Diaries of a Wimpy Tubaab

Wet and Muddy

Rainy season is in full swing with almost daily storms, streets turned into rivers, and slippery mud everywhere. During the big storms, life stops, plans adjust, and you just try to stay safe and dry (honestly being a little wet feels good, but The Gambians do not like you being dirty or wet). As aContinue reading “Wet and Muddy”

Rainy Season

The Gambia has two seasons, Dry Season and Rainy Season (more affectionately called Green Season). The rains have started, my plants are happy, the farmers are hustling to plant their millet and peanuts, the grass is growing, the roads are flooding, the roofs are leaking, the insects are hatching, the humidity is skyrocketing, the moldContinue reading “Rainy Season”

Screen Fatigue

I have a new appreciation for all of you who work virtually, screen fatigue is a real thing! The last few weeks, I have spent hours and hours and hours staring at my laptop and when I get tired of that I move on to my kindle or phone. I am a week away fromContinue reading “Screen Fatigue”

Off Grid

I apologize for the last few weeks of silence. 2 weeks ago, I made the move into the city and there have been some challenges. I knew city living would be different, I had become accustomed to village life and living off grid in rural West Africa. I was not prepared for being off gridContinue reading “Off Grid”

Work

This week the theme of growing, stretching and trying new things continued. Anyone in ministry will tell you that your “work” is very loosely defined, very flexible and basically wherever and however God opens a door you strive to follow. This means the days may be long, the days may be hard, the days mayContinue reading “Work”

School

I am busy attending and helping organize our Adult Literacy class facilitator training. The class has been challenging and is definitely helping with my Wolof. Some days I have been so tongue tied in English that I cannot even speak my own heart language. In the evenings our class facilitators have also been learning moreContinue reading “School”

Helpers

While on vacation and hauling my luggage, groceries and everything else I really missed our Gambian “helpers”. As the trip progressed and all the walking started taking a toll on my body I counted down the number of times I would have to haul my heavy luggage by myself. I excitedly awaited my return andContinue reading “Helpers”

Rainy Season

Yes, it is “Rainy Season” in The Gambia. We don’t really have Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall. We have Rainy Season and Dry Season. Where I live in the rural village most people make their living growing peanuts, millet or corn. Everyday life revolves around these crops and the rain they need. There is noContinue reading “Rainy Season”

Strength and weakness

I admit I am not very strong physically and I keep looking at my weights saying I will get into a strength training routine. The last few weeks have been very HOT, 105+ farenheit, 99+ inside my house and remember no air conditioning. A visitor was here for a few days staying with some nationalsContinue reading “Strength and weakness”

Transportation

Travel in West Africa is definitely not the same as in developed countries. In the rural areas there are no delivery options or mail service, so we get creative and rely on lots of national helpers. Everything involves a little more planning and a lot more time, but God works it all out and many times providesContinue reading “Transportation”