The First 48 hours – What I Know

Here’s some of what we’ve learned in the first 2 days in the Gambia:

• It’s hotter than we thought it would be
• The water (for drinking) is better than we thought it would be
• It’s dustier than we thought it would be – it’s dry season and they’re not kidding. (And when it’s rainy season I’m told the whole place is inundated with water and moisture, with 100% humidity from July through late October.)
• Most roads are not paved. So, paths that are driven on are made of sand or soft red dirt – I’m not sure of the difference.
• Most women we have seen are strikingly beautiful and are dressed in traditional, long, brightly colored, multi-patterned West African dress and headscarf. These dresses look formal but they are worn through all manner of work, everyday.
• Electricity service, gasoline and everything that isn’t grown here are more expensive than in US.
• Electricity service is available only in limited locations. We’re in one of them.
• Many “nice” houses and businesses are located where there is no electricity – just down the road from us. They generally get their power from generators run by gasoline (which is about 50% more expensive than what we pay in US).
• While English is the official language, few local people actually speak fluent English, particularly the vast majority of laborers and unskilled workers.
• The pressure to stay within traditional Muslim-African clan structure is intense. Young people who want to follow new ideas will lose all family support (and usually, food, shelter, work) if they dare to stray from this network.
• White rice, all imported, is the staple food. It is eaten three meals per day, if it can be accessed.
• There is lots of bird watching here. We saw an egret next to the pool yesterday.
• It’s papaya season, not mango season.
• When it is windy (or slightly breezy) we lose internet connection. Phone (land) lines are consistently down or scratchy.
• I’ll keep adding to this list. It’s what I can think of for now.