I finished my tour and arrived back in the States on Thursday.
It has been an interesting and life-changing experience - one that I will not soon forget. I will be heading to New York to complete a graduate program for the next 2 years...
Thanks for visiting.
David
12.29.2007
10.09.2007
Senegal
This last weekend I traveled to Dakar, the capitol of Senegal, with a friend to pick up someone at the airport. The drive was neither short nor smooth, but Jake, the American teacher, managed to maneuver the pothole-laden pathway rather nicely. We took off early Saturday morning, crossed on the ferry to the Northern side of Gambia, and started our approximate 150 m drive to Dakar. After a very bumpy, hot drive to Kaulack about 1/3 of the way to Dakar, we were informed at the security checkpoint in Senegal that we needed to get a piece of paper at the border, another 1.5 h back on the crappy road. We tried to talk our way out of it, but it was to no avail. Three hours later we arrived back to the checkpoint with paper in hand and nobody even wanted to check it. This is a snippet of how the 3rd world works - chaotic and unpredictable.
On the outskirts of Dakar are new roadways being constructed, actual proper highways, I was nicely surprised, however the roads used for the meantime are absolute helter skelter. There are fruit and vegetable stands setup in the median, cars driving towards oncoming traffic, horse and donkey carts merging on and off, sellers running through halted traffic to sell any various item, for example: dates, calling cards, bottles, and pens; and no road markings whatsoever. They did have signs for general directions of towns - and I emphasize 'general.'
We arrived in downtown Dakar around 8p and drove around looking for a hotel. The area was pleasantly similar to a large U.S. city. I couldn't believe I was in West Africa. Banjul and The Gambia are about 100 years behind Dakar. We found a hotel and then went to grab something to eat. We stopped by a small bar/restaurant and had some food and a beer and watched as France upset New Zealand in the Rugby World Cup. We then stopped by a bakery that had the sweetest smell taken in by my nose in 2 years. We promptly went back to the hotel, gobbled our decadent sweets and passed out.
The next morning we drove to the harbor and took a ferry out to Goree Island for the day. It was an old French colonized slave island. It was very interesting and beautiful (check at the link) and worth the time visiting. After arriving back on the mainland we drove to the airport, found a really nice hotel, swam, and took in some food while we waited up the rest of the night until the 6am flight came in. Without any sleep we drove back to Gambia and finally arrived around 430p. It was great to take a break from The Gambia, and nice to see what this place can strive towards, economically and developmentally.
I'll post some pics of the trip soon.
On the outskirts of Dakar are new roadways being constructed, actual proper highways, I was nicely surprised, however the roads used for the meantime are absolute helter skelter. There are fruit and vegetable stands setup in the median, cars driving towards oncoming traffic, horse and donkey carts merging on and off, sellers running through halted traffic to sell any various item, for example: dates, calling cards, bottles, and pens; and no road markings whatsoever. They did have signs for general directions of towns - and I emphasize 'general.'
We arrived in downtown Dakar around 8p and drove around looking for a hotel. The area was pleasantly similar to a large U.S. city. I couldn't believe I was in West Africa. Banjul and The Gambia are about 100 years behind Dakar. We found a hotel and then went to grab something to eat. We stopped by a small bar/restaurant and had some food and a beer and watched as France upset New Zealand in the Rugby World Cup. We then stopped by a bakery that had the sweetest smell taken in by my nose in 2 years. We promptly went back to the hotel, gobbled our decadent sweets and passed out.
The next morning we drove to the harbor and took a ferry out to Goree Island for the day. It was an old French colonized slave island. It was very interesting and beautiful (check at the link) and worth the time visiting. After arriving back on the mainland we drove to the airport, found a really nice hotel, swam, and took in some food while we waited up the rest of the night until the 6am flight came in. Without any sleep we drove back to Gambia and finally arrived around 430p. It was great to take a break from The Gambia, and nice to see what this place can strive towards, economically and developmentally.
I'll post some pics of the trip soon.
8.14.2007
And the Rains Cometh...
with them they bring a myriad of other joys to complement the flooding of our recently constructed Agency building (thanks for the contracting work World Bank), my leaking apartment, and flooded roads. For instance, the host of various bugs, spiders, and teeny-tiny mini toads (never seen them at this stage at home), and swarms of mosquitoes and flies. The downpours are unlike anything I've experienced in the States, and when thunderstorms blow in they are grandiose. Last week a lightening bolt ripped above my apartment delivering a threatening pop through my electrical box knocking out my breaker. I wasn't scared. I was petrified. I usually have to wake up in the middle of the night, if it's raining, to engage in damage control as regards to gathering towels and placing them strategically enough to avoid flooding of important items.
People and places just shutdown during a rain. Nobody wants to get wet, drive or work while it's raining. I don't complain.
After a rain or thunderstorm it's amazing how fast the water is absorbed and taken in by the vegatation. During the beginning of the season fields go from reddish-brown dirt to a plush of green in a matter of days. The green is everywhere and really makes it feel tropical - it's beautiful.
Ok, just thought I'd share. I see my Cubbies are in a battle for first!
People and places just shutdown during a rain. Nobody wants to get wet, drive or work while it's raining. I don't complain.
After a rain or thunderstorm it's amazing how fast the water is absorbed and taken in by the vegatation. During the beginning of the season fields go from reddish-brown dirt to a plush of green in a matter of days. The green is everywhere and really makes it feel tropical - it's beautiful.
Ok, just thought I'd share. I see my Cubbies are in a battle for first!
7.13.2007
Local Headlines
Almost daily there are headlines in the local newspapers that grab your attention and or are less than appropriate proper English. Here are a few of many examples: (DoSH = Dept. of State for Health; Jammeh = The Gambia's President)
'Government Not Involved in Buying of nuts'
'Government Not Involved in Buying of nuts'
7.06.2007
'Bono' fide?
Most of us Americans are use to seeing an Africa on television portrayed as a lost cause and most hold these images as their only idea of Africa. It is true that poverty is rampant and Africa has a long way to go, but it is nonetheless, advancing. It's really annoying to me when people expect to be given free handouts, as I get propositioned for daily. Here, that is in large part, due to the touring Brits' who happily throw pens, candy and give money to the people and then leave thinking they're saints and feel they did their part to aid Africa. But when they leave the only white people around to beg for free handouts are those who work, volunteer and live here. This only exacerbates their reliance on handouts and promotes laziness by not working hard to improve their lives and their country. Therefore, when I see and here all these concerts and Bono PR bonanzas promoting Africa as hopeless and the people helpless it irritates me.
Here is a great article, which prompted this post, that discloses a more realistic view of Africa than Mr. Bono and other celebs like to dramatize.
Instead of falling prey to these dramatizations we need to look at areas we can do something about besides throwing money at the continent and magically hoping things change. One major current issue is the U.S. Farm Bill that is up for readjustment. This bill is a large problem for farmers in Africa (as well as the majority of farmers in the U.S.) wanting to get equal market share for commodities like cotton. Because of the subsidies received by U.S. farmers, who receive more money for more crops produced, the market is flooded by a surplus which undercuts the price that would be received by farmers whose livelihoods depend on this income. Farmers here would greatly benefit if the market were fair by increasing their income helping them to save and enabling greater choices of food and other entrepreneurial opportunities. The only real, sustainable way to reduce poverty is to have a reliable source of income. So instead of listening to an hour of Bono playing bad music send your concerns to our government.
Here is a great article, which prompted this post, that discloses a more realistic view of Africa than Mr. Bono and other celebs like to dramatize.
Instead of falling prey to these dramatizations we need to look at areas we can do something about besides throwing money at the continent and magically hoping things change. One major current issue is the U.S. Farm Bill that is up for readjustment. This bill is a large problem for farmers in Africa (as well as the majority of farmers in the U.S.) wanting to get equal market share for commodities like cotton. Because of the subsidies received by U.S. farmers, who receive more money for more crops produced, the market is flooded by a surplus which undercuts the price that would be received by farmers whose livelihoods depend on this income. Farmers here would greatly benefit if the market were fair by increasing their income helping them to save and enabling greater choices of food and other entrepreneurial opportunities. The only real, sustainable way to reduce poverty is to have a reliable source of income. So instead of listening to an hour of Bono playing bad music send your concerns to our government.
6.29.2007
Fading Down
It's been a long while since my last update. Things are becoming pretty routine and I'm enjoying my work at the nutrition agency. We're still conducting our weekly diabetic and hypertension clinics, and I'm working on the national nutrition report that is completed twice a year to determine the health status of the under fives, which includes over 50,000 children. I've also taken on the task of indexing and organizing the library, which should keep me quite busy for the rest of my time here.
A lot of friends are starting to leave the country as their time is finished. It's sad, but it is also starting to feel like my time here is dwindling down as I see them leave. Fairly soon I'll be back and hopefully going to grad school. I'm definitely looking forward to it, but I'll also miss the slower pace of life I've become accustomed to here.
I hope everyone is getting along back home - love you all and can't wait to see you's.
D
A lot of friends are starting to leave the country as their time is finished. It's sad, but it is also starting to feel like my time here is dwindling down as I see them leave. Fairly soon I'll be back and hopefully going to grad school. I'm definitely looking forward to it, but I'll also miss the slower pace of life I've become accustomed to here.
I hope everyone is getting along back home - love you all and can't wait to see you's.
D
5.19.2007
Trek II
On my second trek my colleagues and I ventured out to various spots in the country to assess a vitamin A/de-worming campaign that is being implemented this month. One colleague and I stayed in Farafenni, which is on the north bank in the middle of the country. From there we met with some other counterparts in the area and trekked to different villages to encourage, consult, and gather data on the progress of the campaign.
FYI: Children less than 5 years of age have a regular schedule of vitamin A supplementation, but de-worming, which is regularly completed in most other 3rd world countries, has not taken place in the Gambia on a widespread basis, until now. Children can easily acquire worms by walking barefoot in a contaminated area. The worm will attach to the bottom of the foot and burrow up until it finds the intestines and then will set up shop and steal nutrients from the infected host. Certain species of worms can multiply and severely deplete a very needy young child of the dire nutrients they need to grow and survive. With the de-worming pills the child will pass out the worms in the feces, which is a very effective visual for the mother that the pills are working and their child will show marked health improvement.
Most sites were doing well, meaning their coverage of children being supplemented was on par with how many child they should have completed. Anytime an area was lacking they would have to come up with solutions to gather and supplement all the recorded children in the area.
FYI: Children less than 5 years of age have a regular schedule of vitamin A supplementation, but de-worming, which is regularly completed in most other 3rd world countries, has not taken place in the Gambia on a widespread basis, until now. Children can easily acquire worms by walking barefoot in a contaminated area. The worm will attach to the bottom of the foot and burrow up until it finds the intestines and then will set up shop and steal nutrients from the infected host. Certain species of worms can multiply and severely deplete a very needy young child of the dire nutrients they need to grow and survive. With the de-worming pills the child will pass out the worms in the feces, which is a very effective visual for the mother that the pills are working and their child will show marked health improvement.
Most sites were doing well, meaning their coverage of children being supplemented was on par with how many child they should have completed. Anytime an area was lacking they would have to come up with solutions to gather and supplement all the recorded children in the area.
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