I have about 2 months left here and I have a blast. I was so very lucky to have been placed with such a phenomenal family. I have grown to love this family as if I were born into it. The kids and older siblings have grown to like me. We have a good relationship. Everyday they tell me they will cry when I leave. I know I will do the same. My host mothers at first were really hard on me, but now are very proud of me and tell me so. My host father is amazing, has been from the beginning. He is progressive, reasonable, considerate, and of good morale standing. The respect I have for him is hard to express. I hope to grow up and be like him. I have learned so many things from him. He has been a hell of a counterpart and a damn good host. We have achieved a lot together.
The projects I have completed have been very successful. We are moving forward constantly. My field I paid for and fenced is looking great! My trees look good, are healthy, my fence is solid , my host father will reap the benefits in the future. He is going to be rich someday! My duck project is going strong. The whole family helps with the work. That project may be a future money-maker. My HIV/AIDS football tournament was an incredible success. Probably the best project I have worked on so far in my young life. I have to credit where credit is do, I could have not done it without the help of three other volunteers that were involved every step of the way. We did an amazing job and depend on who you talk to...didn't receive the credit we deserve. It is hard to believe that 10 months before we had are first kick-off, it all started with me and another volunteer talking about a simple football tournament over a few too many beers, in a shady bar, in a shady African town, during the hottest part of the day.
The thing that goes through my head is how incredibly lucky I am to end up here at this point in my life. I don't know much about the whole God thing, but I do feel blessed. I am 26 soon to be 27 years young and have received a wealth of knowledge that I feel only something like this can offer. Speaking, joking, and giving advice in a local language is an experience that in itself is wonderful. For your village to embrace you and not treat you like some stranger anymore is a great thing. The sad part is that this is happening now and I have to leave. But it is my time to go. I had planned to stay another year at one point, do to many things including Peace Corps politics, I have decided to come home and start over again. I am not going to fool you, I am scared as shit. I feel like I have forgotten everything. It may be funny watching me readjust.
There are so many things that this service has shown me and giving me. When I came here I had such low self-esteem. I didn't love myself of respect myself. I wasn't proud of anything I had done in the past. I felt inferior to everyone I spoke to and somewhat meaningless in the large scheme of things. Now I can say that I do not feel this way anymore at all. I have had a lot of time to think here and it has helped me come to terms with my life and who I am and I am proud of that. Another thing this service has giving me is a sense of connection with people that I have never had before. The friends I have made here are friends I hope to keep for the rest of my life. I have built a bond with so many volunteers here and it has been wonderful. I feel we all have grown together through this experience...what a bond that makes! I have learned that anyone can learn a language(well almost anyone.) I sure hell thought I couldn't, but I can get around pretty damn well with broken local language. I always thought I was pretty independent before this, if I wasn't before, I know I am now. I have learned here to laugh at myself and things around me. Laughing is good for your health and I need that after smoking for so long. I don't know what my life will offer me, but eventually I will stumble upon something. I am excited about it and will enter it with an open mind. I look forward to seeing whats next. Whatever it is I feel like I am prepared for it.
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Sunday, August 14, 2011
Work
Hello everyone,
Its been a while since I have written anything on here, sorry about that I have been really busy lately.
First, I would like to say that our football tournament is finished now and was a great success. For 2 months every weekend we were travelling around the North Bank and watching great football as well as decimating messages about HIV/AIDS. We finished everything about 3 weeks ago. This project was what I expected to get from Peace Corps. 7 teams, over 100 players and coaches, 10 different speakers talking to the youth at halftime of every game in local language about everything HIV/AIDS. The message was well received and we had two radio programs to discuss it and promote it. This project was one the best things I have ever did and will always remember it. One memory that will stay with me was at the final. The game was over and the trophy was giving out (seconds later the winning team broke it!) and myself, our organizers that helped us, as well as the other 3 volunteers that worked with me on this project. It was dark on the field and our DJ was playing music. We started dancing and screaming and hugging each other all of us on the field dancing into the night. It was really memorable.
So I have about 5 months left in my service. It came and went really quick. I have had such an incredible experience here, but it is looking like I will travel and then come back home when I am done. I was thinking for awhile that I would like to extend here for one more year, but I think that the time is right to get a job and start my professional life. I think for future traveling plans I will use this blog. Just change the name of it.
Other than that, everything is going well and my projects are going very well.
Its been a while since I have written anything on here, sorry about that I have been really busy lately.
First, I would like to say that our football tournament is finished now and was a great success. For 2 months every weekend we were travelling around the North Bank and watching great football as well as decimating messages about HIV/AIDS. We finished everything about 3 weeks ago. This project was what I expected to get from Peace Corps. 7 teams, over 100 players and coaches, 10 different speakers talking to the youth at halftime of every game in local language about everything HIV/AIDS. The message was well received and we had two radio programs to discuss it and promote it. This project was one the best things I have ever did and will always remember it. One memory that will stay with me was at the final. The game was over and the trophy was giving out (seconds later the winning team broke it!) and myself, our organizers that helped us, as well as the other 3 volunteers that worked with me on this project. It was dark on the field and our DJ was playing music. We started dancing and screaming and hugging each other all of us on the field dancing into the night. It was really memorable.
So I have about 5 months left in my service. It came and went really quick. I have had such an incredible experience here, but it is looking like I will travel and then come back home when I am done. I was thinking for awhile that I would like to extend here for one more year, but I think that the time is right to get a job and start my professional life. I think for future traveling plans I will use this blog. Just change the name of it.
Other than that, everything is going well and my projects are going very well.
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
March and So On
It’s been sometime since I last posted. Some things have happened recently that are quite incredible. Firstly, our North Bank football project has received full funding from an entity of the US Government. This entities focus is on HIV/AIDS awareness. We are receiving more than we expected for this project. This money will be used to host the games and at halftime of each game we will have speakers discuss issues in The Gambia. We also want to have a large training of trainers meeting before the tournament starts, as well as a second TOT with the players alone.
Currently, we are searching for a sponsor for the kits, shoes, balls, trophy, and cash prizes. This will become much easier now that we have funds for everything else. I think future sponsors we speak to will take us seriously. Until recently, the discussions with hopeful sponsors have been filled with a lot of “if’s.” I will inform you of more information, when I know something, as of now, this is it.
Secondly, my duck project has gotten of the ground in big way. It started about three weeks ago, when one of our ducks laid 13 ducklings. My host father and were stoked about this, little did we know that was only the start of it, next day another duck; 12 ducklings, two days later another duck; 15 ducklings, A couple days later, another duck; 10 ducklings. Currently, I am being invaded…surrounded by ducklings. The ducks have covered everything outside my hut into a minefield of shit. These cute little creatures are causing havoc with control. I cannot wait until there are hundreds of these little heathens roaming the perimeter of our compound consuming all they can. Don’t get me wrong, ducks are awesome! This is just a new experience for me to witness.
Thirdly, my host family awhile back installed solar panels on their house. It is really crazy to think that I came here to get away from it all and now have a light bulb in my grass hut. I couldn’t say no to the light bulb because I fell that it is there house and should have the right to add a light bulb to the hut if they want. I am not complaining to much it’s nice to be able to read book at night, without a headlamp, but I miss reading by candle light sometimes. Perhaps, you’re asking yourself where this money came from. The answer to that is watermelons. My host father planted 4 hectares of watermelon very late in the season. When the watermelon was ready, no one else had any. He made bank of it and bought solar panels. I thought he was finished after the solar setup. After about two weeks a man came and installed a satellite dish in our compound. I saw several kids watch TV for the first time that night, which was really incredible.
Overall, things are looking up in my compound.
Monday, January 24, 2011
Mali and Everything After
OK, Mali was incredible. I went with 4 other volunteers. We were there for 2 weeks. Mali is a beautiful country. The travel there took some time though. 50 hours on a bus! When we arrived we were stunned to see hills! Coming from a country were the highest point is 160 feet. Mali's landscape is what you would expect for a county in the Sahel. Mostly dirt, bushes, and mostly Acacia species. So to make a long story short we first traveled to Bamako the capital of Mali. Bamako is in a way a nice city. Some skyscrapers and bridges. More motorbikes than I have ever seen. Bamako has about 1.5 million people residing in the city. It may be the dirtiest city have seen. But it is known for the best music scene in West Africa, if not all of Africa. We went to one show is was really cool. Dancers, Kora players, drumming, and guitar.
Our second stop after Bamako for one night was a drive to Mopti and Sevare. In Sevare we caught up with our guide Hassimi. Hassimi is a big guy, but one of the must jovial guys I have meet. Many of the people in The Gambia are similar to him, by always showing their happiness through their conversation and attitude. Hassimi let us stay at his compound before heading out to Dogon country. That night myself and the other guys had a few beers at a local bar. It was really nice, good food, company, and of course the beer. In Mali, they carry 5 different types of beer. For you all this is not a big deal, but after drinking only one type of beer in The Gambia for a year, you are very excited about options.
The next morning went were in Dogon rather quickly. We would travel around Dogon for next 3 days. We visited many villages, which I have pictures of on facebook. Dogon is one amazing place. Villages built on cliffs and hills. Incredible rock formations and people that fought to keep there animist beliefs until recently (about 500 years ago.) Most are now Muslims. We did visit one animist village at the end of our trip. It was interesting. Most of the villages we went to are now built below the escarpment. The older villages we visited were still built off the escarpment. After Dogon, we traveled back to Bamako again for 3 days, which I talked about above and then home.
Since being back at site some work has occurred. My fence for my range land management project has been completed. So currently, about 4 hectacres is fenced with 3 lines of barbwire. Since completion, we have hired one man to guard the property because currently the Cashew trees are fruiting and the Indian Jujubes. Also, sheep and goats attempt to enter the garden as well.
Also, my compound just got electricity. I know have a light in my hut, my backyard, and front yard. My host father purchased solar panels from selling watermelons he grew on an acre of land! I don't know how I feel about it. I feel that it is taking away from my experience here. I feel that I did not have an option, because it's his house I am living in and his materials he purchased. It is weird to be living in the middle of nowhere and look up and see that there is a reading light above your head. Its weird to not have to purchase shit batteries for your lamp and radio all the time. I guess the times are changing here little by little (Ndanka Ndanka in Wolof.) So you can imagine that I was equally surprised when a man arrived to install a Satellite dish for my host fathers home. I found it so interesting to watch TV again after many months maybe even a year. I found that I have lost almost all interest in the Television. I would much rather read. The joy my family and half the village children had when the first splotchy images appeared on the screen was priceless.
In about two weeks I shall have about 6 baby turkeys in my compound. Currently, our duck project is going strong. About 6 or 7 ducks are sitting on eggs. This is good news, because if all the ducklings live we may be looking at 70 ducks or so. I currently have about 22 females and 2 males. I can't think of much else to say now but that I am healthy and feeling good. I want to thank everyone for the birthday wishes, they really made my day.
Later.
Our second stop after Bamako for one night was a drive to Mopti and Sevare. In Sevare we caught up with our guide Hassimi. Hassimi is a big guy, but one of the must jovial guys I have meet. Many of the people in The Gambia are similar to him, by always showing their happiness through their conversation and attitude. Hassimi let us stay at his compound before heading out to Dogon country. That night myself and the other guys had a few beers at a local bar. It was really nice, good food, company, and of course the beer. In Mali, they carry 5 different types of beer. For you all this is not a big deal, but after drinking only one type of beer in The Gambia for a year, you are very excited about options.
The next morning went were in Dogon rather quickly. We would travel around Dogon for next 3 days. We visited many villages, which I have pictures of on facebook. Dogon is one amazing place. Villages built on cliffs and hills. Incredible rock formations and people that fought to keep there animist beliefs until recently (about 500 years ago.) Most are now Muslims. We did visit one animist village at the end of our trip. It was interesting. Most of the villages we went to are now built below the escarpment. The older villages we visited were still built off the escarpment. After Dogon, we traveled back to Bamako again for 3 days, which I talked about above and then home.
Since being back at site some work has occurred. My fence for my range land management project has been completed. So currently, about 4 hectacres is fenced with 3 lines of barbwire. Since completion, we have hired one man to guard the property because currently the Cashew trees are fruiting and the Indian Jujubes. Also, sheep and goats attempt to enter the garden as well.
Also, my compound just got electricity. I know have a light in my hut, my backyard, and front yard. My host father purchased solar panels from selling watermelons he grew on an acre of land! I don't know how I feel about it. I feel that it is taking away from my experience here. I feel that I did not have an option, because it's his house I am living in and his materials he purchased. It is weird to be living in the middle of nowhere and look up and see that there is a reading light above your head. Its weird to not have to purchase shit batteries for your lamp and radio all the time. I guess the times are changing here little by little (Ndanka Ndanka in Wolof.) So you can imagine that I was equally surprised when a man arrived to install a Satellite dish for my host fathers home. I found it so interesting to watch TV again after many months maybe even a year. I found that I have lost almost all interest in the Television. I would much rather read. The joy my family and half the village children had when the first splotchy images appeared on the screen was priceless.
In about two weeks I shall have about 6 baby turkeys in my compound. Currently, our duck project is going strong. About 6 or 7 ducks are sitting on eggs. This is good news, because if all the ducklings live we may be looking at 70 ducks or so. I currently have about 22 females and 2 males. I can't think of much else to say now but that I am healthy and feeling good. I want to thank everyone for the birthday wishes, they really made my day.
Later.
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