I had my official welcoming as part of the family yesterday. They killed and prepared a chicken so we could celebrate. They mainly eat fish with rice. It usually really nice but quite peppery so I can never eat all of what they give me (they give me LOADS!) I'm not eating from the communal bowl or with my hands yet which the rest of the family do! The family have also named me Adama Jammeh after a close relative.
My Mandinka has been steadily improving (I've pretty much got the basic greetings now) and I'm trying bits of Fula and Jola. I should be getting some Mandinka lessons soon which will help. Teaching at the nursery school is impossible if you don't know the lingo. I ran a class unaided once and it went completely belly up. My hand gestures and signals got mistranslated (putting my hand to my ear to get them to listen, they shouted out ears and chanted 'Heads shoulders knees and toes'!)I'll be working there two days a week from now on, with assisting the teachers. My initial aim is to get them to utilise more resources (they have a cupboard full of things that are never used). This will hopefully make the lessons a bit more interesting for the kids and teachers as well as reducing the amount of corporal punishment that is used. Seeing the kids getting beaten was a real shock, even though I knew it was used before I came here. I'll be trying to adapt how lessons are taught but this will take time. I will be working the other days in the advanced class at the primary school where the kids have sponsors. This was started by the last volunteer who is still looking for more sponsors. I'll be observing the grade five class to see if anymore students can be added. There's certainly plenty to get my teeth into!
Outside of teaching I've mainly been chatting to locals (well trying and failing miserably!) and drinking lots of attaya. I went to a naming ceremony (Muslim equivalent of a chrisening) last weekend with the head of the family. It ran all day with lots of food and chatting. I had to give a gift (cash, which they asked for many times) but I got to see some Wolof drumming and dancing which was really full on and great to watch. I'll be getting some Jola drum lessons soon from the lead drummer. AWESOME!!!
I hope to load some photos up soon when there's more time.
Sunday 22 February 2009
Tuesday 17 February 2009
Getting to Grips
Well, I've been in The Gambia for a week and a half now. It's a good job that I've come with an open mind because it's worlds apart from the UK and the western world. To get around they use yellow taxis and the Gelly Gellys, which are bonkers! They wait around until full up (which can take hours, especially in secluded villages like Makumbaya) and all their motors are ancient and battered. I quite like them though, they're just part of the Gambian charm! The roads are free for all, with animals roaming the streets and horns going crazy. It's all pretty friendly and slow paced. Everything happens in GMT (Gambia maybe time!) so nothing is on time. There are a few main tarmac roads but most roads are just dirt or sand tracks. It can be quite hot during the day but it's very pleasant. It's actually 'very cold' for Gambians so I'm expecting tougher conditions as time goes on!!
Despite the major culture differences, my first impressions are great. The people are extremely friendly and will always greet you when you pass in the street. They have also been very helpful with settling me in. Some people especially very young kids, give me curious looks. You stand out so much as a white westerner. The kids all shout 'Tou-bab', which means white person but is just friendly and not meant to be offensive. My hosts (Jammeh family) are so friendly and welcoming, like all the other Gambians I've met so far. They are of the Jola tribe, which is one of many in The Gambia. I'm going to have to learn both Jola and Mandinka languages, which is already looking very tough. I think I come across as a bit rude at times because Gambians always want to talk. They drink Attaya all the time, which is a strong green tea with loads of sugar and is REALLY SWEET!!! It's good stuff!
The things that I thought would bother me haven't. Even the insects, bucket baths and medievel toilet! The thing that is hardest is getting used to the lack of light in the evening. It gets dark very quickly in The Gambia and it can be pitch black by 8 o'clock. The cockrals are also starting to get on my nerves when they go off at 2 in the morning!
The teaching is very tough though. I've been put in the nursery school instead of lower basic and so none of the children speak good English. Because of the language barrier, it is very hard to put down new ideas and I've ended up resorting to teaching what the kids know (NOT what I had in mind!!) Their lessons are extremly boring and there is a lot of reading out and repeating what the teacher writes on the board. I hope to be able to work with the teachers and give them ideas that they can use, rather than teach myself. It is going to take time but hopefully it will be worth while.
Despite the major culture differences, my first impressions are great. The people are extremely friendly and will always greet you when you pass in the street. They have also been very helpful with settling me in. Some people especially very young kids, give me curious looks. You stand out so much as a white westerner. The kids all shout 'Tou-bab', which means white person but is just friendly and not meant to be offensive. My hosts (Jammeh family) are so friendly and welcoming, like all the other Gambians I've met so far. They are of the Jola tribe, which is one of many in The Gambia. I'm going to have to learn both Jola and Mandinka languages, which is already looking very tough. I think I come across as a bit rude at times because Gambians always want to talk. They drink Attaya all the time, which is a strong green tea with loads of sugar and is REALLY SWEET!!! It's good stuff!
The things that I thought would bother me haven't. Even the insects, bucket baths and medievel toilet! The thing that is hardest is getting used to the lack of light in the evening. It gets dark very quickly in The Gambia and it can be pitch black by 8 o'clock. The cockrals are also starting to get on my nerves when they go off at 2 in the morning!
The teaching is very tough though. I've been put in the nursery school instead of lower basic and so none of the children speak good English. Because of the language barrier, it is very hard to put down new ideas and I've ended up resorting to teaching what the kids know (NOT what I had in mind!!) Their lessons are extremly boring and there is a lot of reading out and repeating what the teacher writes on the board. I hope to be able to work with the teachers and give them ideas that they can use, rather than teach myself. It is going to take time but hopefully it will be worth while.
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