just a quick note while i can use the computer at the peace corps offices to say that i'm here. i've landed. it's been a whirlwind of 24 hours ... i've just had a two hour mandinka language lesson. i don't think i'd really clocked that learning a new language would be part of this experience. (typical of an american traveler, 'they will speak english, no?') but NO ... they probably won't. so i've learned the greetings. and they are brilliant and go on for a few minutes.
how is the morning?
the morning is here only.
how are you?
i am here.
hope you sleep with peace
peace only.
and how are the people in the village.
the people are there.
i love it. they totally live in the present. even the language structure would say so. brilliant!
today, as i said in an earlier blog, is set setal, so the morning was very quiet with everyone in their compounds cleaning. caroline, the country manager, and i went down to a very cool place by the beach to sit and have breakfast and talk. i'm very excited about what will come, if a little nervous. i've decided that if i am able to accomplish one thing per day, i will be satisfied here. (and that could just be a simple conversation!)
there are goats roaming the street here, taxis beeping, men yelling 'toubab' from their car windows (white person), women carrying mint on their heads, women selling peanuts and peeled oranges from the street, dust everywhere. but i love it. so far so good. and now i am off to the market with my language instructor, babaacour, but he's just gone to pray so i have a few more minutes on his computer. hopefully i'll find myself a hat and a wallet. their money is the dalasi, about 40 dalasi per pound (per $2) ... and that means you carry wads of it around.
last night we were waiting for our dinner and the electricity went off. after about 5 minutes, they brought us a candle. it came back on after 10. our food was ready after about a half an hour ... gambian time. i had butter fish and a salad. need to get my protein while i can. chicken kebab for lunch today.
tomorrow it's off to the village, to meet the compound and settle in. and slowly slowly (as they say) i'll figure out what i'm to do.
salaam maleekum
(peace be to you!)
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Hey Meag,
Very glad to hear of your safe arrival. I've been following your blog from time to time with great interest. As your Uncle, I have to say I was disappointed that you had to start bashing Americans in the very first paragraph. I fancy myself a writer, and would have placed that later on in the piece.
By the way, I've done some dabbling in Gambian, and if I'm not mistaken, "toubab" translates as "watch out, you are about to in goat shit step in", or something to that effect.
Just Kidding Meag. This is the beginning of a Great Adventure, as Lou Reed would say, and I wish a pray for the best and the most for you!
Peace of Christ!
(Peace of Christ!)
Uncle David
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