what am i ACTUALLY doing?

a lot of people have been asking me what i'm going to be doing in the gambia? truth be told, i'm not entirely sure. i have an idea, based on emails i've received from the country manager who has been working very hard to line up projects for me (after i told her that i wasn't sure teaching full time was going to be the best use of my skill set). i'm excited at what she's come back with, though not entirely sure which projects i'll end up working on. cut and pasted from a few of her emails, here's a gist of what it is (at least pre-arrival):

"I have just come from a meeting with Ebrima Sarr who will be your host in Makumbiya. He is a delightful man and I am sure you are going to be able to get your teeth into what we are proposing.

He proposes that there are several projects you can help with:

1.the establishment of a new nursery school for makumbiya and its 4 satellite villages. Help needed to develop the teaching staff (all unqualified), develop the curriculum encouraging the staff to visit other sites etc, and development of administrative systems for the school. this is being undertaken in partnership wth the Christian Children's fund

2. Continuation of the jolly phonics work in the lower basic school. Also they are very interested in establishing a sustainable garden project for the school which you could lead.

3. working with the Kafos in the area to establish a women's network across the villages. Ebrima has been charged with this by the village development. the kafos are like co-operatives and there are 10 villages in the area to involve in this . There is planning, implementation of development to undertake. Gathering members together. helping each kafos to identify its own priorities and how it is going to acheive them."

And a bit about where I'll be staying (Alison was the previous volunteer):

"Ebrima is the head of the compound but several members of his extended family live within it. Jenaba is ‘head woman’ who speaks very good English and will encourage you to join in the female activities in the compound. Offering to get involved in the cooking is a great way of getting to know the women and they are the ones you will share your days with. Oh and the children as well. There are several children in the compound – a couple of the older children are in the school but Allou and ‘boy’ are the stars of the show – the two 3 year olds who occupy a big space in the compound.

Alison sent a tip in order to get some privacy – negotiate with jeniaba at the start that when your door is closed the children should be encouraged to stay away from your room. Alison did her best to keep them out of her bedroom but she let them into the living area with her – never unsupervised! She spent time playing games with them or reading stories. She also spent a lot of time sitting outside on the benches under the trees with the children and women. Picking up Mandinka this way is the best! We will provide a short language lesson for you during your orientation weekend."

so .... teaching, gardening (!), organizing a nursery, developing cooperatives. wow! i think i'll just be lead by wherever they need the most help. we shall see. i leave on friday at 9:15am (GMT) - so a few more days to prep for this. though as i said earlier, thinking too much about it makes me somewhat apprehensive. in the meantime, i'm getting my fill of meat and not worrying a bit about my caloric or fat intake. (or the size of my thighs, which, seeing as i'm not allowed to show my legs for three months, suits me very well!)