Hey loved ones. Wanting to wish all a happy new year and hope everyones' Christmas was terrific. My Christmas in Africa was great, but I sorely miss family and friends, snow and cold. One more Christmas to go.
The locals, mainly Muslim, will be celebrating Tabaski (Eid ul-Adha), which is a celebration of Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son Isaac. Families spend a lot of money on buying and slaughtering a goat and share with those less fortunate and with family. It's basically like a traditional American get-together where everyone eats all day and mulls around with friends and family. The scene in the capitol Banjul is similar to the busy shopping season in America, except care takers are dragging around massive goats on the sidewalks and you have to sidestep sheep pellets and pools of excretion while being hassled by kids for money and shopkeepers to buy their stuff because they have the best deal.
On another note, I finally have my own apartment now and it's wonderful. Nice little place with a roof terrace. I'll post pictures later, til then enjoy the holidays.
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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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2 comments:
HEY Dave. This year was a bitersweet adventure. We climbed to the top of the mountain, Christian, Connor, Cameron, Julimaria and the Roxy (the dog). Instead of taking the road though, we made a true adventure out of it and climbed the mountain (through some gnarly spots at times), but we made it higher that you and I did and walked the road back down. Of course the conversation was all about how far did you and David go. Cameron Cito (little shrimp) was extremely tough and very happy to have finally been taken up there as was Connor. A tradition that I hope to keep.
The waves are getting bigger and bigger and each time I thought I have ridden a big wave a bigger and scarier one comes. Interestingly one day last week we bowed out of going out at all because to get out at Mandos you had to start at the furthest right and were swept through the bay and past the houses in a matter of minutes. Then when you thought you were out (further than anyone I have ever seen out there) you were actually only half way there because thats when the sets came and were breaking 50 yards in front of you! Then Skip my buddy when he finally got out there had to paddle more than a quarter mile back up the coast to get to the point he was going for. But once he got there the 1/4 mile ride back down on a 12foot wave was and is epic. I went out at mussel shoals later that night (which was still 10-12 foot sets) and saw a local pro guy do stuff I haven't even seen on the videos (he ripped a lip floater to acid drop, and recovered right into a deep barrel on a solid 10' wave) saw it from the water bro it was beyond words, most of us just sat there in disbelieve or hooted and holla'd.
Love you and Happy holidays, hope you are able to spend time with some aquaintainces and friends.
Hey Dave...you're climbing on a year now...and the next one will go very quickly...then your African Adventure will be over.
We all missed you this year, and will next, too; but after the next Christmas, you'll be nearing time to come home.
It's good to hear about your new apt...we can't wait to see pics. Dad and Jon and I are preparing to have a 10-week guest that will be sleeping in the basement, a student friend of Jon's. We cleaned up and made a bed downstairs for him.
More on that later...miss you, too...but love the fact that you did what you wanted to do! Bless you...mom
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