My First Week

Ebrima - our security guard at Kanifing


I'm now settled in to our temporary house in Kanifing - this morning after 2 days we had water for a cold shower. After 5 days in a hotel with a swimming pool and laundry service we needed to start to adjust to the life of an up-country volunteer.

So far the highlights of the week have included attending St Paul's Anglican Church for a 2 hour service lead by Bishop Dr. Solomon Tilewa Johnson. The church was located just above the beach and the air-conditioning was ice cold. They're currently raising 2 million dalasi for their new church hall that according to the notices will be 100 square kilometres! (this was then corrected to square metres as the hall would have entered Senegal - great amusement for the congregation).

As Monday was a bank holiday in-country training was suspended - a group of us joined a 7 a-side football game on the beach. The game finished 5-0 with a comfortable win for the off-duty Deputy President's Security Guards despite my wearing of a Stoke City FC top!

We have also started our Mandinka language training which is proving to be a little tricky. The majority of Gambians speak English and two other languages (Mandinkan, Wolof or Fula)! I'll sign off with the following:

dookuwo be naadi?
dookuwo be jaŋ doroŋ (domaŋ domaŋ!)