Journal Post 11/23

Today, I woke up nice and early at 5:15 AM but didn't really get up until 15 minutes later. It's just hard to get up that early. W knocked on my door and I threw myself outside, got ready, there was a constellation in the sky because of how early it was but I didn't have time to look at the beauty just yet. It was freezing for sure but much more comfortable inside my hut. I was packing with God speed and promised to appreciate the zillions of stars when I walked to the main road.

By the time I was out the door, it was 5:50 AM and the only person awake in my compound was my sister. I told her bye and hugged her (which probably freaked her out) and trudged through the sand to get a gele. If it was any hotter I would be soaked in sweat but thankfully it wasn't. W was in his usual sweater and mittens while I just had shorts and capris on, hah. True New England style. I can't believe I actually like the cold now. The stars were just as beautiful as before and it looks like something straight out from a museum. It's unreal. They were all so bright and me being as blind as I am could see them as clear as day. As cheesy as it sounds, they look like someone scattered glitter in the sky and the deep, navy blue sky in the background made it so gorgeous.

When I finally arrived at the only gele leaving, I was surprised to see it in awesome condition. It looked like it was newly shipped in from America! It had great padded seats and none of the lining was falling off, either! I lightly chatted with a woman next to me and even found out where she was going (hospital) and asked what was wrong... which is a success whenever I can successfully communicate anything. As the gele started filling up, one of the men who boarded even knew my name from last night's event! I was also able to thoroughly surprise the drivers when I asked for the fare/ask for my change back, haha. It took a little under an hour to get to Basse and they dropped me off at a gas station where I originally thought I had to go but it turned out to be the wrong one. So, 7:30 AM and I'm ringing up my PCVL/RAs and they were telling me directions to get to the PC transit house but I could barely hear them because there were three bulldozer/construction trucks ROARING in the background literally following me. Damn it. Eventually, Seth (PCVL) called his girlfriend who was in Basse (I tried calling her last night but her number wouldn't go through, womp) and her savior soul found me and led me the right way. Which was the exact opposite way I would've gone because it was pass a construction "do not pass" zone, but silly me, construction tape means nothing in the Gambia and we limbo'd under it to continue on our way. We stopped by a stand along the way to order breakfast sandwiches. It's called Kumba's and it's apparently the most frequented place that PCVs go to since it's so close to the transit house. I got a half order of bean+fried egg sammich for 25 D. Yum. We walked back to the transit house where I met Christine - a volunteer who I already met from previous training sessions - and Albert, an older Agriculture volunteer. After chatting for a bit - it's such a burst of energy everytime I see PCVs and get to know them - Kara and I walked into town and she showed me around. We saw Selina, a fellow trainee who lives in a village past Kulari but on the main road, on the way and her community rep was en route to lead her to the PC house. Best of all, Kara showed me the INTERNET CAFE! What I wasn't expecting was Dillon, another PCV who also has a relationship with someone back home so we have that bonding point, already sitting there! I shamelessly went on for 4 hours and typed my fingers away to get my blog updated, e-mailed some people, and talked to some really close friends back home.

After forever, I walked back to the house with three other trainees and Christine and we arrived right in time for lunch! It was hot as hell for sure and sweat just continued to drip while I was eating. Beth, another volunteer, arrived and helped fix up a salad with a current volunteer who's from Connecticut named Peter. It was such a memorable time - eating my first real spaghetti dish in a long time with vegetables and everything. We had spaghetti with tomato sauce and an array of veggies, watermelon, peanuts, bananas, and a salad with delicious and healthy dressing (I think). After that, the AC miraculously came on (which it doesn't usually until 6 PM at night but the governor was there) and we all enjoyed the fresh breeze for a moment before heading back to the Internet cafe. I got another 1.5 hours of online time and talked to more friends from back home. Best of all, I figured out my travel itinerary! If everything goes well, I'll be going to Zambia, Spain, someone's visiting me in Gambia, Senegal, Morocco, Turkey, and the Seychelles! Like I said, all is tentative but it got me excited and put me in a fantastic mood.

Dillon and I were the last to return home after the sun was starting to set so we walked back 3/4s of the way back... and decided to walk back towards Basse proper to a restaurant and meet everyone there. Could've planned that better, oops. We were the first to get to Aminata's and it was a two-room restaurant filled with men transfixed on two huge TVs with the same soccer game on. The men here LOVE soccer. Or, football as they call it. It's all that the little boys do it seems. I was the only woman in there and we were the only toubabs. Neither Dillon nor I really watched soccer so this was all very new for us. Eventually our group came and we ordered either domada (rice with peanut oil sauce) for 40 D or a chicken and spaghetti dish for 80 D. I got the former and it was delicious. Clearly my priorities are the same as they are in America: Internet, food, transportation...damn I'm so straight out of college. We walked back in the dark with shoddy light, thankfully I didn't step in anything suspicious, watched Pitch Perfect which actually was pretty cute/good, and showered in a creepy bathroom. CREEPY. Really creepy, I want to do some work in cleaning it up but definitely not alone. Shit I never want to be in there after it gets dark again. It was also fricken freezing because we had the AC on but it was all so very perfect. We went to bed but I got two stupid late night calls when I was snuggled in! My mom calls me frantically about something and she like needed me to fax her my passport/license/everything and I'm like, I'm 6-9 hours away from the capital where that stuff is... sorry. She can't just spring stuff on me like that, damn, so that got me a little bothered. Then Musa, the kid, calls me and I sternly tell him he can't call me at night and he hung up right away. Gr. Anyways, it was a fantastic day over all and the Peace Corps Volunteers did everything to help us feel at home. I'm so thrilled to be close to this house. Home sweet transit home.