(Peace be with you.) I arrived last night to my new home for the next 2 years. I will be located in the Kombo area near the capitol of Banjul. It's a pretty nice apartment, with sporadic electricity, somewhat continuously running water, and a roommate. I'm about a 5 minute walk to the beach and a 10 minute walk to my new workplace, the National Nutrition Agency.
Training went well. I lived with a host family who supplied me with a grass roof thatched roof hut, made me breakfast and dinner and helped me with language. The breakfast I received was a rice porridge with a groundnut (peanuts) paste served hot-- not bad. Dinner was cous-cous (if you take a handful of sand and start eating it, you'll know what cous-cous tastes like) mixed with either fish and oil, oil and pasta, groundnut butter, or a plant leaf paste.
Training involves getting our bodies use to the new environs too. I was about the only trainee who didn't come down with an assortment of various ailments the likes of severe diarrhea, vomiting, dysentery, psychotic episodes and a handful of others. Me and the other two trainees spent most days in the village learning language, escaping the sweltering heat, eating our lunches from a food bowl (which included using only our hands), and getting together at night to play cards and drink attaya and ley (a sweet tea and an evaporated milk mixed with a gallon of sugar and boiled.) MMMMMMMM.
We swear in on the 14th and officially become Peace Corps Volunteers. Until then I am learning about my permanent site and attending one last week of classes and programs.
Hope everyone is doing well, I really miss you all!
I'll be in more frequent touch from here on out.
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My Peace Corps Volunteer Experience in The Gambia. I will be working at the National Nutrition Agency which runs every nutrition program in the country including, salt iodization, vitamin A supplementation, anemia control, etc. I'm a Registered Dietitian interested in international work.
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12 comments:
David...wanted to post, too. It is so good to hear from you. And your assignment sounds absolutely perfect for you!
You're right...not only your resume will be better, but so will you! As a person of God, He will watch over you and train you in HIS beautiful way!
Know Dad and Jon and Matt are going to be so glad to read your new comments!
I just loved your descriptive letter...what a blessing to us all...we can't be there, but we can see it though your eyes!
Love you...email again...or please add to your blog anything and everything you can tell us about your experience!
Love moms
Whoops...forgot to ask...Have you got any pictures yet? We'd love to get them and can keep them on disc here for safekeeping! mom
Glad to see you back! And also glad you didn't have any psychotic episodes. It really sounds exciting over there.... Just don't meet another chocolate babe.
So the Lundy training camp served you well...I am so thankful for your health! And what a wonderful experience to eat food that is just like sand!! We are putting together a care package for good ol' Uncle Dave.Maybe some fruit leather, dried mangos and well just about anything would be a step up...haha! Just so glad that you are back in touch. Distance is only as far as you make it! REALLY miss you and love you!
Praying,
Steph
Glad you survived. Kinda knew you would. As far as sand is concerned, we eat it every weekend while surfing (face first, being dragged along the bottom :) you should be used to it by now.
Really looking forward to surfing Bajul with you in the future. When, not if, we get there.
Love your Bro.
Hey Dave! So glad to hear that you've returned back to some assemblance of civilization. Sounds like you had quite the experience. I'm helping Steph put a package together for you, wish I could put a turkey and stuffing and a couple pies in for you, but alas, .... Take care and be safe, and may God bless you wherever you are. Cathy
Dave...i cant believe it! i was totally praying that you would get abandoned somewhere out in the bush, left for dead...attacked by a pack of giraffe's, eyes pecked out by buzzards, and left foot eaten off by fire ants...only to hobble your way to the nearest beach, find a piece of seawood, and surf (one-legged) into the sunset, never to be heard from again.
but, it looks like God hates me, and youre still alive and doing well - WITH wireless internet, may i add. haha
Im just sitting here at panera bread, using their free wireless, on this beautiful day. Oh man, dave...the seasonal depression is fading away...the next 5 days are 65 and sunny!
well i wrote to ya, and we're sending our letters in your stupid care packadge (that was NOT my idea), so that will update ya on me.
its very good to hear from you...im glad things aren't perfect, but that you are being forced to grow and adapt and struggle and stretch...
I miss you a lot (especially your tennis).
oh, by the way, when you get back...lets move! i've got a couple awesome friends going to boulder, CO...and then there's always Maine! ill be waiting......
later dave (or moot toot...whatever)
p.s. im eating your chocolate! oo ah ah!
oh yeah, one more thing...Don Miller is gonna speak at Mars! (in a few weeks).
...ill tell ya how it goes, haha.
Diarrhea, vomiting, dysentery, psychotic episodes? I didn't realize California would be so hard to adjust to. You've been there for almost a year now. You are in California still, right?
Actually, the diet doesn't sound too much different than what you used to eat here.
So what's this about Don Miller visiting Mars Hill?
Hey Dave -
glad to see you're back, doing ok, and didn't get a case of explosive diarrhea. the food there sounds srumptruclecent - be sure to bring some back with you to share with us!
I hope you're keeping up on the Cubbies - they just swept the Cards on their home opener series! This is the year!
-rudi
Just got your letter...(4-11-06) Matt read it aloud, and we were all so glad to read what was happening in your world. Your surroundings must have been amazing...and the bucket brigade during the compound fire!!! You said it well, "people setting aside differences..." Awesome for you to be a part of that! Now for the city...
Love,
Pretty much the greatest-stand-in-second-family-ever! :)
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