Journal Entry 10/29

Early start today! I had to get to Ida's by 8. I got congee this mrning but it was a tad sweet...dammit. It's like that child story about getting things too salty/sweet/just right. I learned SO much today it was kind of daunting. However, I had a really awesome conversation about politics, women/gender roles, and healthcare with my site mates and teacher. LOVE that kind of talk. I was also complimented by one of my site mates that I REALLY respect - she told me out of the 18 who was coming to Gambia, I was one of the two people to watch out for and my teacher said the Peace Corps staff were already talking about me. It felt so freakin' awesome to be complimented by someone you respect a lot. I don't know how to take compliments of course so naturally I cried. I was just so happy they thought so highly of me just let me live dammit I know I say I cry like every other post. I don't know, I've just never taken compliments well. After lunch ,I went to wash what seems like my and my entire compounds clothes. It took like 2 hours. I made it back home in time to meet up with my site mate to bike! We biked a ways away (not too far though) to another village next to Jalanbereh. OF course we got toubab'd but I yelled at them in Serehule and it turns out they're Mandinka! SOOOO I spoke what 3 phrases I Remembered and got a huge crowd around us. Now the next village knows our name, yay. Anyways we biked back and my helmet doesn't like my head and ti was such a good breeze and the beautiful rice fields and the sunset, and everything was just spectacular. I then visited her compound and chatted with her family for a bit who knows ENGLISH and went back home. After showering, I dinnered and spent the next hour figuring out my ginormous family for my assignment. I succeeded after what seemed like forever and it was exhausting. Just remembered tomorrow I'm fetching water tomorrow wahhh!.