Homegrown Tomatoes

~Homegrown tomatoes homegrown tomatoes
What'd life be without homegrown tomatoes
Only two things that money can't buy
That's true love & homegrown tomatoes...~

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Stoppin' in at a coconut plantation on the way to a job site

It was a beautiful day at work!

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

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

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

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

Paper & Ink

"Money's only paper only ink
We'll destroy ourselves if we can't agree
How the world turns
Who made the sun
Who owns the sea
The world we know will fall piece by piece..."

I failed to mention it in previous posts, but the current situation in the Gulf of Mexico has been weighing heavy on my heart and mind.  The damage done to our environment is terrifying, but what saddens me the most is that we will likely continue living our lives in the same fashion...turning a blind eye to our destructive ways. However, I hope that this catastrophe will serve as a wake up call and spark some positive change.  But a change in outcome requires a change in lifestyle! A reality check on our priorities, morals, and values is in order! And I think that demanding better legislation from our elected officials and taking the power out of the hands of large corporations is also a good start. If we can work together, rather than against each other, maybe the future won't look so bleak.