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. :)
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