Blog – Page 16

Survival Phrases and Greetings

Language learning is moving full speed ahead. I spend two hours each morning with a Wolof language helper and then several hours each afternoon visiting very patient and understanding village women practicing what I am learning. I also provide much comic entertainment for them. Of course we started with greetings. The Wolof have a veryContinue reading “Survival Phrases and Greetings”

One Month

I have been in The Gambia officially for one month. In many ways it feels like I have been here forever and in many ways it feels like I just got on all those flights to get here. It felt like home when I came in 2014; I didn’t want to leave then and itContinue reading “One Month”

Pizza

I continue to work hard at learning the Wolof language. The village ladies are wonderful teachers and they definitely keep it fun and interesting. Friday, I was visiting with a group of women and told them I was going home. In America saying you were going home would be adequate, but not here. They responded,Continue reading “Pizza”

Language Learning

I really am enjoying language learning via the LAMP method (Language Acquisition Made Practical). I provide endless entertainment to the village women when I go to practice each afternoon and they have even asked me to “help” with some daily tasks. I think they like to laugh at the tubaab (white person) trying to shellContinue reading “Language Learning”

This is What It’s All About

Yesterday, baking cookies and enjoying time with two precious girls from the village was amazing. We managed to not make as big a mess as I thought we would and there were no fires (some of you know my cooking reputation). They were great helpers and we made almost 100 sugar cookies. As I watchedContinue reading “This is What It’s All About”

Home Sweet Home

From the moment I first set foot on this compound two years ago it felt like home and now it really does. I have finished unpacking my 20ft shipping container from the US. I do feel like a spoiled Tubaab (white person), but I know that all this shiny new stuff will become dirty andContinue reading “Home Sweet Home”

Changes

I cannot believe it, but I have officially been in The Gambia for 6 months! In many ways it feels like I just arrived yesterday; especially when I struggle through what should be a basic Wolof conversation or cannot do simple tasks without help. In other ways it feels like IContinue reading “Changes”

Waxtaan: Chanting in Wolof

The Wolof like to sit around, visit others and chat which is great for someone trying to learn the language. My chatting vocabulary is still very limited and a friend asked me the other day what exactly we talk about. Well, life here in rural West Africa revolves around family and the farm and/or gardenContinue reading “Waxtaan: Chanting in Wolof”

Sounds of the Gambia

Life here is full of different sounds, some relaxing and pleasant and others not. I am amazed at how quiet it can be at times and how noisy at other times. I have learned to identify the new sounds of sifting peanuts, pounding grain, horse or donkey carts and much more. Some nights the batsContinue reading “Sounds of the Gambia”

Gambian Road Trip: Getting Home

Some of you have heard me mention the challenging ferry situation here. The Gambia is a very interesting country, completely bisected by The Gambia River. I live on the North Bank side of the river and the city with groceries, etc is on the South Bank side of the river. Despite this river being almostContinue reading “Gambian Road Trip: Getting Home”