Christmas in the Motherland!

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

 

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

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

  

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

Salaamalekum!

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

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

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

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

The women preparing the Tabaski Feast

The village men going to prayer

A few updates

The Gambia is a beautiful place!  So far all is well!  The days have been filled with language training (mandinka, woloof, and pular) and some environmental introductions as well.  And lots of immunizations!
The weather is nice but hot and humid...just like bama!  Tomorrow I will find out what language I will be speaking for the remainder of my time here.  At the end of the week I will move to my training village and will be living with a host family for 8 weeks.
Here are some photos for your viewing pleasure.  More to come soon!  Love you all very much!

This was the sunset on the beach today!

Me & my new buddy Lucia

Holding a python!

African puff adder

Greetings from The Gambia!

After several days of traveling and not much sleep, I made it to The Gambia!
Might have internet access for the next week, but not sure.
We got our cell phones today, if you would like to contact me, you must dial 011 220 first, then my number, 7339832.
I can receive calls and text messages for free, and apparently the most inexpensive way for you is to use skype to call my cell! You can also use an international calling card....
Please keep in touch through mail and/or phone calls as much as possible!
Thank you for all of your love and support!
I'll post more details later about all of these new experiences!

The Time Has Come

It's official: time is an illusion.  Only 5 more days left in the states!!!  And although pre-departure preparations have been on my mind for months, I have now found myself scrambling at the last minute to get everything done.  I am a procrastinator through and through.
The past few weeks have been filled with lots of wonderful moments shared with the special people in my life.  It makes me really sad to leave it all behind, but comforted by the love and support I will take with me...and come back to someday!  Bottomline, life is good!!

Sunday Sunny Sunday

 I have five more Sundays to enjoy stateside....hopefully they will be as sunny and peaceful as today.  Sundays are always such a conglomerate of emotions....anticipating the work week,  recovering from the weekend, and relaxing but also catching up on what you've slacked off on all week (i.e. house chores, errands, exercise...)
What I will miss the most from a Sunday is listening to NPR all morning, yummy brunch with a bloody mary and a mimosa (really that should be plural), and going to sleep to Echoes.
Now that I have a regular and consistent work schedule, I have reunited with the Sunday blues that come from anticipating and dreading Monday.  However, November 1st will be the Sunday of all Sundays, as I will depart for my big adventure the following day!

~Sunday's supposed to be the day for kicking off your shoes
But how come that's the day I always get the blues~  -Lucinda Williams-

Sitting here in limbo, knowing that I have to go...

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

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

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

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

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