We are here in Kombo (the greater Banjul area) doing our basic training. The landscape reminds me a lot of what the Esan region of Thailand must have looked like 25 or 30 years ago. Next Friday we will head out to our training villages to start intensive language and cultural training. I am headed to Bumari with our great language and cultural helper (LCH) Muhammadou. I am learning Mandinka, which is the most commonly spoken langauge in country wih 40% of the population belonging to that group.
Had my first Larium (anti-malarial) induced dream two nights ago... Something about baseball, 15 innings, africans, and beef being thrown were all involved, I'll let you figure out the rest of the details.
As I said earlier our group is diverse. We have people as young as me (I am the youngest, ouch), up to a third time PC Volunteer. People from Oregon to Atlanta, and West Texas to Montana; in other words a lot to learn from the fellow volunteers. We also have a married couple which is great.
Best wishes, please do write.
So there isn't much point to this post, but here is the little guy now doing some wild things in this little country. Birthday went well a couple of days ago, with everyone singing a cheerful "happy birthday."