Are you Peace Corps The Gambia - Education 2007-2009?

Are you slated to arrive in The Gambia on June 14th 2007? Are you with the Education group for 2007-2009? If so, welcome to The Gambia from a soon to be 2nd year PCV. I thought I might post some of my thoughts on what you all should consider bringing to The Gambia. Of course, your mileage may vary, but hopefully this list might help make some decisions.

ICT Volunteer Specific
1. I would seriously consider bringing a laptop. Why? All the reasons back home for having a laptop still hold true here: official reports, entertainment, movies, music, photos, games, and more. For work in computer labs, having a machine that can burn copies of Windows, (Edu)Ubuntu Linux, Office, Open Source Software, etc. is invaluable, especially since burners here are not common and often break. Laptops can get damaged, stolen, or returned in poorer condition than they arrived but those cases are not the norm. Most volunteers, with some careful attention to safety and electricity, do just fine having a laptop and it is much more of a help than a burden. I wouldn't bring a new top of the line laptop, but if you have something less expensive or a year to a few years old that would be ideal. Something that if you did lose it would not be the end of the world.

2. CDs full of OpenSource software or otherwise obtained useful software Applications (Office Suites, Anti-Virus software and the latest definitions, Register Mechanics, Defragmenters, diagnostic tools, etc.) Other software to consider would be educational CD-Roms. All those mid-90's Encyclopedias and interactive storybook/educational CDs would work well here and packing a few extra CDs won't take up much space.

3. You might find yourself teaching in a middle/high school and in that case educational software is a must. I use a lot of software I have found on http://www.educational-freeware.com/ and it might serve as a good resource for you.

4. Some of you will end up at higher institutions or government agencies. I am not working in this field so I'm not exactly sure what goes on but it sounds like a lot of database and programming work. Whatever you might need to get this job done is important to bring!

5. Various portable Apps, Thunderbird and Firefox being the most useful. If you don't know what these are do a google search for portable apps and download what you need. Set them up before leaving home. Having your e-mail in one place offline or online, especially for upcountry volunteers, is a big help.

A general note: Most of us work in conditions that don't guarantee power or consistent classes. In addition, students by and large have never seen electricity, a mouse, a monitor, etc. You have to get into the mindset that for those who have never seen an office desk space the metaphors that we use in the Macintosh and Windows desktop don't translate well here. Try and think of creative ways you can overcome these challenges and bring software/teaching aids/materials that might help you in your time here.

General Notes
1. A USB Flash Key (The bigger the better). For volunteers in any sector this is an invaluable tool to have. A lot of good resources are only available when you come down to the urban area, and having those materials packaged and ready to go at your permanent site is quite helpful.

2. Rechargeable batteries. If you are planning on having a camera/radio/electronics, these are much easier than trying to get local batteries. Local brand names are expensive and local brands are horrible (i.e., One friend bought local batteries and was able to take two photos before his camera died).

3. A couple of good books. The first months of training village might feel like there is absolutely nothing to do at night but stare at a burning candle, and a good book can really help with this. Hopefully, others will have brought books and you can share.

4. A few juice flavor packets like Crystal Light. These are really popular with volunteers, and while you are given Gatorade, some different flavors in life are always nice!

5. A couple of Cliff/Power/Energy bars. For those days when you feel like rice isn't giving you enough nutritional balance (Don't worry over time you'll figure this out.)

6. Duct Tape. A million uses.

7. A few cassette tapes with your favorite songs. CDs don't survive on the crackled broken roads, and radio is slowly getting better, but doesn't reach the rural areas. You'll be spending a lot of time in transit in Peace Corps vehicles and having some good old fashioned American music will be a nice contrast with The Gambian landscape.

8. Positive attitude! You'll hear this a million times but it remains true. Many volunteers here get bogged down over time and don't maintain, so the more positive people we have the more we can turn things around.

I would also recommend a few days before you leave to pack yourself a care package of your favorite easy to make packaged food/spices/candy/juice mixes/cereal/etc. In addition put in a good book you've been meaning to read or some magazines that you always enjoy taking a look at. The package will most likely arrive about one month into your training, a time that can be difficult, and a few comforts from home might be just what you need to perk you up.

I might be one of the people to meet and greet you when you step off that plane at Banjul International Airport, so hopefully I'll see you all there safe and sound. Don't be surprised if all is a bit hectic and crazy when you step off the plane, follow what your APCD Yamai says and what the other volunteers who are there say and everything will go smoothly.

Be sure to enjoy your time in Philadelphia. I highly recommend going out for a couple of beers with your fellow volunteers and having a chance to chat in an informal way in a familiar setting. Starting the friendships now will give you stronger experience down the road, important in a place where friendships are a corner stone of mental health.

Best of luck, enjoy America, and see you all soon!
Baraka (Mandinka)
Jere Jeff (Wolof)
Jaa rama (Pulaar)

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And a small post on the weather

It's consistently about 130 Degrees Fahrenheit upcountry. The evenings are a container for the day's relentless temperature.
In the coastal regions we are still enjoying mild weather. Yesterday we were treated to something that I haven't seen in about 8 months, rain. It wasn't hot, it wasn't cold, but the air was filled with that thick warm smell you only get after a rain. I yelled in Thai fohn tohk, and with a big grin on my face I looked up at the sky at the small rain drops falling down on our corrugate tin roofs. The clouds had no definition, only a solid gray mass. Crickets chirped in the distance. The kids waded through small puddles splashing water on each other with small broken plastics cups, cracks running down their sides. It was our first rain in a long time. It began with a pitter patter on the roof then closed itself off teasingly. Then the rain came in a steady drizzle that maintained its presence for more than 20 minutes and brought us all a little closer to a heaven that can be contained in this world. Then the rain died away to the power of the hot season. Children continued to cry without end. This was my Sunday the 20th of May 2007.

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And off on a short vacation I go.

On Thursday I will leave for a much needed vacation to visit the family. I’ll resume posting after June 2nd. Cheers to life on the road…