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”
Category Archives: WAWA (West Africa Wins Again)
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”
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”
One Year
A newsletter will be coming out tomorrow which marks one year since I arrived in The Gambia (today marks one year since I left the US). I thought I would share a brief list of some likes and dislikes of my new country and lifestyle (this is by no means all inclusive) Likes: The amazingContinue reading “One Year”
Spring Cleaning and Christmas Decorating
It is a holiday here and much of the country has traveled to Senegal for a celebration of the birthday of Mohammed. So, that means it is pretty quiet around our compound. When it is quiet you have to take advantage of it. For me, today started as a day to do my Christmas decoratingContinue reading “Spring Cleaning and Christmas Decorating”
Anything That Walks In the Door…
When people ask me what kind of patients and problems we see at our rural medical clinic my reply is usually that we see “anything that walks in the door”. Well, this week has been an interesting one in the clinic and I was reminded that my statement isn’t always true. We see anyone thatContinue reading “Anything That Walks In the Door…”
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