Today's highlight: we were tasked to go to Soma (the big town around here) and to the ferry where people cross the river and into the North bank. I started off the morning with chores and went to fetch water. I saw Hule again, the 28 year old educated Mandinka woman in town for agriculture who is staying with Rohi, the Alkaloo's daughter. There's a project in place but it hasn't officially started yet because the fields aren't cleared. Damn I wish she was my counterpart. She's so nice and has a wonderful smile always on her face. Her voice is very calming. She hopes to get a sponsor to go to college soon in The Gambia and I know what I'll be wishing for every time I see a shooting star. She is expecting her 2nd child soon (which is significant in itself, she's 28 with 1 child and expecting a second while some 20 year olds already have 3 kids) and hopes that I'll have twins in the future. OK Hule, keep on dreaming.
Ida, Elizabeth, and I caught a gele to Soma for 20 Dalasi a piec, saw a white woman on there with a man and his two daughters who were sitting next to me, I exchanged the 5 Mandinka greetings I know but they knew English. At least the woman and the man did. The girls were so cute and friendly. It's always a bit of a shock to see a westerner. Anyways, we got off at Soma, dropped off our phones at the bank to charge, and took a 7-person-car (fits 7, 8 including the driver) to the ferry crossing. I can't even sum up in words the experience. Basically I felt like I was going to die from the extreme bumpiness of the nonexistant roads (thank God I didn't feel nauseous otherwise people were not going to be happy), dust storm, and the cramped conditions being squeezed in the back of a car with NO leg space- and I'm a short person! The car definitely looked like it could break down at any minute and sometimes, on the plus side, it felt like I was on a cool roller coaster ride at Universal Studios. We made it to the ferry crossing after passing the endless queue of cargo trucks and cars waiting to cross the river. It's only 1 (or 2?) ferry for EVERYONE who wants to get back and forth. Apparently stuff at this place was expensive because a lot of Senegalese business people inflate the prices with their currency (which is worth more). Farafenneh is a busy town on the other side oef the ferry known for its shopping. I'm not sure how long you wait on average but Ida told me it could be 3-4 days for some people!
We taxi'd (4 people, 5 including driver) back to Soma after that and saw a long waiting line at the internet cafe. I don't like waiting so I went to explore/sit elsewhere. I met another volunteer named Jess along the way and we sat next to the bank where my phone was charging. I talked to another LCF called Kounta (he's like an Ida/a teacher to another group of volunteers) and we shared my bag of boiled peanuts. After they left, a little boy kept on trying to get my attention and said he loved me. I went to meet up with Ida after and we sat in the bank with AC... which was heaven. She knew one of the bank workers which was our in. That's very smart...making friends with a banker. After our phones finished charging, we went back to get a bus for Jalanbereh. I can't even count how many times I was called "toubab" or "Chinese" today. It's just a descriptor, but the frequency is taxing on my patience.
There were NO geles our way because everything was in the Banjul area since the Nigerian president was visiting. Nigeria's media/entertainment/movie industry is big in Gambia. After waiting forever (which is the story of traveling anywhere in The Gambia), a bus finally came and we were off. BUT FIRST, after we boarded the bus, we had to wait 20 minutes for everyone to get off, get food/use the bathroom, and another 20 minutes for everyone to get on and get their tickets checked or pay. I did, however, work on my Serehule by conversing with some women on the bus and that was exciting. I was starving by the time we got back and gorged myself with lunch. It was delicious but I'll never do it again. We also bought a watermelon which explains my increased eating. IT WAS ALL SO GOOD but the consequences were dire. I had a food baby and hated myself afterwards. I spent the afternoon uncomfortable full, brainstormed what I wanted at my permanent site, and scrolled through pictures of Ida's family!
After all that, I went home to ride my bike. I rode my farthest today and came back just in time to receive a call from my mom. I had dinner, watered the plants, sat out to teach English/math/study Serehule. I told my family in Serehule that I was going to Kulari next month and they said they would miss me :( I will miss them too, but it won't be until three months that I can see them again. The first three months of permanent site is called the three month challenge where we must stay in that area. Grawr. It's a challenge but it's telling that a volunteer can survive their service. I'll be waking up early tomorrow to go to Soma again for the internet. Hopefully I'll go early and come back early! I'm starting to get the hang of life.
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