Woke up freezing yet again - a great trend and I relish every second of it because I fear what is about to come in a matter of months - but this time it was without the A/C. It was my first time actually cold in Jenoi because the dorms they put us in are like ovens usually. I was all wrapped up in sheet and blanket but still woke up at 3:50 AM -_- I listened to music and derped in bed forever until I finally threw myself out when the breakfast bell signalled abnormally early and stumbled into the dining hall. Breakfast was potato wedges, greasy fried egg, bread, and chocolate spread. We had a brief session about our sites, language (my teacher wasn't there so Elizabeth and I just studied alone), session about making neem cream (where you have to stir for EVER and get beast arms or small boy a child to do it for you, if you haven't read before it's an organic not totally scientifically proven way to prevent mosquitos but works well enough here), lunch (which was delicious), another session about methods to exchange Gambian culture back home (sending back gifts, having people visit, talking at colleges, blogs, World Wise School pen pal system and teaching everyone how there's so many misconceptions about Africa and especially the Muslim religion and debunking a shit ton of myths) and I like that one a lot. I'm writing a lot about my day-to-day life now but I think life slows down for me, I'll be able to write a lot more about my observations and such and go in depth about the people in The Gambia.
We threw around a Frisbee for a bit and then I took an early shower again to wash a few things so I don't get a mountain of clothes to tackle when I get back to training village. I went outside to study, folded stars, counted what I actually folded and... I counted 481 stars in the past two days???? Jesus, fingers, good for you! It totally doesn't even look like it in my small little zip lock bag. I'm planning to give them all out as Christmas presents, kukuku. We then had a scrumptious Thanksgiving dinner/feast prepared for us by the PCVs and I was yet again in food heaven. We had carrots, cucumber, ranch dressing, stuffing, string beans, broccoli, yam, fried chicken, mashed potatoes, beef and potato stew (that was Gambian), and it was ALL SO DELICIOUS AH. I guiltily admit that our carbon footprint for that dinner was large but for this one time... so be it. I hate so much because I was well aware after training I will not be feasting like that for a WHILE. I may have gotten up for fourths. The dinner was all very joyous - I talked to lots of people from the kitchen staff, PCVs, staff, and the trainees. I went off to go study/journal inside one of the classrooms and waves of people would come in and out with different things to talk/laugh about. One group of ladies came in and we started to brainstorm ideas for the big speech for the swear in ceremony which is TWO WEEKS AGH. This will be televised, read in four different languages AT the Ambassador's house... before the big big party that's the talk of the country right now among the PCVs One of the guys who we elected to be a part of the speech writing group wasn't there since he had to be transported to Kombo for a hook worm in his foot, eek. He'll be back tomorrow, though, and another trainee had to be transported to Kombo late, late, late last night but both are okay now!
Anyways, it's been a real chill day+night. I just randomly started thinking about how awesome this one kitchen lady is - she's always all smiles and can speak English but mostly Mandinka. She also knows a handful of other languages too She always comes up to hug me and ugh I swear to God I want to get something just for the kitchen staff. She makes me feel so welcomed whenever she talks to me even when I'm bitten alive or starving from a late lunch. I think she's the one person/thing I'll miss most about Jenoi!
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