Gambia #4



It's the weekend! We climbed into the back of the Land Rover and headed out to visit Ibrahim at his home. He was happy to introduce us to his family, take a family photo, give us some fresh oranges and show us his bike shop he has at his home. Mostly a tool box & a pile of old bikes. Then we went to Kartong—a small busy village on the banks of a tributary to The Gambia River. It was nice to see where most people live, work & shop around here. We took a short boat ride passing Pelican Island (only 5 there) and checked out the oysters growing on the mangrove roots. We watched women digging for cackles which reminded Rog of a song he sang in grade school: "Singing Cackles & mussels, Alive, Alive Oh". He'd always wondered what cackles were. Roads here are mostly sand with major pot holes so when you reach a paved one…it's wonderful. We traveled in the back of the Land Rover with Omar telling us about what we're passing & shouting to most people we pass with both laughing every time. He says he doesn't need to know them to joke with them. We know two words in Mandinka: twobob (means white person derived from two bits-UK $) and minty (candy). We hear both often! Spent the rest of the relaxing and getting acquainted with Mark & Carol from Scotland. They'd spend they day doing workshops for local groups: Mark does photography & Carol taught how to make a hand bag with a pattern on a sewing machine to a group of young girls. Also Gunjur Project hired a soccer team to make cement blocks. They mixed up the cement by hand, poured it into a mold, then quickly pulled the mold off. All amazingly fast! They made 994 blocks in a few hours earning about $85 dollars which they'll use for soccer equipment. It seems Gunjur Project is helping out everywhere in this community!
Sunday we met up with Brandon (one of the owners) and a group of local kids he's gotten interested in birding. We walked with them to a local forest. We spotted lots of birds, plants with medicinal use, and a crocodile. We had a quick lunch then headed to Lamin Lodge….slowly. After jostling about for about an hour, we arrived. It is considered as one of the top sites to see. We were a bit unimpressed is an understatement. The boat ride was way more than we imagined…about $35 each. We got into a small boat along with Carol & Mark & Adama. We paddled about 20 minuted and then stepped out into the mucky ground. It was low tie. We slowly made our way until we came to a steam through the mangrove. We walked slowly, slipping often spotting mud skippers (frog head, fish body), oysters and crabs. We finally arrived at the main attraction: a huge Baobab tree which we crawled inside of. Of course we had to tip them too. Monday morning, Jenny (owner) had heard how much we paid and had Omar call them and renegotiate the price. It was the first time Adama had been there and they had way over charged us. Jenny gave us back half the money we'd spent saying she'd make sure that didn't happen again! We learned an important lesson that may help us when we're out and about on our own.



Gambia #3

The next two days were very much like the day before with Rog at the bike shop and me at the school. Rog is impressed with Ibrahim who he says performs magic on bikes.  He is learning lots from him and has been invited to his home.  It's a busy place with people stopping by constantly and negotiating for bikes & parts.  Teacher's are asking for suggestions but I hesitate to say too much…not that I don't have some!  There's  too much dead time and shouting lessons.  Not enough books and no reading aloud.  Only half the teachers are qualified but others are still going to school.  Teacher's training here consist of going to classes during their breaks—about 3 months a year—for 2 years.  Gunjur project sponsors some of their education.  When I arrive in the morning, fun music is blaring as the kids play.  At 8:30 the bell rings & kids line up for morning assembly…which last about 30-45 minutes.  They sing lots of songs like If you're happy & you know it, Days of the Week & Months, and even You are my Sunshine!  They also recite the date, review a color/shape/body part etc lesson, tell name of their town, country & president and finally sing the national anthem:

"For The Gambia, our homeland, 
We strive and work and pray,
That all may live in unity,
Freedom and peace each day.
Let justice guide our actions
Towards the common good,
And join our diverse peoples
To prove man's brotherhood. 
We pledge our firm allegiance,
Our promise we renew;
Keep us, great God of nations,
To The Gambia ever true."

Wish those words become reality here…and everywhere.

They have a lesson plan prepared for the teachers from area complete with objectives and lots of interactive activities.  Students & teachers shout and repeat most everything they say.  Overall they seem very happy.

I've been walking the 1 km back each day which has allowed me to get a better feel for the area and a chance to get some nice pictures.  A good lunch, cold Coke and cool pool awaits me when I get back around 2 …Rog about 3.  We order dinner around 6…play cards while we wait and then feast on the delicious meal.  Email, facebook, news and reading finishes up the day.  Pretty perfect.