A Smiling Post for a Smiling Coast

Salaamaleekum! The wait is over, I have met my fellow trainees, and we have all arrived to The Gambia. After one day of staging orientation in Philadelphia, and two very long plane rides, we have been welcomed with open arms to the smiling coast. First impression walking off the plane: crap, it’s hot. Second impression: they’re so nice! We went through customs with no incident and were gifted with hand fans for the heat. It’s really not even hot yet, humid 90s probably.

I do not as of yet know which language I am to learn. It will all depend on where my final site will be which is to be determined in the next week or so. The trainees will be taught wolof, mandinka, and pulaar, and we have already begun lessons in introductory greetings and vocabulary for all. Next week we will be placed in training villages. During that time we will study one of these three languages extensively while living with a host family and receiving lessons from a language and cross cultural facilitator. We will be given a Gambian name and become a member of a local family. This training time will continue until September 6, 2013 when we will be sworn in as volunteers.

I am quickly falling in love with this country. I’ve enjoyed the shade of a cashew tree and the fruit of a mango tree. I can genuinely say that I feel very welcomed and taken care of here. I certainly came in with a large number of fears, but now after meeting the people, that is not longer the case. I am excited for the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead, and I am comforted to know that I am in really good hands here.

I know this post is short and lacking in anything very juicy, but it’s what I can give in my limited time. It is unlikely that I will have access the internet again until September, but I just wanted to let you know that I am here, safe and smiling. While I won’t have internet access until September, I will be able to receive and write letters so pull out a stamp and drop me note!

Love and peace! 

PS Yesterday I saw monkeys and learned how to change bike tires. Today I will wash my clothing by hand. Boom.

To The Moon

Guess what!? I’m going to the moon! Not really, but to some it seems to be so. My 8 year old niece drew me this picture:

In truth, I depart home, sweet and beautiful South Dakota this weekend. I will spend 2 days in Philadelphia for final staging, and then off to The Gambia, the smiling coast of Africa, with the United States Peace Corps. There I will be a primary teacher trainer, training local teachers in new methodologies and curriculum, developing literacy programs, teaching, and creating projects to meet the needs of the locals. 

One long year after applying, and four fast months after being assigned to The Gambia, the countdown is now very short, single digits short. This week my goal is to soak in the beauty that surrounds me in my home, friends, and family and also somehow convince myself to pack. I’ve always hated packing, and packing for 27 months to move to the other side of the world with no electricity or running water is a little daunting. A few of the items on my packing list are a solar charger to power an African cell phone and my kindle, and a sunhat for days that can get up to 130 degrees. I’ve got a French press to make coffee sans electricity, a short stack of children’s books for school, and gardening gloves to green my thumb.

Upon arrival in The Gambia, I begin training. I will live with a host family while studying the language, culture, and technicalities of what I am to do there. I will train with a small number of other volunteers, and at the end of training we are individually sent to different villages to begin two years of service.  As mentioned, I will most likely not have electricity so updates to this blog will be infrequently made when I travel to larger villages or cities. The best method of communicating with me will be through snail mail.  

 

Please keep me in your thoughts and prayers during my time of service. I’m feeling very nervous, but I know that I go with God’s protection and guidance. Missing you already!

                                                              

“Whoever serves must do so with the strength God supplies that God may be glorified in all things through Jesus Christ” 1 Peter 4:11