club and the grade school in Dumbuto. It has 35 members in grades 5th and 6th. 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.

I've also joined the kafoo 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.

Kafoo meeting.
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.

Weekly Luumo
I go very week to buy my weeks worth of fruit, veggies and peanuts
Sometimes I get fabric and get cloths made
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 luumo (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 PCV that live close to you. Some PCVs only have one. So I’m never lonely.
My site mate and good friend Kat (with her cat).

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.

OK signing off for now. Know that I am happy and still healthy and doing very well:)

OXOX

Happy 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.

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.

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.
My House:

Inside my house:







This is my family, again they are wonderful! I am missing 6 people. I’m planning on organizing a family prorate soon.

My grandparents (I love them!)


My father Ibrahama and little bro Yaya


My mother Jara


My small father aka uncle Lang


Yaya, my little sis Birkama and me


Some randoms




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.
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.

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:
-go to Kiang West NP with the rangers.
The posy of Kiang West

Baboons


Hooded Vultures



-work in my garden
-ride my bike to the market
-go hiking
-visit other compounds in the village
-ride my bike 20-40k to see my asome PC site mates
PC posy and my good friends Kat, Matt and Tim. New Years Day hike

-write in my journal
-get stoked because my friend that came to visit from the States
My dearest friend Andrew


-do laundry, all by hand mind you
-do research on the Park
Or go hang with my family.
My 2pm it's to hot (100d) to do anything so I read (I've read 4 books in 6 weeks:)
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.

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.

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.

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.

Heading up country.

I want to wish you all a happy and safe Christmas!!! I will be thinking of and missing you all very much.

Andrea thanks for sending a photo of you and booz, I've missed him.

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.

My phone is up and running (see your e-mails for the number:)

It's official I'm a Peace Corp Volunteer!!! I swore in today with the rest of my group.




Sending much love from The Gambia!!!!!
Big fat Christmas hugs,
Amber

PS I noticed if you click on the photo's it blows them up for you:)

Heading out soon.

Sitting on the main S. highway.

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.


My Peace Corps crew. They're awesome!

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:)


My Thanksgiving in a really fancy home with all the PCV's in The Gambia. Sorry it's blurry.

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.


Hiking with a boy.


Rice field art.

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.

Write again before I leave.
Big hugs,
Amber



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.

Hello from the bush. Yes I have falled in once or twice.

Hello to you all!!!

1st: I'm safe, well, healthy, very happy and kicking ass.
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.
3rd: I've been "biririn baake" or very busy (as they say in Mandinka).



The fallowing is Amber's Gambian List:
Note: this is a breakdown...so put on some beats.

-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.
-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.

-Nature in the Gambia can make me cry it's so beautiful.
-It's hot, all day everyday.

-I bath under open skies.
-I go to the village pump, fill a bucket and walk back with it carrying it on my head.

-I've mastered brewing attaya, the local tea that is a social event and takes some skill to do.
-Bugs, bugs everywhere, sometimes one flies in my eye.
-My feet will never be clean again.
-Thank God for my journal, camera, music and bike.

-I think about Lisa and the baby everyday.
-It's like I'm camping every night with my trusty headlamp/candles.
-Mosquito's love me here just as much as they did back home (thank goodness for my malaria med's).
-I really like Mandinka and hope to speak it very well.

-I love the kids and some of us have a on going game of tag throughout the village. I never win...fast little buggers.
-I've never seen the moon so bright, I don't need a flashlight at night.

-Livestock (chickens, donkeys and goats) are free roaming, sometimes they even sleep on your porch.
-I don't think I'll ever get sick of peanut butter.
- Rice poorage for breakfast. Rice with peanut sauce, veggies and chicken for lunch. Rice and fish sauce for dinner. All very delouse!

-When it rains it pours and is complemented by plenty of thunder and lighting.
-I dance with children very day (while in village).
-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.

-Wait...did I just trip over a donkey tail in the road. Yep I sure did.
-I never really appreciated my health until I came here.
-Crickets chirp me to sleep every night (they are in my room).

-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.
-My gambian name in Talaa Njie.

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).

Big fat hugs from me in the bush!!!
Amber




Oh PS I'll be buying a cell phone before I leave so phone calls will be possible:)