My new house.. stilling working on it...

This is my porch and the number one way of transportation

Living room

Kitchen

Snacks and food to live on

Spare room has a desk and chair.. this room has the best light from the sun.

Bedroom... i was cleaning up

This is my backyard, bathing area, and garden..

Pictures from Tobaski 2008

Book list as of December 2008

Middlesex - Jeffrey Eugenides
The Hobbit - J.R.R. TolKien
Goodbye Best Friend - Cherie Bennett
The day of the dog - Archie Weller
When love calls you better answer - Bertice Berry
Bend it like beckham - Narinder Dhami
From Babylon to Rastafari - Douglas R. A. Mark
Afterburn - Zane
Chocolate Flava - Zane
Mystic River - Dennis Lehane
Love - Toni Morrison
The sex Chronicles - Zane
Possible Side Effects - Augusten Burroughs
Sula - Toni Morrison

December 2008

The month with many celebrations in it has started and am away from home for the first time. My Birthday, Kwanzaa, Christmas, and New Years. This will be a big adventure for me to get through this month without wish I was at home. But I will try to find things to occupy my time.

I have also started computer classes at the upper basic school. Well I guess you cant call them classes more like free time on the computers. Am allowing the teachers to have time and just expose themselves to the new technology and use it. I am there if they have any questions or need any help. But I have also put that job on the other teachers. This why they become teachers and get a better grasp of computers themselves.

Tobaski is here. The Muslim holiday of the killing of a ram. They day started off just as simple as any other day. People got really dressed up by noon. The old boys came to the compound, killed the ram, and processed to skin it. All while this was taking place the women prepared the spice and sauces to cook the meat in. once the lunch was finished many people went around greeting other families. The kids got to get dress and go around to ask for charity (kids get money for adults) and I think even some adults joined in and collected as well. I had prepared 2 outfits for the day, which is what most of the girls in my family have done.

So my birthday is here. Am not very excited or sad about the day and hope I feel happy soon. Many of the people I talk to here, remembered and sent me a text saying happy birthday and that did make me smile. I got my phone calls from home and that also put a smile on my face. The most I had planned for the day was to cook one of my own meals and make something I really wanted. Which was steak in a gravy sauce with potatoes.
My birthday has come and left. It was not so much fun as it would have been if I was in the states. But I still enjoyed myself and made the best of it. I enjoyed receiving a few calls from friends and family.

Since school is still out till the 5th of next month. I will have plenty of time to read books and work on my house. The next two books on my list are pretty big and will take me some time to read. As far as my house its in good shape for now. I plan on painting and hanging up curtains to fell more at home and hang up some of the card and pictures I have gotten from home. Oh and did I ever mention anything about my garden am growing. It is a very good thing for me to have and take up some of my time in the day with. I have planted cucumbers, tomatoes, papers, cabbage, and spinach. And I will tell how it turns out if they get big, die, or start to produce.

November 2008

So the month is just started and I cant wait for the week to start. The election is in 3 days. It is about to be a very historical moment not only in my life but in American History. We just might have the first very African American President. This will change the future and history of African around the world. Not only is America on pins and needles waiting for the moment to be over but the rest of the world is also watching and waiting to find out the outcome. When I write the next time I will either be very excited and overjoyed or disappointed. As I will know who the new President of my home is and how my life will change with just that knowledge while am in another country. Till then

Last night Nov. 1 was the first night I really felt it was past my time to be here. All these bugs kept falling in the bed with me and sticking to my computer screen it was so annoying. All I could think about was calling my mom and telling her to come and pick me up. But lucky I had no credit on my phone and it was too late to go out and look for some. So I just finishing killing the bugs I could see and took some pills and tried to fall asleep. But this morning I feel semi OK. Am not trying to leave till its time. I need to get the benefits from the Peace Corps that are promised at the end of one’s service. So I must wait till then. Less then what 20 months to go. And I will be Scott free and ready to move on in life. A new and changed person. Hopefully this experience will make me "grow" up. Also I hope the path to another government job is open since that was my biggest reason for joining. We shall see. 2 days till the major election of my life and am in Africa..

We have done it. For the first time in the history of America. There is a African American President to be. The historical moment in time has not only shifted the lives of those in America but the entire world has been move. This election has caused more excitement then the reporters can report on of the Africa American community. But it is not only the black community that has now had it hopes and dreams come closer to reality. Every minority race in the world is now on a new level of possibilities to dream for. Something that was never thought to actually happen, something that every kid hears from their parent's that they could one day become president. To sit and dream and give a kid high hopes and give them a dream to work hard towards is now not just a dream but an actually possibility. And as this moment occurs in my life while am living in Africa I can only hope that my dreams will come true. That I will one day land that job that will allow me to become a world traveling woman making change in the world for the people that need it most. The dream that hard work and dedication can get a person where ever they wish to go is what am holding on to. As am making my dreams come true I can only hope to continue on my path to become an accomplished young Africa American woman.

October 2008

Being stressed out. You never been stressed out so much till you change your living environment instantly. I have just began to miss the life style I once had in the states. Even though I do get to do a few things here that are similar the majority of my life is now different.

I Have started to come down with something which is the result of me being so stressed out. But I have a new found hope. One of the PCT in my group is getting relocated to be my next door neighbor. That should bring me a little closer to home. She is close to being my opposite but we have a few things in common. Starting with us both being army brats at birth. She is going to help me in more ways then she knows it. I should really start to get into shape as she loves to ride her bike. And now that I have someone to go with I will feel more comfortable about riding the darn things. And just being able to have the opportunity to talk with someone face to face every day about the daily changes, challenges and stress is going to be good for me at least.

I have also been not been able to do much of any work here this month thus far. I have been sick and with the president given out random holiday transport was a no go. So I took this week to mend myself and spend some time with my new site mate. Who is living with me till her house is ready. And we mostly talk and read in the house as its too hot to be outside and nothing much to do.

So its almost time to vote for the president and I just cant wait. I have been able to keep up with a bit of the news. And it looks like America might have its first African American man president. The world is about to shake if this actually happen. From where I stand the entire world seems to want and hope for Obama to win verse McCain. I hope to be near a Tv when voting day starts, we are about 8 hours behind in time so it will be a long day for us here. I hope this election which ever way it goes brings about change for the American people who so desperately need there lifestyle to be alter. Even though with the fall and stock markets that is starting to happen and the gaps between poor and rich are being noticed more. And those struggling the line of middle class and poor are being giving a helping hands that a few years late but were not dead yet. The best part is the gas prices are low and at a comfortable but still high price. My loan interest rate is dropping which is always a good thing. Seeing how a higher education in one of the richest nations should never be so high. Am thankful for my family and friends who care enough to still write and call me. While am on this adventure in Africa.

Week 1 and 2

Ok I have now been at site for about a full week. My house is starting to take shape. I had to have a few things fixed but nothing major and then had to have the family kill the rats. OMG. But now that am moving everything into its own room am starting to feel more comfortable. The family is starting to take to me more and speaking in mandinka is not that hard if I understand the question. I haven't been to work yet but that shall come. Hopefully with the start of the new week and school actually starting I can be more productive.

2nd week at site has ended. So I have started to work and work is nothing like what I aspect even though my expectations were very low to begging with. Since my post is the education department office I mainly have been fixing the computers there first. I shall soon go on treks to see the other schools that have computers. And see how they are doing and what it is they need. I have also been asked to teach some of the staff how to use the computers since the advancement in technology they must learn to keep up. So am trying to come up with a schedule to were I will be available for teaching classes and trekking all at once. But since it’s the end of Ramadan is here now I have more time to work on a schedule and go to the city to do banking and a little playing on the internet. I have to take pictures of my new place to show off to people at home that my house is bigger. But that will come. Plus I have meet another sister who lives in Dakar. So we have exchanged information so that when I travel there I have a free place to stay and with family everything is cheaper.

Pictures From Training Village.

August

So I will be living in one of the big cities in Gambia. I will be in Soma which is ok since it has markets that are daily and not only weekly.

Ok After finding out where I was going to be living it was back to the training village. I cant believe how much my life style has changed. I have been placed on a vegetarian diet. Who consumes mostly all rice with some type of sauce on top it, 3 times a day. I don’t see much meat unless it is bought by the Peace corps because it cost to much for my family to afford it. But am still alive so the adjustment is not to hard. I just don’t eat much breakfast because I don’t like rice porridge which is something like oatmeal and grits but made from rice. I eat a big portion of lunch which is the only meal I get that has vegetables in it everyday. And I try my best to eat at least half my dinner bowl because it the last meal of the day and because I know I wont eat breakfast.

My language has made a big improvement in the last month. I am now at NH which is very good for me thus far. I have to be at IM by the 12th of Sept. so am going to continue to work on t and hope for the best. If worst come to worst I will be keep back to have more language training or sent home. So lets hope for the best.

In training village for the majority of this month none of the men have been at home. They have all went to travel to either work or religion. So at home it has just been the women and kids and its still just been great fun.

Am Still Alive July

Am now in my training village and my family is very much happy to have me here. The life style here from GPI or Home is very different. So far what can been seen from the outside is the lack of amenities such as: running water, electricity, paved roads or walk ways, trash pick up or cleaning up and good clothes. But after living here for a week I have seen much more that has me concerned and surprised all in one. I have learned to live without running water or power. Its not that hard to fetch water and getting things done before the sun goes down or by flash light or candle is not that difficult either. The lack of good cloths is mostly on children because they either don’t have the money or because the kids get them so dirty so fast. My family does take care of themselves very well. With constant baths, cleanings of the house or family open area and food. Out of the 3 of us in this village I think and have been said to have the best family.

I personal have come accustomed to not have power or the running water. I enjoy the very cool water for bucket bathing 3 times a days with the heat. I enjoy the food that’s cooked even though I don’t eat a lot cause am not use to all the rice yet. I have come pretty close to my host family and talk with them as much as I can with my limited language skills. In my family I currently have: 1 father, 3 mothers, 2 wives, 4 brothers, 2 sisters, and 4 or 5 kids. Yes that’s the way my family is made with me. And I did get my new name from my family and am named after one of my kids. Kadii Dimba.

Within the next two months I will continue my language studies to improve myself to better work with the people and communicate in the local language. Along with language classes I will get more training on my actual job here which is computer. I will not be permanently station in a village such as this because of the need for power to do my type of work. Which is not good or bad at this point. Those who live in the city say its expensive and those who live in the villages say its hard. So am looking forward to the next challenge.

So I have now been in training village for about 2 weeks now. I don’t dislike it but there are a few things that I don’t care for and some things that I just love.

First off dislikes:

Food:

Dried Fish

Green Sauce

Rice porridge

Not having veggies

The pit latrine (are toilet)

Bugs ( in the bed, when showering, etc. )

Language:

Not being able to communicate

Having to learn things and not feeling like am making effort

Second likes:

Food;

Eating lunch (veggies, meat, good sauces)

People:

Family (very friendly and welcoming)

Keen to making me talk

The good is all mixed in with the bad. I do like being here with the intentions of teaching computer technology. I don’t know if am going to be any good at it but am going to try the best I can. I am more of just a tech person and not a teacher. So am looking forward to it but I have my debts.

The last one for the next 2 weeks or more...

So this is the day before I got into my village. Am going off to a very small village and am going to practice and speak Mandinka. I am so excited and cant wait to see what happens in the next two weeks. I wont have access to a computer or anything that's electronic and no running water, so you will have to wait for the next update from me. Am also in the process of putting my pictures together so that You all and can see them. The next few weeks are supposed to be the hardest of my two years of training and working because it will be taking me so far out of my norm to make me adjust to the new lifestyle fast. What is it that I will have in my new house now; I get a trunk with the following: a pack of Ramon, powered milk, 1 box of cereal, toilet paper, 2 bucks, 1 broom, 10 candles, a tin of cookies, 4 different packs of seeds, and something else random oh and I get a bike & helmet. So am excited all about this change and the things I get to have.

But if you know me well you know am more of a pants girl and I made sure I bought enough with me. But now when I get here they tell me the best thing for me to wear is long skits cause am a teach and should dress more like the women here. So I had to buy a lot of fabric, lucky it wasn't that high price. Am going to have to take it to a local tailor and have them work their magic and do the best for me.

But because am not going to have a large selection of things am looking for care packages with some of the following items. And remember the items sent are not limited to this list so feel free to send some other things.

Address ask me for it

Care Package list:

Food:
Apple cinnamon oatmeal
Grits
Instant pasta (the ones you just boil or add hot water to)
Cereal Bars (apple, strawberry or chocolate chip)
Ramon – all the flavors
Liquid soup
Honey nut Cheerios or Smart start
Caned or packed meat (prison style beef, chicken, or tuna)
Snacks: oatmeal pie, zebra cakes, Mike & Nikes
Caned fruit (small cans single serving)
Gatorade
The instant kool-aid packs
Dieters Tea

Personal Items:
Wash cleaner (Germ X, etc)
Good bath soap
Baby powered
Baby wipes (good ones)
Leg shavers

Language time

So now I know that I will be speaking Mandinka. So that will be my new addition to the list. We just started to learn how to greet each other so am all about to be happy.. Life here is simple but wears you out quick. So am still trying to get use to the time difference and set me body to work differently.. Till next time..

Am in Gambia

Hello to all, I have finally made it to Gambia. Its very hot and not what I was expecting it to be. I was looking for a lot of dirt, low income housing or mud homes, with dirt roads but what I got was a lot of new green, new housing and hotel development, paved roads everywhere but no traffic lights (yet) and just some real good hospitality. Am such in a shock to be round such good people not only are the people in training with me great but the staff and other volunteers are too. Everyone is so eager to help and give me answers to the questions I have I thought I would be in the dark forever.

Me and the trains got to spend 3 days and 2 nights with each other before getting on a plan to come over to Gambia. We played some ice breakers, talked about emotions and feelings, asked a ton of questions and went out and mingled together. The people that am here with made me feel real comfortable and like I belonged here so I wasn't ever much nervous just excited. I am in an Educational sector where I have 5 of the following: Teacher training, Math & Science teachers, and ICT or IT. Ad yes am the only girl in the ICT group guyz, so they have deemed me their queen. So am excited and its just getting starting. We will be finding out about what languages we are set to learn in the next few days. So here is another one to add to my list.

The first meal was great. And we have been having nothing but good food and good company. Since today was the 4th of July we had a cook out with other volunteers and the director's house. Meeting the other volunteers was very good because we got to mingle with other people beside the 15 of us, but because we were able to hear stories and swap info about the villages and work that will be getting done or started.

At night the best thin to do which would not be all that good back home was a cold shower. The shower was pool water cold but I loved it because I was so hot, sticky and sweaty that it just made me cool down and feel refreshing. I was then able to get dress and unpack just a little before it was bed time. Which for some odd reason I could do without a TV (inside joke for those who know me) without any problems. But I did wake up at the crack of dawn which was at 6am.

But am having a good time here and just cant wait to see whats going to happen in the next few days, weeks, months, years with me here in The Gambia.

Packing

So I have went through my closet and storage and have pulled together some old and some new things to take with me.

Clothes:
dress pants
cargo pants
linen pants
4) polo shirts
2) dress shirts
pair of long basket ball shorts
5) plain T-shirts
1) full body swimsuit
2) head scarfs
4) 6 packs of underwear
2) 6 packs of socks (getting 2 more)

School supplies:
pens
pencils
markers
crayons/coloring pencils
2) packs of note book paper
1) folding compassed folder
1) ruler / hole puncher

Others:
small scrap book
small case of DVDs
kids world map book
decks of cards
8-in-one game set
small kids toys

Toiletries:
a bunch of over medicine
folding hamper
4) toothbrushes
3) large toothpaste
4) sticks of deodorant
4) bars of soap
2) lotions

Electronics:
Laptop - power cord, cleaning wipes, keyboard protector, Ethernet cord
digital camera
flash drives
shake up flesh lights
MP3 player

More things to come as I go out and buy them.

Party

Today I will be preparing the house for my graduation/going away party that will be happening tomorrow. I have a lot of family and friends coming to see me off and congratulate me for finishing college. Many of the people that will be attending the party will be family and friends of my parents who have watched me grow up. The most important thing at this party is for everyone that comes gets a last chance to see me if not before I leave, since some of the people coming I have not seen in years it will also be a time for catching up.

I have been working on my list of things to buy for the Pace Corps and think that I have everything that I want and need on my list that I will be taking with me. Anything that I have left out my list is because I can get it locally. I am only taking 3 bags: my hiking backpack- is easy to move and travel with, a small carry on suit case on wheels, and then my laptop backpack - for everyday use. My list will be up shortly today.

Excitement

Everything is happen so fast right now. I have just been invited to serve in the Peace Corps in The Gambia. My departure date is June 30, 2008. I am in the process of filling out the tons and tons of paper work and working on my packing list. There is so much paperwork that has to be obtained and signed and sent and kept its so hard to keep up with the originals and the copies and make sure the right one is being sent. I have also been in and out of the doctors offices to make sure they fill out everything and that I have check ups with every doctor. My life right now is in the fast lane.