Partly in response to Pauline's request here is an update on my work routine.
Work.. hmmm...
Doddle definitely not, but explaining what I do...
My office is a regional education directorate, sort of like a LEA back in the UK...
Typically I get asked to do a small bit of work that after I look at it turns into a 2 or 3 day project, this happens pretty much every day.
About once a week people ask me to look at something that is anywhere from 2 weeks to 2 months work, I have 3 of these on the go at present and another 2 waiting for free time to start.
Anywhere from twice a week to 5 or 6 times a day I get requests to help with Facebook, similarly with Skype, and listening to or ripping MP3s.
I have 15 or so computers to look after all but one is in a bad state, and I rarely get time to look at anything before I get interrupted with the next task.
Every machine has viruses, most have loads, I am struggling to keep on top of this, as USB stick use is over the top, and no one scans USB sticks before use. I generally get called to look at a virus scan report most days and clean one or two USB sticks a day too.
Every machine has a anti virus on it, but there are 6 or 7 different brands of AV, none of them up to date, getting an offline update is nigh on impossible as the internet is so slow (generally under dial up speeds, quite often 1-2k per second!), so my plan of installing the same AV everywhere and running one update which I copy to every machine once a week has not come to fruition yet.
Quite often I get asked to help other people with their work which is not technical at all but just an assumption that I can do everything, so I have been asked to interview staff, write project proposals, help write a speech among other things.
So work for me at least is a quite heavy workload, but I have no time to be bored at least.
It is frustrating as everything takes so long and I have so little to work with, but the office staff are all nice and I get on with everyone, who mainly treat me like a miracle worker / tech god...
It is close to what I expected.
And indeed closer to what I wanted, though only I can get on top of things and get some more peace and quiet to get on with things.
Tuesday, 20 December 2011
Monday, 5 December 2011
Daily routine
I thought I'd make a nice detailed post about my daily routine here in Kerewan for people's edification... :)
I get up at 6.30am, just around dawn, and use my phone (also my alarm clock) as a torch to find my way out of the mosquito net and open the back door.
I take my bucket, jug soap tray and toilet roll outside and make use of my wonderful pit latrine, the jug is filled from the bucket and subsequently used as my tap/ handwashing bowl.
Depending on how warm it is I take a bucket bath (the last few weeks have been too cold for this). Then go into my front room / kitchen and open the curtains.
I grab a 500ml bag of water from the fridge and drink most of it straight down.
I then fill up the kettle from a bidong (cooking oil 20L plastic container used for holding water), measure a cup full of water into a saucepan, turn on the gas from the canister, and then light both rings on my gas burner.
One ring boils the kettle, the other boils the water for my porridge, as soon as they are both lit I get sugar out of a Tupperware container and add one lump for my tea, two for the porridge, then get some powdered milk, two teaspoons for the porridge, then finally add four tablespoons of Mornflake oats to the pan.
While intermittently stirring the porridge I put a Twinning's Earl Grey tea bag in my mug, and get some UHT milk out of the fridge, ready for my tea (I can't abide powdered milk for tea).
Note: there is no electric at this time of day, and the dawn light is kinda murky.
I then get my two vitamin pills and my Doxycycline out of the medicine drawer, and put them on the table, and I get my laptop out of its bag and switch it on.
By this time the kettle is boiled and my porridge is nearly ready, if I feel the need I add some syrup or cinnamon to the porridge, and put it a bowl. I finish making the tea, and replace the UHT milk into the fridge (which is off btw).
I read my emails, Facebook and BBC news while eating my breakfast and take my pills once its finished.
If I had a bucket bath I put a pair of shorts on, and start my daily chores, the dishes and saucepan go into a bucket of water ready for washing. I sweep the floor with my local brush (made of dried grass), and open my front door. The brushing continues outside, and once finished I go and fill up any buckets / bidongs that need it from the tap about 15m from my from my door.
If there is a need I hand wash my underwear, and hang them on the line in my latrine / back yard area, if there is time I wash my dishes, then get changed into my work clothes (usually just a different pair of sandals and trousers instead of shorts). I aim to leave the house about 9am or when the electric comes on (if it isn't 9am).
It is a 7 minute walk to the office, though sometimes I meet so many people on the way which necessitates stopping for a quick chat, that it takes a fair bit longer. Once at the office I open my room, switch the internet router on, drop my laptop off, then go say hello to everyone in the office, and after 30 minutes or so of that work through to 12ish when I go to get my lunchtime tapalapa (bread with egg or potato filling), I then eat at my desk while continuing work until 3pm when the electric goes off most days, sometimes its 2 or 4pm).
I go round and say goodbye to everyone, then walk home stopping regularly to say hello to people again.
Depending on who is there, I stop to chat to the policemen sitting outside their station, or the nice people at Suarei kunda (kunda is compound it is the place where the Suarei family live), or Ceesay kunda opposite mine.
I usually get mobbed by children on arriving home, and have to stop to greet everyone in the compound while playing with the children. If I'm lucky get into my house and drop my stuff off, otherwise I do a bit of mini mini salo (hold a child by the wrists and turn around and around till I and they get dizzy, then watch them try to stand up), until I can get inside.
I chat with my neighbours, play with the children, and while away the time reading if possible on my Kindle until the electric comes back on around 6pm.
At that point I turn the laptop back on, direct my room fan at the laptop, and consider my evening meal options.
If I wander near any of the houses on the compound near meal times I always get asked to come in and join them, sometimes they even bring a bowl with my food in to my house! If not I make something simple with pasta/ rice or boil some veg/ noodles. The dishes go into the washing up bucket and get washed at some point in the evening.
I occasionally watch a film on my laptop, otherwise I play a computer game or read some more.
Somewhere around 9pm I close my door and curtains, and have an hour or two of peace and quiet before I head to bed. I get my phone, using it as a torch I turn off the lights, and tuck in the mosquito net, and go to bed.
I get up at 6.30am, just around dawn, and use my phone (also my alarm clock) as a torch to find my way out of the mosquito net and open the back door.
I take my bucket, jug soap tray and toilet roll outside and make use of my wonderful pit latrine, the jug is filled from the bucket and subsequently used as my tap/ handwashing bowl.
Depending on how warm it is I take a bucket bath (the last few weeks have been too cold for this). Then go into my front room / kitchen and open the curtains.
I grab a 500ml bag of water from the fridge and drink most of it straight down.
I then fill up the kettle from a bidong (cooking oil 20L plastic container used for holding water), measure a cup full of water into a saucepan, turn on the gas from the canister, and then light both rings on my gas burner.
One ring boils the kettle, the other boils the water for my porridge, as soon as they are both lit I get sugar out of a Tupperware container and add one lump for my tea, two for the porridge, then get some powdered milk, two teaspoons for the porridge, then finally add four tablespoons of Mornflake oats to the pan.
While intermittently stirring the porridge I put a Twinning's Earl Grey tea bag in my mug, and get some UHT milk out of the fridge, ready for my tea (I can't abide powdered milk for tea).
Note: there is no electric at this time of day, and the dawn light is kinda murky.
I then get my two vitamin pills and my Doxycycline out of the medicine drawer, and put them on the table, and I get my laptop out of its bag and switch it on.
By this time the kettle is boiled and my porridge is nearly ready, if I feel the need I add some syrup or cinnamon to the porridge, and put it a bowl. I finish making the tea, and replace the UHT milk into the fridge (which is off btw).
I read my emails, Facebook and BBC news while eating my breakfast and take my pills once its finished.
If I had a bucket bath I put a pair of shorts on, and start my daily chores, the dishes and saucepan go into a bucket of water ready for washing. I sweep the floor with my local brush (made of dried grass), and open my front door. The brushing continues outside, and once finished I go and fill up any buckets / bidongs that need it from the tap about 15m from my from my door.
If there is a need I hand wash my underwear, and hang them on the line in my latrine / back yard area, if there is time I wash my dishes, then get changed into my work clothes (usually just a different pair of sandals and trousers instead of shorts). I aim to leave the house about 9am or when the electric comes on (if it isn't 9am).
It is a 7 minute walk to the office, though sometimes I meet so many people on the way which necessitates stopping for a quick chat, that it takes a fair bit longer. Once at the office I open my room, switch the internet router on, drop my laptop off, then go say hello to everyone in the office, and after 30 minutes or so of that work through to 12ish when I go to get my lunchtime tapalapa (bread with egg or potato filling), I then eat at my desk while continuing work until 3pm when the electric goes off most days, sometimes its 2 or 4pm).
I go round and say goodbye to everyone, then walk home stopping regularly to say hello to people again.
Depending on who is there, I stop to chat to the policemen sitting outside their station, or the nice people at Suarei kunda (kunda is compound it is the place where the Suarei family live), or Ceesay kunda opposite mine.
I usually get mobbed by children on arriving home, and have to stop to greet everyone in the compound while playing with the children. If I'm lucky get into my house and drop my stuff off, otherwise I do a bit of mini mini salo (hold a child by the wrists and turn around and around till I and they get dizzy, then watch them try to stand up), until I can get inside.
I chat with my neighbours, play with the children, and while away the time reading if possible on my Kindle until the electric comes back on around 6pm.
At that point I turn the laptop back on, direct my room fan at the laptop, and consider my evening meal options.
If I wander near any of the houses on the compound near meal times I always get asked to come in and join them, sometimes they even bring a bowl with my food in to my house! If not I make something simple with pasta/ rice or boil some veg/ noodles. The dishes go into the washing up bucket and get washed at some point in the evening.
I occasionally watch a film on my laptop, otherwise I play a computer game or read some more.
Somewhere around 9pm I close my door and curtains, and have an hour or two of peace and quiet before I head to bed. I get my phone, using it as a torch I turn off the lights, and tuck in the mosquito net, and go to bed.
Some pictures II
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| Njaba Kunda school, where I went for a visit, and repaired some of their PCs. |
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| The river (Bintang Bolong) towards sunset with the groundnut (peanut) conveyor belt on the left |
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| Action in the hotly contested Kerewan seniors football final. |
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| The cup for the winners! |
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| A very interesting ants nest, reminds me of a Tattoine (Star Wars) landscape. |
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| Little Fatima looking like an angel (extremely rare for the girl known throughout Kerewan as being very stubborn (naughty)). |
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| Omar Ceesay (my i thoma [namesake]) making Ataia (tea). |
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| A view of the compound from outside. |
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| The Banjul ferry terminal from the ferry. |
Lost in space!
I know it has been while since the last post, so I'll try to make this a big one.
So what has been going on the last 6 weeks? Quite a lot is the short answer.
We had a presidential visit which was minor bit of excitement, then we had Tobaski (Eid_al-Adha), then we had presidential elections.
I also went down to the Kombos (urban coastal area) three times, and Farafenni twice...
The Presidents visit was advertised and everyone in the town had to go to the main road to watch him go past, all the children wore their school uniforms, and everyone else wore their best clothes.
I stayed at home and missed out on it though.
So the story goes is that unfortunate things happen to villages who failed to turn out for the drive past, but that is just hearsay.
I'll leave Tobaski for its own post.
The elections passed without any issues, and everyone had two days off work (well except me who had loads to do). A number of people on the compound and in the office helped out as counters, observers or presiding officers for the vote too.
My kombo visits were for shopping and a few bits of admin. The first visit was to pickup my Alien card ( photo id) and go out for food with some other VSOs I stayed two night and did a bit of shopping too. The second visit I ordered some more Doxycyclines, got my bank book, my residency permit and did a very fast shop (on this occasion I was down and back on the same day). The 3rd visit just this last weekend was for a one night stay and to pickup my Doxycyclines (thanks Lucy for getting them from the office for me), check my mail and do some shopping.
My two visits to Farafenni were both for a half day or so and included a visit to Eddies bar/ restaurant and some shopping.
You will note that every trip out of Kerewan includes shopping, this is because there are limited opportunities to buy packaged goods here.
So what has been going on the last 6 weeks? Quite a lot is the short answer.
We had a presidential visit which was minor bit of excitement, then we had Tobaski (Eid_al-Adha), then we had presidential elections.
I also went down to the Kombos (urban coastal area) three times, and Farafenni twice...
The Presidents visit was advertised and everyone in the town had to go to the main road to watch him go past, all the children wore their school uniforms, and everyone else wore their best clothes.
I stayed at home and missed out on it though.
So the story goes is that unfortunate things happen to villages who failed to turn out for the drive past, but that is just hearsay.
I'll leave Tobaski for its own post.
The elections passed without any issues, and everyone had two days off work (well except me who had loads to do). A number of people on the compound and in the office helped out as counters, observers or presiding officers for the vote too.
My kombo visits were for shopping and a few bits of admin. The first visit was to pickup my Alien card ( photo id) and go out for food with some other VSOs I stayed two night and did a bit of shopping too. The second visit I ordered some more Doxycyclines, got my bank book, my residency permit and did a very fast shop (on this occasion I was down and back on the same day). The 3rd visit just this last weekend was for a one night stay and to pickup my Doxycyclines (thanks Lucy for getting them from the office for me), check my mail and do some shopping.
My two visits to Farafenni were both for a half day or so and included a visit to Eddies bar/ restaurant and some shopping.
You will note that every trip out of Kerewan includes shopping, this is because there are limited opportunities to buy packaged goods here.
Tuesday, 18 October 2011
50 days of Doxycycline
I'm slightly overdue for a blog update I realise, but it's just part of my attempt to fit in here, honest.
There isn't much point in rushing in the Gambia, take your time and be patient things will happen eventually.
So what have the last few weeks been like? Much of a muchness, lots of computer related boring things people don't want to hear about, lots of power cuts and generally times of limited activity, lots of heat, and bugs, and lots of friendly happy Gambians.
Highlights include finishing my first packet of Doxycycline tablets, going to a 'programme' at the local school, and my birthday.
So I've finished my first 50 Doxycyclines - anti-malarial antibiotics, with no side effects (I think).
I went to a singing / dancing effort at the local school a few nights ago, it was a enthusiasm filled evening of local singers and dancers, with much audience participation, though for any Health and Safety types out there it may have been a bit traumatic... lets just say the crowd control was chaotic at best. No one was hurt to my knowledge though.
My birthday was also quite an occasion, it started with a pre booked appointment with one of the few TVs here to watch the rugby, but alas it was not to be, the generator needed filling and when that was fixed the satellite box insisted the subscription had run out (even though it was working the previous day).
Then I went to the office for a short session of a workshop, this I expected to be a couple of hours, but turned into a 6pm finish time. I then went to Nathan's house (Peace corps volunteer here in Kerewan, and together with Suky and Vicky had a few drinks, played silly games and made merry till the wee hours.
A brief note on power cuts, we have had at least a dozen power cuts today, the electric came on late (about 9.20am, instead of 9am) and stopped completely at 2pm (instead of 4pm). I have no idea what is wrong, but maybe someone there knows an electric company engineer and can persuade them to come out and volunteer working for the Gambian Water and Electric board?
Some pictures, may or may not come later, depending on my laptop charge and the speed of the internet (generally below dial up speeds lately).
There isn't much point in rushing in the Gambia, take your time and be patient things will happen eventually.
So what have the last few weeks been like? Much of a muchness, lots of computer related boring things people don't want to hear about, lots of power cuts and generally times of limited activity, lots of heat, and bugs, and lots of friendly happy Gambians.
Highlights include finishing my first packet of Doxycycline tablets, going to a 'programme' at the local school, and my birthday.
So I've finished my first 50 Doxycyclines - anti-malarial antibiotics, with no side effects (I think).
I went to a singing / dancing effort at the local school a few nights ago, it was a enthusiasm filled evening of local singers and dancers, with much audience participation, though for any Health and Safety types out there it may have been a bit traumatic... lets just say the crowd control was chaotic at best. No one was hurt to my knowledge though.
My birthday was also quite an occasion, it started with a pre booked appointment with one of the few TVs here to watch the rugby, but alas it was not to be, the generator needed filling and when that was fixed the satellite box insisted the subscription had run out (even though it was working the previous day).
Then I went to the office for a short session of a workshop, this I expected to be a couple of hours, but turned into a 6pm finish time. I then went to Nathan's house (Peace corps volunteer here in Kerewan, and together with Suky and Vicky had a few drinks, played silly games and made merry till the wee hours.
A brief note on power cuts, we have had at least a dozen power cuts today, the electric came on late (about 9.20am, instead of 9am) and stopped completely at 2pm (instead of 4pm). I have no idea what is wrong, but maybe someone there knows an electric company engineer and can persuade them to come out and volunteer working for the Gambian Water and Electric board?
Some pictures, may or may not come later, depending on my laptop charge and the speed of the internet (generally below dial up speeds lately).
Friday, 30 September 2011
Join the cockroaches(dots) and other pit latrine games!
Today's update will be very short (hurrah I hear you cry!), and other than a picture of the VSO group will concentrate on pit latrines, a subject close to everyone's heart I'm sure.
For those who are unaware, I don't have running water, and I use a semi permanent hole in the ground for my ablutions. Now this is an all mod cons hole in that it is shaped like a bicycle seat and the surround is concrete.
During the day you are blissfully unaware of what happens below you, but at night the more sensible tend to use a torch top use the facilities, this is not an entirely positive thing.
Plus is you can see your feet (no accidental slips and putting your foot in the hole), the toilet roll and handy bucket for washing your hands afterwards. The negative is you can see these things, and the many and varied residents of the latrine area who are particularly active at night.
Ants share this area but I see more of them during the day, and they are generally small and leave me alone, mosquitoes also share the area but so far have left me alone.
There are a couple of small spiders who help keep flies and mosquitoes away but don't cause any incidents themselves. There are some toads and lizards who do the same, but they are nervous of company and tend to hide when I visit.
Lastly is the main resident of the pit itself, the cockroach, I've never met them before the Gambia (from memory at least), yet here they seem to thrive. In my house I only have one regular roach, he (or she) likes to wander over my rubbish bag at night, which is a little noisy, and fruitless for the roach as the only thing in this bag is plastic wrappers (all food waste goes into the latrine).
In the latrine they tend to wander around doing whatever cockroaches do, some 6 -18" below my nether parts, this has a slightly disconcerting effect while using the facilities, but I expect I will get used to them.
In other news I received from Sarah one of the other VSO's this nice picture of our group so for your viewing pleasure here is the entire VSO The Gambia new volunteer group with a few of the staff too!
For those who are unaware, I don't have running water, and I use a semi permanent hole in the ground for my ablutions. Now this is an all mod cons hole in that it is shaped like a bicycle seat and the surround is concrete.
During the day you are blissfully unaware of what happens below you, but at night the more sensible tend to use a torch top use the facilities, this is not an entirely positive thing.
Plus is you can see your feet (no accidental slips and putting your foot in the hole), the toilet roll and handy bucket for washing your hands afterwards. The negative is you can see these things, and the many and varied residents of the latrine area who are particularly active at night.
Ants share this area but I see more of them during the day, and they are generally small and leave me alone, mosquitoes also share the area but so far have left me alone.
There are a couple of small spiders who help keep flies and mosquitoes away but don't cause any incidents themselves. There are some toads and lizards who do the same, but they are nervous of company and tend to hide when I visit.
Lastly is the main resident of the pit itself, the cockroach, I've never met them before the Gambia (from memory at least), yet here they seem to thrive. In my house I only have one regular roach, he (or she) likes to wander over my rubbish bag at night, which is a little noisy, and fruitless for the roach as the only thing in this bag is plastic wrappers (all food waste goes into the latrine).
In the latrine they tend to wander around doing whatever cockroaches do, some 6 -18" below my nether parts, this has a slightly disconcerting effect while using the facilities, but I expect I will get used to them.
In other news I received from Sarah one of the other VSO's this nice picture of our group so for your viewing pleasure here is the entire VSO The Gambia new volunteer group with a few of the staff too!
Friday, 23 September 2011
The joy of the Banjul ferry and other adventures.
So what trouble has befallen our intrepid hero in this episode?
Last week ended the ICT (in country training) and the Mandinka lessons, we had a test where I came joint fourth (94%) - poor show! :)
Other than that I've loafed around and shopped, and waited for a decision to be made on when I could go to my placement.
After some delays Thursday was set as D day, and I was packed and ready to at 9.30am. Unfortunately due to a combination of factors we were not on the road to Banjul until around 10.45. Lamin who was being transported to Soma asked to stop at the Ministry of Education for 5 minutes to pick up a projector. This needed approval from the Minister, who didn't want to lose Lamin to the provinces, and it was agreed by VSO he would offload his stuff there and go back to his Kombos home for now.
This and the other delays meant we didn't get to the ferry port until 12.30pm ish, and the queue would best be described as chaotic.
A ferry left at about 1pm, but it had a 3 hour turnaround and the other two ferries weren't working, so the driver and myself hoped we could get onto the ~4pm ferry, this was not to be and we managed to get the last place on the 7pm ferry.
We got off in Barra at around 8.30pm, and got on the road to Kerewan about 8.45, arrving about 9.40pm.
I greeted the entire compound, some of them twice it seems, and much fun was had by all.
I received my Gambia name, from henceforth I shall be known as Omar Ceesay!
I was so tired I only unpacked and set-up my mosquito net, and put a sheet and pillow on the bed, then after a quick bit of tapalapa (bread) thanks to Vicky next door I called it a day.
Today I unpacked, played with the compound children, went for a walk and met a good 10% of the town, found the police station and talked to them a bit, then found my office and spent about an hour and 30 minutes talking to them, and then finally introduced myself at the hospital/ health centre.
I went back to my house, continued unpacking and eventually finished and as I was about ready to expire the lady next door kindly asked me if I'd like lunch, and it was delivered shorty afterwards!
In the afternoon I went with one of the compound teenagers - Lamin (no relation to the previous one) to a local football game, featuring the athletic Kerewan central under 15s team facing the ferocious Kerewan that side of town under 15s team! There was a pointing motion at the time, but I had no idea which direction it was.)
After a brief chin wag with Vicky henceforth (and indeed for the last year) known as Kaddy Ceesay, I retired to my room, only to greet another 20 family members before getting down to this blogging business and bed!
I have shared a few pictures of Kerewan for your visual entertainment.
More pictures to come sometime soon!.
Just so you get a complete picture, it is 9.33pm, and 31.3 degrees C, with 83% humidity here! Just what you get in Swansea... /cough. :)
Last week ended the ICT (in country training) and the Mandinka lessons, we had a test where I came joint fourth (94%) - poor show! :)
Other than that I've loafed around and shopped, and waited for a decision to be made on when I could go to my placement.
After some delays Thursday was set as D day, and I was packed and ready to at 9.30am. Unfortunately due to a combination of factors we were not on the road to Banjul until around 10.45. Lamin who was being transported to Soma asked to stop at the Ministry of Education for 5 minutes to pick up a projector. This needed approval from the Minister, who didn't want to lose Lamin to the provinces, and it was agreed by VSO he would offload his stuff there and go back to his Kombos home for now.
This and the other delays meant we didn't get to the ferry port until 12.30pm ish, and the queue would best be described as chaotic.
A ferry left at about 1pm, but it had a 3 hour turnaround and the other two ferries weren't working, so the driver and myself hoped we could get onto the ~4pm ferry, this was not to be and we managed to get the last place on the 7pm ferry.
We got off in Barra at around 8.30pm, and got on the road to Kerewan about 8.45, arrving about 9.40pm.
I greeted the entire compound, some of them twice it seems, and much fun was had by all.
I received my Gambia name, from henceforth I shall be known as Omar Ceesay!
I was so tired I only unpacked and set-up my mosquito net, and put a sheet and pillow on the bed, then after a quick bit of tapalapa (bread) thanks to Vicky next door I called it a day.
Today I unpacked, played with the compound children, went for a walk and met a good 10% of the town, found the police station and talked to them a bit, then found my office and spent about an hour and 30 minutes talking to them, and then finally introduced myself at the hospital/ health centre.
I went back to my house, continued unpacking and eventually finished and as I was about ready to expire the lady next door kindly asked me if I'd like lunch, and it was delivered shorty afterwards!
In the afternoon I went with one of the compound teenagers - Lamin (no relation to the previous one) to a local football game, featuring the athletic Kerewan central under 15s team facing the ferocious Kerewan that side of town under 15s team! There was a pointing motion at the time, but I had no idea which direction it was.)
After a brief chin wag with Vicky henceforth (and indeed for the last year) known as Kaddy Ceesay, I retired to my room, only to greet another 20 family members before getting down to this blogging business and bed!
I have shared a few pictures of Kerewan for your visual entertainment.
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| The outside of the education office (where I will work) |
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| The street, from the office facing back to my house. |
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| You may be able to make out the sign that says Kerewan health centre here. |
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| One of the fellow residents of my house. |
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| My kitchen from my blogging and general relaxing chair. |
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| My kitchen/ lounge from the door to my bedroom, the door here is the one to outside. |
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| My bedroom dressers from the doorway, you can see the door to my pit latrine / washing area here. |
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| My bed taken from the door to the washing area. |
Just so you get a complete picture, it is 9.33pm, and 31.3 degrees C, with 83% humidity here! Just what you get in Swansea... /cough. :)
Monday, 19 September 2011
Eau de deet
This blogging business is hard work, I'm so tired and worn out from the climate, training, lack of sleep and bugs that it is just too much effort to post.
So what is eau de deet I hear you ask? It is the delightful new cologne being launched soon by your favourite NGO, as currently sported by all the coolest VSO's and by me also! :)
Deet is the lovely chemical that send bugs of several kinds screaming in fear from you, apparently.
It has a memorable smell that is not too unpleasant, to some of us it is even getting kinda comforting...
I spray oodles of the stuff over me every morning, and hope that it means I will not be bitten that day, but unfortunately I am still averaging 3 or 4 bites a day at a guess. Most of my first week bites have been reduced to small scabs or scars, but I have more than enough new bites to make up for it. (Note: I also spray myself in the afternoon and / or evening, and sleep under a mosquito net, in a house with screens on every window and door.)
So what have I been up to in the last week and a bit?
I've been doing lots of Mandinka training, so I can just about ask for a loaf of bread in the market, with some patience required on the part of the trader mind.
I also went to the village of Ndemban in the South bank on the edge of the central river region, so about an hour and a bit drive from us.
We were met by a welcoming committee of local village ladies who had dressed in their finest and sang and danced while leading us to the local lower basic school (~ primary school), I was spotted as a natural talent and asked (dragged screaming0 to joinn them in the dance. We then had more dancing and a meeting of the village elders and the VDC (village development council).
We had a long round of introductions and then a Q & A session. It was great to hear what some of the village had been working on to try and improve their lot. We then had an opportunity to view two of the projects the VDC had been working on, a hostel had been built for tourists to stay at in order to visit the local wetlands, some boats had been procured for this too. And some land had been converted to gardens to grow more cash crops to help the village finances.
We then had lunch, which we were supposed to eat with our hands but most of us ended up using a spoon, we had a choice of 3 dishes, Domada (a rice based dish of meat in a peanut sauce), a fish flavoured millet dish, and a rice dish with irish potatoes, sour tomatoes and some kind of meat as topping.
This was washed down with the ever plentiful Coca Cola... (I'm drinking more of the stuff out here in a week than a couple of months back home.)
Once this was done we had another meeting with the VDC, then another dance where we all had to join in, needless to say I was called upon twice...
We then made our way home after a great but slightly long day. The villages made a special effort to welcome us and most of us were quite emotional leaving them.
Thee children as evidenced by my pictures (mainly on facebook), loved having their photo taken, and all of us were adopted by at least two children, these adoptees held our hands and generally tried to keep as close to us as possible. They asked questions if old enough, and held on tight to any empty plastic bottles we gave them as if prized possessions.
So what is eau de deet I hear you ask? It is the delightful new cologne being launched soon by your favourite NGO, as currently sported by all the coolest VSO's and by me also! :)
Deet is the lovely chemical that send bugs of several kinds screaming in fear from you, apparently.
It has a memorable smell that is not too unpleasant, to some of us it is even getting kinda comforting...
I spray oodles of the stuff over me every morning, and hope that it means I will not be bitten that day, but unfortunately I am still averaging 3 or 4 bites a day at a guess. Most of my first week bites have been reduced to small scabs or scars, but I have more than enough new bites to make up for it. (Note: I also spray myself in the afternoon and / or evening, and sleep under a mosquito net, in a house with screens on every window and door.)
So what have I been up to in the last week and a bit?
I've been doing lots of Mandinka training, so I can just about ask for a loaf of bread in the market, with some patience required on the part of the trader mind.
I also went to the village of Ndemban in the South bank on the edge of the central river region, so about an hour and a bit drive from us.
We were met by a welcoming committee of local village ladies who had dressed in their finest and sang and danced while leading us to the local lower basic school (~ primary school), I was spotted as a natural talent and asked (dragged screaming0 to joinn them in the dance. We then had more dancing and a meeting of the village elders and the VDC (village development council).
We had a long round of introductions and then a Q & A session. It was great to hear what some of the village had been working on to try and improve their lot. We then had an opportunity to view two of the projects the VDC had been working on, a hostel had been built for tourists to stay at in order to visit the local wetlands, some boats had been procured for this too. And some land had been converted to gardens to grow more cash crops to help the village finances.
We then had lunch, which we were supposed to eat with our hands but most of us ended up using a spoon, we had a choice of 3 dishes, Domada (a rice based dish of meat in a peanut sauce), a fish flavoured millet dish, and a rice dish with irish potatoes, sour tomatoes and some kind of meat as topping.
This was washed down with the ever plentiful Coca Cola... (I'm drinking more of the stuff out here in a week than a couple of months back home.)
Once this was done we had another meeting with the VDC, then another dance where we all had to join in, needless to say I was called upon twice...
We then made our way home after a great but slightly long day. The villages made a special effort to welcome us and most of us were quite emotional leaving them.
Thee children as evidenced by my pictures (mainly on facebook), loved having their photo taken, and all of us were adopted by at least two children, these adoptees held our hands and generally tried to keep as close to us as possible. They asked questions if old enough, and held on tight to any empty plastic bottles we gave them as if prized possessions.
Tuesday, 13 September 2011
Some pictures
Just some pictures to keep you going an update on my visit to the village of Ndemban in a day or two.
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| Me and a crocodile, it was a little lazy and pretty much ignored me. |
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| The outside of the hotel we stayed in for the first week. |
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| A view of the road near the junction to our road |
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| The welcoming committee on our village visit |
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| One of the many children to keep me company in the visit to Ndemban village |
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| Another of the very friendly children |
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| The food the villages laid on for us |
Friday, 9 September 2011
One week has gone by!
I have been here over a week, mad, seems like years already we have settled in so much.
The group who started with me are great, one is from Ireland, one from India and the others are from England, though one was brought up in Swansea! :)
So who are they? Well in no particular order we have:
Catherine from Dublin who is going to teach maths in Brikama college;
Daniel - Catherine's husband who is here as an accompanying partner (or kept man!);
Liam from Brighton (but of Swansea upbringing) who is going to live in Brikama and will be a primary teacher trainer;
Shomita from India (Calcutta) who is going to be a Disability advisor somewhere in the Kombos;
Zakia from London, who is going to be in the Kombos as a primary teacher trainer.
Mary (of linked blog Mary in the Gambia fame) who will be a management advisor in the Royal Victoria teaching hospital in the Kombos;
Rob whose English origins are unknown to me, but is going to be a national volunteering advisor at the Ministry of Education again in the Kombos;
Suki who will join me in Kerewan and is from Birmingham, she is going to be a primary teacher trainer;
Chris (tine) from the Watford area who is a retired headteacher and going to be a education advisor in Soma / Manse Konto;
Lamin who is originally from the Gambia but more recently of Germany / Netherlands who will be my counterpart (IT trainer) in Soma / Manse Konto;
Sarah from Durham who will be a primary teacher trainer based in Basse.
I feel lucky to have such a great group, we all get on well (so far) and I think most of us will stay close during our placements and afterwards.
The week has been mostly paperwork, briefings and language training, though yesterday we had a workshop with our employers, who were all nice and welcoming.
Today some of us visited Serrakunda market the largest market in The Gambia, it was a bit hectic, and we had a bit of hard sell from some traders, but was overall a great experience.
As we say around her "Fo nyaato!" (Till later)
The group who started with me are great, one is from Ireland, one from India and the others are from England, though one was brought up in Swansea! :)
So who are they? Well in no particular order we have:
Catherine from Dublin who is going to teach maths in Brikama college;
Daniel - Catherine's husband who is here as an accompanying partner (or kept man!);
Liam from Brighton (but of Swansea upbringing) who is going to live in Brikama and will be a primary teacher trainer;
Shomita from India (Calcutta) who is going to be a Disability advisor somewhere in the Kombos;
Zakia from London, who is going to be in the Kombos as a primary teacher trainer.
Mary (of linked blog Mary in the Gambia fame) who will be a management advisor in the Royal Victoria teaching hospital in the Kombos;
Rob whose English origins are unknown to me, but is going to be a national volunteering advisor at the Ministry of Education again in the Kombos;
Suki who will join me in Kerewan and is from Birmingham, she is going to be a primary teacher trainer;
Chris (tine) from the Watford area who is a retired headteacher and going to be a education advisor in Soma / Manse Konto;
Lamin who is originally from the Gambia but more recently of Germany / Netherlands who will be my counterpart (IT trainer) in Soma / Manse Konto;
Sarah from Durham who will be a primary teacher trainer based in Basse.
I feel lucky to have such a great group, we all get on well (so far) and I think most of us will stay close during our placements and afterwards.
The week has been mostly paperwork, briefings and language training, though yesterday we had a workshop with our employers, who were all nice and welcoming.
Today some of us visited Serrakunda market the largest market in The Gambia, it was a bit hectic, and we had a bit of hard sell from some traders, but was overall a great experience.
As we say around her "Fo nyaato!" (Till later)
Tuesday, 6 September 2011
Bugs!
So the wireless is working at last in the hotel, and the night before we leave!
Tomorrow we head off to what is sometimes called the big brother house. The upcountry folk (5 of us who are headed to the rural areas of The Gambia) are going to a shared house, the others are headed to their respective houses.
We have started language training, and have reached the level of greetings.
Which goes
Q: Salaam alekum
A: Malekum salaam
Q: Koyira Be?
A: Koyira Doron
Q: Sumoluu le?
A: I bee be je
Q: Kori Tanate
A: Tanate
Q: I be Naadi
A: Mbe jan doron.
We have had a tour with some experiences volunteers, very much a whistlestop tour, that took up most of Saturday.
On Sunday I went for a walk, stopped off at the Fajara craft market, which was shown on the Holiday Hijack program, and it was a bit eery, I was the only one there!
Starting to rain now so time to stop.
Tomorrow we head off to what is sometimes called the big brother house. The upcountry folk (5 of us who are headed to the rural areas of The Gambia) are going to a shared house, the others are headed to their respective houses.
We have started language training, and have reached the level of greetings.
Which goes
Q: Salaam alekum
A: Malekum salaam
Q: Koyira Be?
A: Koyira Doron
Q: Sumoluu le?
A: I bee be je
Q: Kori Tanate
A: Tanate
Q: I be Naadi
A: Mbe jan doron.
We have had a tour with some experiences volunteers, very much a whistlestop tour, that took up most of Saturday.
On Sunday I went for a walk, stopped off at the Fajara craft market, which was shown on the Holiday Hijack program, and it was a bit eery, I was the only one there!
Starting to rain now so time to stop.
Friday, 2 September 2011
Touchdown Gambia!
I have arrived, and in one piece too. One day in the Gambia and on my fourth shower! It is a tad humid, but not overly hot. Posting this on my kindle as no working wifi in the hotel, and we haven't had a chance to get a dongle yet, so no pics yet.
The journey out was without incident, I met a nice lady from the MRC who shared her experience with me, thank you Biate. The airport in Banjul was fun, first experience of the infamous bumpsters (men trying to help you with luggage, advice etc and hoping for money)
They certainly were persistent, and I failed to resist them, though it only cost me about 2 pounds.
I had a bit of a scare coming out of the airport as they x-ray your luggage on leaving. The nice men from security called me aside and asked me to follow them to a customs office. a uniformd chap started to question me on what was in my bags and why I had so many cables and computer kit with me, before it got too hairy a colleague of his noticed my t-shirt and it's VSO logo and said "He is VSO, let him go" or words to that effect, and I was scot free!
We got paid our first months allowance today and it came in a thick envelope, 148 notes worth. With 10 of us counting it felt like some kind of mafia gambling den scene in a film!
Everyone so far has been really nice and friendly, it is with good reason The Gambia is called the smiling coast.
The journey out was without incident, I met a nice lady from the MRC who shared her experience with me, thank you Biate. The airport in Banjul was fun, first experience of the infamous bumpsters (men trying to help you with luggage, advice etc and hoping for money)
They certainly were persistent, and I failed to resist them, though it only cost me about 2 pounds.
I had a bit of a scare coming out of the airport as they x-ray your luggage on leaving. The nice men from security called me aside and asked me to follow them to a customs office. a uniformd chap started to question me on what was in my bags and why I had so many cables and computer kit with me, before it got too hairy a colleague of his noticed my t-shirt and it's VSO logo and said "He is VSO, let him go" or words to that effect, and I was scot free!
We got paid our first months allowance today and it came in a thick envelope, 148 notes worth. With 10 of us counting it felt like some kind of mafia gambling den scene in a film!
Everyone so far has been really nice and friendly, it is with good reason The Gambia is called the smiling coast.
Wednesday, 31 August 2011
Off to the airport!
Well everything is packed in the car now, and all things being equal I shall be off in just under an hour.
1st stop my brothers house, where we are going for dinner in a local pub restaurant, then back to his house for a few hours nap, then off to Heathrow hopefully for check-in around 4am!
No idea on the chance of me posting when I get there, so watch this space!
Took my second Doxycycline this morning seems to work fine for me, no nasty side effects.
Bye for now!
1st stop my brothers house, where we are going for dinner in a local pub restaurant, then back to his house for a few hours nap, then off to Heathrow hopefully for check-in around 4am!
No idea on the chance of me posting when I get there, so watch this space!
Took my second Doxycycline this morning seems to work fine for me, no nasty side effects.
Bye for now!
Sunday, 21 August 2011
Practice pack!
I foolishly tried a practice pack today!
Eek! What a pile of stuff I've got to take with me, will have to forget a few things I think. Not far over the weight limit though, just cant get everything into the bags!
I've taken everything out of their packaging, squashed things everywhere but my two checked bags and my carry on are chocka.
I can save a bit of weight by rationalising some stuff, but only a few clothes I can cut back and they don't weigh much or take up much or take up much space. My tools pretty much all fit into one box, might be able to loose one pliers but not much to cut back on there, and very little space to be gained.
Toiletries is where it's at I think, 2 sun lotions and after-suns weigh 1.6kg and take up a fair amount of space, two deodorants, one shower gel, one shaving foam, 4 bars of soap, half a dozen assorted ointments, various painkillers, plasters etc. I could drop one sun lotion and after sun, not much else I could cut back on.
Odds and ends of electrical equipment add up too, just a 4 plug extension with surge protection is a fair lump. Lots of CDs (mainly blank but some installation disks too), some assorted cables (I have loads more I could take too), and some spare fuses, batteries etc. Not sure where I can cut back there either.
I may have to fill my coat up with stuff and somehow break even.
Still it is just the first attempt, and I'm in the right ball park at least.
10 days to go! Getting exciting now... :)
Eek! What a pile of stuff I've got to take with me, will have to forget a few things I think. Not far over the weight limit though, just cant get everything into the bags!
I've taken everything out of their packaging, squashed things everywhere but my two checked bags and my carry on are chocka.
I can save a bit of weight by rationalising some stuff, but only a few clothes I can cut back and they don't weigh much or take up much or take up much space. My tools pretty much all fit into one box, might be able to loose one pliers but not much to cut back on there, and very little space to be gained.
Toiletries is where it's at I think, 2 sun lotions and after-suns weigh 1.6kg and take up a fair amount of space, two deodorants, one shower gel, one shaving foam, 4 bars of soap, half a dozen assorted ointments, various painkillers, plasters etc. I could drop one sun lotion and after sun, not much else I could cut back on.
Odds and ends of electrical equipment add up too, just a 4 plug extension with surge protection is a fair lump. Lots of CDs (mainly blank but some installation disks too), some assorted cables (I have loads more I could take too), and some spare fuses, batteries etc. Not sure where I can cut back there either.
I may have to fill my coat up with stuff and somehow break even.
Still it is just the first attempt, and I'm in the right ball park at least.
10 days to go! Getting exciting now... :)
Wednesday, 10 August 2011
3 weeks to go!
Well it is only 3 more weeks, and still some stuff to do, going to Sweden via Bracknell tomorrow (flight is Friday), then thanks to my Aunt I'm going to see Wales vs Argentina playing rugby a week Saturday in the Millennium stadium. :)
I failed to give an update last week about my day in Welsh Boxes who gave me some sponsorship money, thank you to them! :)
I had a few dusty hours clearing boxes from a store room, and then putting new boxes in their place. Lots of fun....
I was in SKWID last weekend, I arrived late Saturday morning and was on my own for a while. Thankfully the tea and coffee was ready. :)
The course had it's good and bad points, but without a doubt the best bit was meeting all the other participants, what a nice group they were, some I will think fondly of, and hopefully will become close friends with, and I have no doubt I will keep in touch with many.
No difficulties coming home due to riots thankfully too.
I failed to give an update last week about my day in Welsh Boxes who gave me some sponsorship money, thank you to them! :)
I had a few dusty hours clearing boxes from a store room, and then putting new boxes in their place. Lots of fun....
I was in SKWID last weekend, I arrived late Saturday morning and was on my own for a while. Thankfully the tea and coffee was ready. :)
The course had it's good and bad points, but without a doubt the best bit was meeting all the other participants, what a nice group they were, some I will think fondly of, and hopefully will become close friends with, and I have no doubt I will keep in touch with many.
No difficulties coming home due to riots thankfully too.
Monday, 1 August 2011
Yellow Fever!
I had my Yellow fever jab today, the jab itself was the most painless yet, but I felt distinctly under the weather within an hour of it, but now 6 1/2 hours later I feel fine again.. phew. :)
I had a new and free phone courtesy of Jo at Tesco Mobile yesterday, thanks Jo!
What else do I have planned this week I hear you ask? Well tomorrow I shall be mainly cooking a chilly and arranging for Wednesday.
Wednesday I shall be spending the day with a nice company in Fforestfach (Swansea) who will be sponsoring me! Thanks in advance, and more details after I have been there!
Thursday I pick up my prescription for Doxycycline, which my regular reads will be aware is my chosen anti malarial, and I also get my final jab the 3rd Rabies vaccination.
Friday I will be doing a few bits and bobs and pack a bag ready to go to SKWID (VSO training course - Skills for working in development) on Saturday morning.
Saturday I'll be off to SKWID in Birmingham, via a train from Swansea. Leaving the house around 6.45am eek!
I had a new and free phone courtesy of Jo at Tesco Mobile yesterday, thanks Jo!
What else do I have planned this week I hear you ask? Well tomorrow I shall be mainly cooking a chilly and arranging for Wednesday.
Wednesday I shall be spending the day with a nice company in Fforestfach (Swansea) who will be sponsoring me! Thanks in advance, and more details after I have been there!
Thursday I pick up my prescription for Doxycycline, which my regular reads will be aware is my chosen anti malarial, and I also get my final jab the 3rd Rabies vaccination.
Friday I will be doing a few bits and bobs and pack a bag ready to go to SKWID (VSO training course - Skills for working in development) on Saturday morning.
Saturday I'll be off to SKWID in Birmingham, via a train from Swansea. Leaving the house around 6.45am eek!
I have been assigned a house!
Vicky the VSO volunteer who is currently in Kerewan emailed me to say houses have been assigned!
So blatantly stolen from her blog here is a picture of her house and mine attached and to the left of it.
http://vickyinthegambia.blogspot.com/2010/09/compound-and-my-house.html
So blatantly stolen from her blog here is a picture of her house and mine attached and to the left of it.
http://vickyinthegambia.blogspot.com/2010/09/compound-and-my-house.html
Friday, 29 July 2011
Flight reservations received!
Well time for another update and something exciting too!
I had an email an hour or so back with my flight reservation details for The Gambia! :)
Slightly confusing in the email stated 40kg allowance, and the attached reservation stated 2 x 23kg allowance (both for checked luggage, it is 10kg for carry on). I called VSO to check and was told the email was the same to all volunteers, and it was actually 3 x 23kg for checked luggage!
Luckily the young lady from VSO checked and came back and confirmed it was 2 x 23kg.
I will be departing to distant shores from Heathrow at a ridiculous time in the morning (6.50am) which means leaving my parents house around midnight!
In other news I had my last Hepatitis jabs, my Meningitis jab, so only one more Rabies and my Yellow fever jabs to go... :)
Also in other other news, I went to an archaeological dig the other day and spent the day trowelling away... suprisingly fun, but not good for my knees, if I do it again will have to bring knee pads.
I had an email an hour or so back with my flight reservation details for The Gambia! :)
Slightly confusing in the email stated 40kg allowance, and the attached reservation stated 2 x 23kg allowance (both for checked luggage, it is 10kg for carry on). I called VSO to check and was told the email was the same to all volunteers, and it was actually 3 x 23kg for checked luggage!
Luckily the young lady from VSO checked and came back and confirmed it was 2 x 23kg.
I will be departing to distant shores from Heathrow at a ridiculous time in the morning (6.50am) which means leaving my parents house around midnight!
In other news I had my last Hepatitis jabs, my Meningitis jab, so only one more Rabies and my Yellow fever jabs to go... :)
Also in other other news, I went to an archaeological dig the other day and spent the day trowelling away... suprisingly fun, but not good for my knees, if I do it again will have to bring knee pads.
Friday, 24 June 2011
Vaccinations!
I had my first four vaccinations yesterday, Polio, Diphtheria and Tetanus all in one shot in one arm, and Typhoid in the other arm. Besides being a tiny bit sore they weren't a problem.
Got another two to look forward to in two weeks (Rabies -1 and Hepatitis A & B [combined - Twinrix] -1), then three more a week after that (Rabies -2 and Hepatitis A & B [combined - Twinrix] -2, and Yellow fever), then two more two weeks later (Meningitis ACWY and Hepatitis A & B [combined - Twinrix] -3), and one more a week after that (Rabies -3)!
Decided after much reading and advice to go for Doxycycline for my anti-malarial, will make it easier for me to burn in the sun, but otherwise not much in the way of other side effects.
Got another two to look forward to in two weeks (Rabies -1 and Hepatitis A & B [combined - Twinrix] -1), then three more a week after that (Rabies -2 and Hepatitis A & B [combined - Twinrix] -2, and Yellow fever), then two more two weeks later (Meningitis ACWY and Hepatitis A & B [combined - Twinrix] -3), and one more a week after that (Rabies -3)!
Decided after much reading and advice to go for Doxycycline for my anti-malarial, will make it easier for me to burn in the sun, but otherwise not much in the way of other side effects.
Thursday, 2 June 2011
The calm before the storm
Not a lot going on, I think I'm all VSO paperworked out (no more to do for a while at least), career break sorted out, landlord has my notice for the flat.
Changed doctors and hopefully vaccination plan in progress, when the vaccinations start is another matter...
Done a bit of swotting up on Mandinka, but I've been advised not to go mad as I may end up pronouncing stuff incorrectly.
Bought some stuff from Amazon for the trip, got a shiny wind up head torch, some portable HDDs, some CR2032 batteries, cable ties, compressed air canisters, USB sticks, and a multimeter so far.
I've had donated a LAN tester (which may not work). a wind up hand held torch and a soldering iron and kit! Thanks Pete and Gordon! :)
Another 4 and a bit weeks of work to go, it's dragging already...
Changed doctors and hopefully vaccination plan in progress, when the vaccinations start is another matter...
Done a bit of swotting up on Mandinka, but I've been advised not to go mad as I may end up pronouncing stuff incorrectly.
Bought some stuff from Amazon for the trip, got a shiny wind up head torch, some portable HDDs, some CR2032 batteries, cable ties, compressed air canisters, USB sticks, and a multimeter so far.
I've had donated a LAN tester (which may not work). a wind up hand held torch and a soldering iron and kit! Thanks Pete and Gordon! :)
Another 4 and a bit weeks of work to go, it's dragging already...
Tuesday, 24 May 2011
Home on the range!
I thought it was about time to head home to Mam, so here I am back in sunny Cross Hands!
Brought a small portion of my flat back with me, if I carry on at this rate it will take another 10 or 15 trips by train to clear it! :)
Applied for my career break today, and started fundraising efforts in work, fundraising on the 'book of the face' (copyright - TR[Dave]) to start soon!
I didnt get much sense from my doctors about vaccinations, so going to pop into my parents (and my old) doctors tomorrow and ask there.
Seems to be a far too expensive proposition if you ask me, initial estimate is over £300 for vaccinations!
Brought a small portion of my flat back with me, if I carry on at this rate it will take another 10 or 15 trips by train to clear it! :)
Applied for my career break today, and started fundraising efforts in work, fundraising on the 'book of the face' (copyright - TR[Dave]) to start soon!
I didnt get much sense from my doctors about vaccinations, so going to pop into my parents (and my old) doctors tomorrow and ask there.
Seems to be a far too expensive proposition if you ask me, initial estimate is over £300 for vaccinations!
Monday, 23 May 2011
What's next?
OK now that the excitement of the Gambian partner accepting me has worn down a tiny bit what is next on the plan?
I have vaccinations to sort, my career break to organise, my flat to pack up and move stuff home, no doubt more admin for VSO, shopping to do, what cool stuff will I take with me etc.
I've online training to organise, I've already booked another training course for Harborne Hall in August.
I've also downloaded a Mandinka dictionary so I can get a head start on my language training.
All this and only 14 weeks left to do it in! Another 5-6 weeks left in work before I leave (date not decided yet), so will no doubt be stuff to keep me occupied there.
I have vaccinations to sort, my career break to organise, my flat to pack up and move stuff home, no doubt more admin for VSO, shopping to do, what cool stuff will I take with me etc.
I've online training to organise, I've already booked another training course for Harborne Hall in August.
I've also downloaded a Mandinka dictionary so I can get a head start on my language training.
All this and only 14 weeks left to do it in! Another 5-6 weeks left in work before I leave (date not decided yet), so will no doubt be stuff to keep me occupied there.
Sunday, 22 May 2011
Acceptance
Last Wednesday evening I got an email to say my placement had been confirmed by the partner organisation in the Gambia, now just need to wait on some paperwork and get a written confirmation. I will be off to the Gambia on ~ 1st September, more details to come! :)
Sunday, 24 April 2011
I have a follower!
Wow this blog has made it and after getting it's first comment some months back, I have my first follower, thank you Marc! :)
I've been trying to think of things to take with me or not, apparently I have a luggage limit of 42KG in hold luggage to look forward to, gives em a lot of space to fill!
Not thinking of taking too many clothes, but lets say 15- 20kg of clothes, shoes etc. 1-2kg of toiletries and stuff.
Any electronics stuff will be on my carry on, so what else can I bring in my hold luggage?
Some thoughts would be a various computer cabling, cable testers, ethernet crimper, some tools (hammer, hacksaw screwdriver set etc), twine, cable ties, RJ45 connectors.
A mad thought would be a toilet seat... as pit latrines to look forward to!
Any thoughts from my fans? :) /cough
I've been trying to think of things to take with me or not, apparently I have a luggage limit of 42KG in hold luggage to look forward to, gives em a lot of space to fill!
Not thinking of taking too many clothes, but lets say 15- 20kg of clothes, shoes etc. 1-2kg of toiletries and stuff.
Any electronics stuff will be on my carry on, so what else can I bring in my hold luggage?
Some thoughts would be a various computer cabling, cable testers, ethernet crimper, some tools (hammer, hacksaw screwdriver set etc), twine, cable ties, RJ45 connectors.
A mad thought would be a toilet seat... as pit latrines to look forward to!
Any thoughts from my fans? :) /cough
Things are moving along
Well I did hear from my VPA (Volunteer placement advisor) the other week, they formally offered me the placement, and I filled in a placement acceptance form and I've been assigned by own VSA (Volunteer support advisor). They are hoping to hear back in the next few weeks again...
In the meantime I've been talking to two of the IT volunteers in country by email (Phil and Marcus), the IT volunteer who did my placement ending last year (Carol), a volunteer who came back from Kerewan a month or so back (Paul), and the only current VSO in Kerewan (Vicky of the linked blog), who have all given me loads of useful information, thanks all if you get round to reading my blog!
In the meantime I've been talking to two of the IT volunteers in country by email (Phil and Marcus), the IT volunteer who did my placement ending last year (Carol), a volunteer who came back from Kerewan a month or so back (Paul), and the only current VSO in Kerewan (Vicky of the linked blog), who have all given me loads of useful information, thanks all if you get round to reading my blog!
Tuesday, 12 April 2011
The long wait
So Harborne over with, what next, not a lot, waiting around for news, waiting some more, then waiting a little more again.
I didn't hear anything from VSO throughout March, so started chasing them and after some effort got through to my VPA last week. VSO haven't forgotten me, my CV is with the placement office in The Gambia, and they are just waiting to hear back. They think they will hear this week.
In the meantime they have sent me the placement offer, and asked me to check all the info on it, talk to serving volunteers etc. and see whether I can put up with it all.
Just a quick bit of info on Kerewan from a cool website -
http://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=kerewan%2C+gambia
and not so useful from wikipedia -
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kerewan
and to give you an idea on the weather there -
http://www.weather-forecast.com/locations/Kerewan/forecasts/latest
The job is basically a regional IT support / trainer position, helping office staff with their IT skills, supporting data entry staff, and generally being useful.
I didn't hear anything from VSO throughout March, so started chasing them and after some effort got through to my VPA last week. VSO haven't forgotten me, my CV is with the placement office in The Gambia, and they are just waiting to hear back. They think they will hear this week.
In the meantime they have sent me the placement offer, and asked me to check all the info on it, talk to serving volunteers etc. and see whether I can put up with it all.
Just a quick bit of info on Kerewan from a cool website -
http://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=kerewan%2C+gambia
and not so useful from wikipedia -
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kerewan
and to give you an idea on the weather there -
http://www.weather-forecast.com/locations/Kerewan/forecasts/latest
The job is basically a regional IT support / trainer position, helping office staff with their IT skills, supporting data entry staff, and generally being useful.
Harborne Hall
I got to a very sunny Birmingham New St Station, followed the directions to the bus stop and eventually a bus turned up to take me to Harborne Hall. I asked the driver to tell me when to get off, but I'm not sure he understood. Luckily some other people got on the bus who looked VSO like (easily spotable if you know what to look for!), and they asked one of the other passengers to be told when they were in the right place. This was good as the driver didn't say a word...
So we got safely to the the Hall, which is in nice surroundings, woods, and lawns etc. I got a fairly basic room, in a corridor which was reminiscent of a hospital. Pretty soon more people turned up, and we started the activities, there was a variety of light hearted learning sessions, and some fairly heavy sessions with lots of thinking.
We broke up early, went for dinner, which was disappointingly normal, I was expecting something exotic, but it was not be some African finger food, or such...
We all went to the bar that night, and had a good chat, then a fairly early night(most people left before closing time) ready for another long day of activities. This was followed by a visit to the local pub, and for me at least an early night (10pm ish).
Another session in the morning ended with an overview of fundraising activities, and then it was a shared taxi back to the station.
A very good weekend, lots of fun, met lots of nice people, learnt lots, and I felt lots better for going!
So we got safely to the the Hall, which is in nice surroundings, woods, and lawns etc. I got a fairly basic room, in a corridor which was reminiscent of a hospital. Pretty soon more people turned up, and we started the activities, there was a variety of light hearted learning sessions, and some fairly heavy sessions with lots of thinking.
We broke up early, went for dinner, which was disappointingly normal, I was expecting something exotic, but it was not be some African finger food, or such...
We all went to the bar that night, and had a good chat, then a fairly early night(most people left before closing time) ready for another long day of activities. This was followed by a visit to the local pub, and for me at least an early night (10pm ish).
Another session in the morning ended with an overview of fundraising activities, and then it was a shared taxi back to the station.
A very good weekend, lots of fun, met lots of nice people, learnt lots, and I felt lots better for going!
Overdue for an update
It's been a while since the last update...
I was all excited ready to go to Harborne Hall, and I had a depressing call from VSO.
Apparently they have changed their requirements and IT volunteers without IT degrees are no longer needed!
Given this change had happened after I went through assessment it was a bit unfair I felt.
After a long call it became clear my chances of getting a placement were slim to none, there was just one placement that they could consider me for, and it was a YfD (Youth for Development) placement. YfD is for under 25s, but on this placement they wanted a under 25 yr old with 3 yrs + professional experience and an IT degree!
Oddly enough with this they couldn't fill the placement, so I have a chance, maybe a small one, but its a chance of this placement.
So with this update I went to Harborne Hall, I'm glad I did it was a great weekend, lots of things to think about, learnt a little about new things, and learnt some more about things I knew a little about already.
I was all excited ready to go to Harborne Hall, and I had a depressing call from VSO.
Apparently they have changed their requirements and IT volunteers without IT degrees are no longer needed!
Given this change had happened after I went through assessment it was a bit unfair I felt.
After a long call it became clear my chances of getting a placement were slim to none, there was just one placement that they could consider me for, and it was a YfD (Youth for Development) placement. YfD is for under 25s, but on this placement they wanted a under 25 yr old with 3 yrs + professional experience and an IT degree!
Oddly enough with this they couldn't fill the placement, so I have a chance, maybe a small one, but its a chance of this placement.
So with this update I went to Harborne Hall, I'm glad I did it was a great weekend, lots of things to think about, learnt a little about new things, and learnt some more about things I knew a little about already.
Sunday, 6 February 2011
Medical and other fun
I headed off to have my medical the other day, was pretty painless, had a nice chat with a very nice doctor, whose daughter and sister had both done VSO! I though I was home free on the Examination charge, but alas it was not to be, I did get a discount though, so thanks Doc! She didn't raise any concerns so hopefully another hurdle crossed.
Done more online training, picked up my train tickets to go to Harborne Hall this weekend, filled in some of the paperwork ready to send off done a little research.
One of my referees confirmed she has been contacted by VSO and has sent off whatever they wanted.
That's it for now!
Done more online training, picked up my train tickets to go to Harborne Hall this weekend, filled in some of the paperwork ready to send off done a little research.
One of my referees confirmed she has been contacted by VSO and has sent off whatever they wanted.
That's it for now!
Tuesday, 1 February 2011
More admin
I've booked my medical (2nd Feb) sent off my CV and profile and arranged a phone chat with Skev.
At the end of week 2 of the online training course- Volunteering Starts Here, which has been lots of fun so far.
I'm not looking forward to the medical (and I have a hospital appt the same day so will be fun packed), I have visions of my fairly good health turning into multiple reasons for being rejected... Wait and see, but realistically I don't see any issues.
At the end of week 2 of the online training course- Volunteering Starts Here, which has been lots of fun so far.
I'm not looking forward to the medical (and I have a hospital appt the same day so will be fun packed), I have visions of my fairly good health turning into multiple reasons for being rejected... Wait and see, but realistically I don't see any issues.
Post Assessment admin
So I got my acceptance email, I figured things would start happening, it did mention that there might be up to 10 days before I got my adviser assigned so I didn't worry... yet.
The acceptance email had an invite to training on it so I signed up for the next course, checked quickly in work if I could book a few days off for the 1st stage in Harborne Hall (Prepare to Volunteer course), and was happy to find that it was OK.
I had confirmation that I was on the training schedule, with online training starting on the 19th of January!
I got my enhanced disclosure form back in record time, I received it on the 24th, which means it was sent on the 21st or 8 days maximum since it was received at the CRB office! (Note: my last CRB took over 8 months to get back, but it was doen via an agency.
However I didn't hear any more from the VSO office and time started to go by, so as the 10 days mentioned were up I called the VSO office, and emailed them, I didn't get through and left a few voicemails, I didn't have the voicemails or emails returned, but eventually I managed to speak to a nice lady named Alice.
Alice sent me an email which should have been sent on the 13th (maybe it was and it went up in smoke?), with loads of things to do.
All told I needed 8 passport photos, 2 photocopies of my disclosure form, a filled in emergency contact form, bank details form, 2 photocopies of my qualifications, 2 photocopies of my passport. I need to chase my referees, book a medical exam, and fill in a long questionnaire.
I also had an email from Skev who is my assigned VPA (Volunteer and Program Advisor) with more things to fill in (Profile and VSO style CV).
The acceptance email had an invite to training on it so I signed up for the next course, checked quickly in work if I could book a few days off for the 1st stage in Harborne Hall (Prepare to Volunteer course), and was happy to find that it was OK.
I had confirmation that I was on the training schedule, with online training starting on the 19th of January!
I got my enhanced disclosure form back in record time, I received it on the 24th, which means it was sent on the 21st or 8 days maximum since it was received at the CRB office! (Note: my last CRB took over 8 months to get back, but it was doen via an agency.
However I didn't hear any more from the VSO office and time started to go by, so as the 10 days mentioned were up I called the VSO office, and emailed them, I didn't get through and left a few voicemails, I didn't have the voicemails or emails returned, but eventually I managed to speak to a nice lady named Alice.
Alice sent me an email which should have been sent on the 13th (maybe it was and it went up in smoke?), with loads of things to do.
All told I needed 8 passport photos, 2 photocopies of my disclosure form, a filled in emergency contact form, bank details form, 2 photocopies of my qualifications, 2 photocopies of my passport. I need to chase my referees, book a medical exam, and fill in a long questionnaire.
I also had an email from Skev who is my assigned VPA (Volunteer and Program Advisor) with more things to fill in (Profile and VSO style CV).
Monday, 31 January 2011
VSO assessment day (pt 2)
So the assessment continued with a group exercise, then preperation for a solo / group exercise, while people were doing their prep, we all had individial interviews, mine was with a nice lady we had a long in depth chat about all sort of stuff.
After the interview some more prep and then lunch break.
We had a nice lunch with a cake that no one fancied trying due to how it looked, turns out it was just banana cake and once it was confirmed I think everyone had a piece.
We had a brief introduction to fundraising, and then back to the prep.
We did the exercise we had been prepping for then did some presentations and the day was done!
I think my vaguely interactive pictographic presentation confused everyone, but I made it through somehow!
They left us with the word that we would hear within 7 working days.
Imagine my surprise when I checked my email on Thursday 13th of January and found an acceptance already!
After the interview some more prep and then lunch break.
We had a nice lunch with a cake that no one fancied trying due to how it looked, turns out it was just banana cake and once it was confirmed I think everyone had a piece.
We had a brief introduction to fundraising, and then back to the prep.
We did the exercise we had been prepping for then did some presentations and the day was done!
I think my vaguely interactive pictographic presentation confused everyone, but I made it through somehow!
They left us with the word that we would hear within 7 working days.
Imagine my surprise when I checked my email on Thursday 13th of January and found an acceptance already!
VSO Assessment day (pt 1)
So I got invited to go visit VSO HQ in Putney on January 12th, for a ~6 hours Assessment day A nice early start, I caught the 07.02 train from Bracknell to Waterloo, and changed in Staines.
Didn't have any problems with the train other than it being rammed and it was a bit of a struggle to fight my way out in Putney. I found the place OK, and had a sit down while I waited for everyone else to turn up.
We had a very entertaining icebreaker thing where we had to imagine a map of the world and stand in the corresponding spot in the room given a certain place as the North Pole.
Didn't have any problems with the train other than it being rammed and it was a bit of a struggle to fight my way out in Putney. I found the place OK, and had a sit down while I waited for everyone else to turn up.
We had a very entertaining icebreaker thing where we had to imagine a map of the world and stand in the corresponding spot in the room given a certain place as the North Pole.
The Story so far (pt 2)
I twiddled my thumbs for some time and decided to give VSO a ring to see what was happening after their recommended 3 week waiting time had expired and managed to find someone who knew what was happening, they told me I should get contacted in a few days, that time went by and I didn't hear anything so gave them another call, turns out I needed to fill in another form as I was going to do IT so that duly sent I got my Assessment day invite on the 21st of December.
I spent the Christmas break (OK I don't really get one of those.. but ...) reading up on VSO, reading blogs of other VSO volunteers, and talking to a number of returned volunteers about their experiences!
Mainly positive stories, other than someone who knew a guy who went for a swim in the sea on his first day in country and slipped and broke his neck... and got hospitalised, ( I think he was OK in the end though).
I spent the Christmas break (OK I don't really get one of those.. but ...) reading up on VSO, reading blogs of other VSO volunteers, and talking to a number of returned volunteers about their experiences!
Mainly positive stories, other than someone who knew a guy who went for a swim in the sea on his first day in country and slipped and broke his neck... and got hospitalised, ( I think he was OK in the end though).
The Story so far (pt 1)
I had been considering VSO for some time, for various reason hadn't applied till June 2010, due to the computer saying 'No!' they rejected me (Automated checking didn't like me).
I had a busy few months so didn't try again till September, I thought I'd go to an open day and get some more info first and booked myself onto an open day in London on the 25th of October. I had the opportunity to listen to very interesting people tell stories of their experiences, and asked lots of questions. (I know some of you may be shocked at me asking questions!)
I spent some time thinking on the application process and sent off the 1st stage in late November, I got past the automated stage and sent in my full application on the 24th of November.
I had a busy few months so didn't try again till September, I thought I'd go to an open day and get some more info first and booked myself onto an open day in London on the 25th of October. I had the opportunity to listen to very interesting people tell stories of their experiences, and asked lots of questions. (I know some of you may be shocked at me asking questions!)
I spent some time thinking on the application process and sent off the 1st stage in late November, I got past the automated stage and sent in my full application on the 24th of November.
My first blog
Just a quick blog to see how this whole thing works...
Signed up for this VSO thing, remarkably they accepted me, hopefully loads of excitement to come!
Signed up for this VSO thing, remarkably they accepted me, hopefully loads of excitement to come!
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