Paul's Up Country Trek

On Sunday Paul was packed and ready to go up country as he is doing his teacher observations again. Amy swapped her week with Paul as her friend was visiting her from the UK, unfortunately her flight was cancelled due to Iceland’s volcanic ash. Paul was due to picked up at midday so we decided to go for a quick walk. We crossed the golf course and headed towards the stream. There seem to be pigs everywhere now, on the golf course, streets and in the taxi car park area, we have even found an area which is used as a pig sty in a corner of the golf course. At the stream a group of boys were busy swimming some of which weren’t wearing any trunks, they didn’t care. We headed back for home as Paul was due to be picked up.

The vehicle was only thirty minutes late picking up Paul which was a big surprise after last time. He won’t be travelling as far this time as he is visiting schools within what is called the lower Niumi region which is just across the ferry to the north bank at Barra. Once across they went straight to the village of fass which is close to the border of Senegal, this is where he will be staying the night. From there he visited the villages of Kanuma (Alpha’s village), Sitanunku (Nuha’s village) and Juffereh (Roots). He managed to get a lot more observations done than when he was last up country. He also managed to walk around the villages without getting hustle from locals or children shouting toubaub at him. On one evening he stumbled into a large compound where there was a TV and a number of Gambians sat watching the football he was asked to join them and sat talking to a guy. At half time he got up to go and pick up a torch from his room saying he would be back shortly. When he returned to the compound it was in total darkness the TV had been turned off and chairs stacked up, he laughed and went back to where he was staying. When he phoned to update us on Wednesday he was a bit fed up, he had spent every night sleeping on the floor so was very tired. He was also expecting to be home on Thursday evening however he was told they would be staying until Friday so he may not make it for Georgia’s pool party.

On Friday afternoon I took the children to Georgia’s pool party at Safari Garden. Georgia is going back to the UK on Sunday so this would be her leaving party as well as a few drinks on the evening which we won’t be able to attend. We were one of the first to arrive along with Chris and Mel, we ordered drinks and a plate of chips and chatted until others arrived. Abigail and Bradley spent most of the afternoon in the pool with some of the volunteers playing with a blow up ball. At 4 o’clock I got a text off Paul he was hoping to get on the next ferry and had already been waiting for two hours. Unfortunately he didn’t make it to the party and finally arrived home at 7 o’clock very tired after having spent most of the afternoon waiting to cross the river.

Brikama College Picnic On The Beach

On Saturday Brikama college were holding a beach picnic for all lecturers which we had been invited to. When we arrived at 1 o’clock there were already quite a few other lecturers there including Amy, Rachel and Emma all of which were busy playing scrabble with some of the Gambians. We joined their table helping ourselves to some coffee and breakfast which consisted of a sausage, lettuce and tomato sandwich. Whilst there a film crew from GMTV were busy filming for a competition to win a holiday to the Gambia, this meant we had to turn the music down and talk quietly whilst this was taking place. Paul, Abigail and Bradley ventured into the sea with their body boards whilst I sat and watched. The weather was very windy and a little overcast however Paul still managed to get sunburnt whilst chatting to a couple of local lads. We had hoped that some of the lecturers would bring along their children so Abigail and Bradley would have some one to play with. The afternoon was spent sitting around which is the norm for Gambians. Bradley was starting to get a little bored and decided to lay in one of the hammocks, they were also feeling a little hungry as no food had been served. Amy, Rachel and Emma decided to give up and leave at around 4 o’clock. Ten minutes after they left the picnic started to liven up as the music was turned up and people got up to dance including an old bloke who must have been in his seventies, gosh these people can move. We waited a little longer and suddenly things started happening as bowls of food were brought out and drinks. The picnic consisted of fish benechin and vegetables. Bradley has surprised us both by really enjoying eating fish dishes, so it was no surprise when he tucked into the benechin with gusto. He is now eating most fish whether battered or not including sardines and prawns. Once lunch was finished the teachers gathered around as some announcements were made and some sparkly unalcoholic bubbly was passed around. One of the lady lecturers got up to dance and she went around everyone making sure they danced with her including Paul and me. At around 6.30pm we made our exit to leave only to be given a doggy bag, foil tray containing meat and noodles and a canned drink for us all.

Rachal & Emma