Our Gambian Adventure

Mentoring

After a sleepless night we were up early and met up with our mentor Angela, an Australian VSO Volunteer. We were taken to Serrekunda Market to set up home with the VSO allowance of £80. Very tiring, as to get the most from your money you have to shop around so flitted from shop/stall to stall, managed to get a good price for curtain and throw material after plenty of bartering. Loaded up we headed for home with plates, pans, buckets etc. in hand.

That evening all new volunteers, Jenny, Abigail and Bradley included were invited for dinner at Max’s house. The Pilipino volunteers had each cooked so we tried some new dishes, consisting of squid in a coconut chilli sauce, chicken noodle stir fry, mung beans, marinade chicken drumsticks, prawns and papaya and rice, all concocted on a two ring gas burner very impressive and tasty. At 7.30pm Jenny, myself and the children headed for home leaving Paul to impress with his singing skills on the karaoke machine.

Moving to our Compound

Whilst myself and Paul were learning our languages Jenny dropped off the registration forms for the school and Bradley was fitted out with his school uniform, gold shirt and navy shorts three pairs all to be embroidered with his name, Abigail will have to wait until next week as awaiting more stock.

At 2.30pm we were packed and ready to move to our new accommodation, we said goodbye to the hotel waiters who had taken to Abigail and Bradley and have given them both Gambian names Isatou and Kaba. We loaded up the car and took the short journey to the region know as Fajara which is more of an up market area of the Kombo were you can find diplomats and government officials living. Our first impression is basic with a lovely large compound consisting of the landlady’s house and a small existing volunteer’s house, also with trees of grapefruit, orange, mango, lime, and mandarin. The house has two large bedrooms a large lounge/diner, separate toilet, bathroom and a small kitchen of which it is painted a sickly dark grey colour. The lounge, although large, requires a lick of paint and new curtains, also the throws on the settee could do with a good wash, better still replacing, as they are disgusting. We set to work unpacking the clothes and children’s toys, with plenty of drawer and cupboard space we are very much spoilt for choice. Whilst Jenny and Paul popped out to get some food for breakfast I set to work washing the kitchen walls which were covered with dirt and grease stains, after a long day and the children in bed we managed to relax for the night.