Everyone is curious to what my life is really like. I’ve written on tidbits of life here, and gone off on philosophical tangents, but have never really sat down and tried to piece together my life here in The Gambia and explain it in a post.
Is it a life changing experience? Sometimes I feel like nothing has changed, but then I reflect back on the past or home and realize that it feels like nothing has changed because the change has become an everyday part of my life. It has become normal.
My work has been very hodge podge lately. There is the Junior Achievement award, a class teaching entrepreneurial skills to high school students, that I am now technical advisor for. But now I am waiting for the second half of the class to start, called the practical, where students get money to create a business for 6 months, so my time has freed up for now. Then I’m teaching computer classes to a few hospital workers, trying to eventually get them to be able to keep electronic records. I’m also getting involved in a credit union that is trying to be formed combining several villages’ finances and I want to form a class like Junior Achievement for younger students.
But for me, although the job aspect is important, I think the foreground life is my everyday life in the village. I do my job here and there on a looser schedule than we are used to in America, so a lot of my time is going around village and hanging out with people. I wake up in the morning, and usually buy bread and mayonnaise from the local store owner, Abulai. Abulai is becoming one of my friends and we chat it up for a little and next to his bantaba (a bench under a tree). There is another bantaba where a woman who sells meat pies, fish wrapped in flour and deep fried, right next to Abulai and I greet her and chat with her and the women posse for a bit. The women posse include this women, Umi, an older lady, a few girls from the compound close by. Then I usually check on the hospital, and on my way stop by Sarr kunda, a compound where one girl named nene, a four year old who always runs fast as she can with a big smile everytime I come by, lives. She might be my best friend, haha.
So as you can see, much conversation happens, and it continues all day, with hospital staff, family and other compounds. Work happens in between these conversations. I’ve also starting to get involved in village activities from school parties to sowing in the fields. Okay, I’ve only went once to the fields so far and it was to sow peanut (not the hardest thing in the world), but I plan to do more.
So that's life in a nutshell for me. I wish I could just let you see life through my eyes to better communicate all this...
Okay, my time here in the 'big' city is done and I'm back off to my village to start anew, rested and with fresh perspectives.
Sunday, July 20, 2008
Monday, June 16, 2008
Magic
Magic exists here. Not the magic of a romantic evening nor the magic of a starry night in the mountains but real, Merlin, sorcery magic. At least that's what it feels like. But it seems that a comprehensive understanding of this place requires one to understand this magic. It wasn't long before I became acquainted with the nuances of culture, the subtle understanding of their life here, but it wasn't until this weekend that I realized a vital key was missing; I didn't believe in real magic. And what exactly it is I don't know and even if I did, I'm not sure I could communicate it fully to someone who had not felt it first hand, but after realizing the magic, it seemed to open a whole new path for me to explore, and whole new understanding of The Gambia. The picture in the beginning of this post, is of the same dancer as the one below. It is a "mangpara," a tranditional dancer, on stilts, that was in my village for celebration.
Another little tidbit is my favorite piece of furniture so far. In a place with no refrigeration, cold drinks is not available. So cold water is filled in these clay pots, called, "Jibada's" and they keep water semi-cold...it is the best investment I've made...and I cover it with my one of a kind, tupac bandana that was bought here in the Gambia:
Congrats to Dr. Law, who graduated not too long ago and to Nikki who will graduate in a couple days. If you haven't seen Law's speech yet, you can see it on youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xq-H9MR32Sc
It is times like these, knowing that people I love are going through some of the most important times of their lives that I want to be home the most. I just want to be there and let them know how proud of them I am, how much I admire their accomplishments and how their accomplishments I feel are mine too and that their triumph is a triumph in my life.
Well, aside from revelations of magic and missing the magic of home, I'll end with this. I took a walk on a bush road, alone, and like decided to take a picture of myself, just for your enjoyment.
Enjoy the post, enjoy life and know my spirit is there with all of you for all the times I wish I was there in the physical.
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
It's been too long
Wow...it's been quite a while since updating this. But with time it seems easier to keep in correspondence directly with people. And when I sit down to write on these things, a million thoughts co ome to fruition and I never have enough time to do them justice. I do implore you to read my blog, but one of my friends here has an awesome blog that he updates more regularly and makes us seem way cooler than I could: stevenchronicles.blogspot.com
Anyways...so an update....wow. Well, I've been just getting acquainted with village life. It doesn't seem like I'm under any stress while I'm out there, but once I get back to Kombo (area where the peace corps office and internet are), I get to relax in an air conditioned room and think, and I feel relief. The people here have a hard life. There is a lot of improvements that can be made, but it's like pushing through mud. They have no luxuries that we have in America, so even relaxing time is characterized by hard wood seats and heat. There are tons of motivated people, but it's hard to stay determined and ambitious because the reality is the opportunities are limited. Even the most educated man here still needs to farm and find ways to make income, despite his skills. The great thing though is that despite these conditions, laughter, love and happiness still exist. Even in desperation people can fine positivity.
As far as my personal experiences, I'm trying to bring some sort of structure to ambiguity. As the Assistant Peace Corps Director (APCD), Gibril likes to say, I'm "Trail Blazing." It's is because I'm basically the first Peace Corps at this site (there was one 15-20 years ago and it was an agriculturist). As cool as this sound, and as awesome as the possibilities are, it is also these possiblities that make my job hard. There is no set structure, no set expectations from the villagers, and no groundwork for me to jump off from. So, that means a lot of assesment, finding out what resources are in the village, what demands there are and the over all village dynamic and relationships. Furthermore, it means defining a Peace Corp relationship with locals and how they fit into the community.
What's great about my village is that it is a big village with a lot of useful institutions in place. A clinic growing to be one of the best in the country, a skills center for women and skill development, schools from nursery to 9th grade, a strong and effective VDC, and a lot of ambitious educated people. So although it was my original thoughts that I'd bring something new and tangible here, the benefits will be reaped from strengthening these institutions first. And if this can be accomplished before 2 years, then I can think about building upon them. But it's been my realization that a lot of places here in The Gambia, and I'm guessing in a lot of developing countries, need the strengthening of these insitutions. Administration. From building an inventory to creating a simple and transparent accounting system. If they can just establish these, the aid going here would be so much more effective. And a field worker, like me, has the most effective means to do this. Further, we can act as a liaison to the western world, because little differences between our cultures that we take for granted, are important when trying to figure out what a donor wants or is expecting. So, for long term progress it's solidfying what is already here first...then bring new help here. Plus, for me, I prefer to help make people more effective than help them find more donation...they can't rely on aid forever.
Culturally it is starting to become second nature, though I still feel the strain of cultural shock. People here are so friendly, and being an American, it's hard for me to just accept kindness, especially from strangers, without a grain of salt. Furthermore, being a foreigner you are treated slightly different and can not always assume the same standards apply to you as to a local. But it's funny because before I left, I thought, "I'm Chinese-Korean-American, I'm used to sticking out as different." But now, I realize how much of an American I was, and how sticking out in America, I'm still an American, here I'm totally foreign. Being here makes me realize improvements that America can do, like the usual rhetoric about wastefulness, but really, it makes me feel so patriotic. Being an American is great and having a country like ours is awesome.
Being a world citizen is trying, but rewarding. Regardless of what I do here, I will always know that the culture in America must retain a feeling of kinship towards the world. We can not remain alien to it. Whatever your thoughts, whether we are obligated to help the world or have absolutely no obligation, we have to aware of our part in the world and the world's part in America. Not are there under utilized resources for America in all parts of the world, but people are just living everyday, just like we are, with the same thoughts and same ambitions that make you see the World, America and even just your own household in a more true light.
And, to all my brothers and friends, I'm still waiting for the period where I come to enlightenment...but I'm realizing the truth that one can not strive towards enlightenment and expect to obtain it. It just happens by living the right way.
And to everyone, my family especially, I love you all so much. Homesickness is grabbing me, but luckily I'm old (and mature?) enough to recognize it and know it'll pass. But you are in my thoughts all the time.
It's weird how much I feel like I'm growing. My friend said made an analogy to drugs...he said you feel like you are learning so much while you are in the drug induced haze, but afterwards you realize that everything is still the same. But I told him, yeah, but later you realize that you actually have changed in subtle ways that are important. So, who knows if I'm a different person, but I think the analogy will hold true. And I've been reading David Law's, "Drunk Sax on Frat Row," a tribute to our college days and realized how much I didn't know I had changed since then. I still believe our core persons never change, but life has so many more angles and perspectives to me...what about after this? Oh well...an experience PCV told me that you come to a place where you live in the present, no longer thinking of the past or future...and that's the time you are finally adapted. Obviously I'm only thinking past and future...I wonder when this present-framed mindset will set in.
Lastly, I write my blogs on the fly, without proofreading so I apologize if my thoughts are confusing and unorganized...at least you know you are reading raw thoughts, straight from my mind, and know that it is as close to an unbiased reading of my feeelings here.
Alex
Anyways...so an update....wow. Well, I've been just getting acquainted with village life. It doesn't seem like I'm under any stress while I'm out there, but once I get back to Kombo (area where the peace corps office and internet are), I get to relax in an air conditioned room and think, and I feel relief. The people here have a hard life. There is a lot of improvements that can be made, but it's like pushing through mud. They have no luxuries that we have in America, so even relaxing time is characterized by hard wood seats and heat. There are tons of motivated people, but it's hard to stay determined and ambitious because the reality is the opportunities are limited. Even the most educated man here still needs to farm and find ways to make income, despite his skills. The great thing though is that despite these conditions, laughter, love and happiness still exist. Even in desperation people can fine positivity.
As far as my personal experiences, I'm trying to bring some sort of structure to ambiguity. As the Assistant Peace Corps Director (APCD), Gibril likes to say, I'm "Trail Blazing." It's is because I'm basically the first Peace Corps at this site (there was one 15-20 years ago and it was an agriculturist). As cool as this sound, and as awesome as the possibilities are, it is also these possiblities that make my job hard. There is no set structure, no set expectations from the villagers, and no groundwork for me to jump off from. So, that means a lot of assesment, finding out what resources are in the village, what demands there are and the over all village dynamic and relationships. Furthermore, it means defining a Peace Corp relationship with locals and how they fit into the community.
What's great about my village is that it is a big village with a lot of useful institutions in place. A clinic growing to be one of the best in the country, a skills center for women and skill development, schools from nursery to 9th grade, a strong and effective VDC, and a lot of ambitious educated people. So although it was my original thoughts that I'd bring something new and tangible here, the benefits will be reaped from strengthening these institutions first. And if this can be accomplished before 2 years, then I can think about building upon them. But it's been my realization that a lot of places here in The Gambia, and I'm guessing in a lot of developing countries, need the strengthening of these insitutions. Administration. From building an inventory to creating a simple and transparent accounting system. If they can just establish these, the aid going here would be so much more effective. And a field worker, like me, has the most effective means to do this. Further, we can act as a liaison to the western world, because little differences between our cultures that we take for granted, are important when trying to figure out what a donor wants or is expecting. So, for long term progress it's solidfying what is already here first...then bring new help here. Plus, for me, I prefer to help make people more effective than help them find more donation...they can't rely on aid forever.
Culturally it is starting to become second nature, though I still feel the strain of cultural shock. People here are so friendly, and being an American, it's hard for me to just accept kindness, especially from strangers, without a grain of salt. Furthermore, being a foreigner you are treated slightly different and can not always assume the same standards apply to you as to a local. But it's funny because before I left, I thought, "I'm Chinese-Korean-American, I'm used to sticking out as different." But now, I realize how much of an American I was, and how sticking out in America, I'm still an American, here I'm totally foreign. Being here makes me realize improvements that America can do, like the usual rhetoric about wastefulness, but really, it makes me feel so patriotic. Being an American is great and having a country like ours is awesome.
Being a world citizen is trying, but rewarding. Regardless of what I do here, I will always know that the culture in America must retain a feeling of kinship towards the world. We can not remain alien to it. Whatever your thoughts, whether we are obligated to help the world or have absolutely no obligation, we have to aware of our part in the world and the world's part in America. Not are there under utilized resources for America in all parts of the world, but people are just living everyday, just like we are, with the same thoughts and same ambitions that make you see the World, America and even just your own household in a more true light.
And, to all my brothers and friends, I'm still waiting for the period where I come to enlightenment...but I'm realizing the truth that one can not strive towards enlightenment and expect to obtain it. It just happens by living the right way.
And to everyone, my family especially, I love you all so much. Homesickness is grabbing me, but luckily I'm old (and mature?) enough to recognize it and know it'll pass. But you are in my thoughts all the time.
It's weird how much I feel like I'm growing. My friend said made an analogy to drugs...he said you feel like you are learning so much while you are in the drug induced haze, but afterwards you realize that everything is still the same. But I told him, yeah, but later you realize that you actually have changed in subtle ways that are important. So, who knows if I'm a different person, but I think the analogy will hold true. And I've been reading David Law's, "Drunk Sax on Frat Row," a tribute to our college days and realized how much I didn't know I had changed since then. I still believe our core persons never change, but life has so many more angles and perspectives to me...what about after this? Oh well...an experience PCV told me that you come to a place where you live in the present, no longer thinking of the past or future...and that's the time you are finally adapted. Obviously I'm only thinking past and future...I wonder when this present-framed mindset will set in.
Lastly, I write my blogs on the fly, without proofreading so I apologize if my thoughts are confusing and unorganized...at least you know you are reading raw thoughts, straight from my mind, and know that it is as close to an unbiased reading of my feeelings here.
Alex
Sunday, April 13, 2008
Thoughts from My Intro to Africa
I sit here now, in the Peace Corps, “transit house,” on my free day, waiting for the final week of training before I officially swear in as a volunteer.
As I ponder what to write, how to communicate my recent experiences and everything that I want to tell all of you, I’m at a lost for words. Not that it isn’t possible to write about things that happened, like trying random bush meat that local children have caught or having to take bucket baths every night, but there is something intangible that words can circle around but never pinpoint. Even before leaving for service, I had heard past stories and experiences from people who had been volunteers but now I am beginning to understand how those stories that amazed me with the thrill of adventure and excitement were but the outer appearance hiding a soul underneath that until I actual walked the path could never be truly understood.
We were always told during training that we would be constantly learning about ourselves. Only now as I have internet, constant water and electricity, shade and an ocean breeze, have I realized just how much that is true. While in the village, constantly being aware of how I act, trying to speak the local language and dealing with new ways of life, my brain did not have too much time to process what was going on. Even now, I’m not sure exactly what I learned about the world or myself, but coming back to the main city and seeing it with new eyes has acted as a measure for change.
The life of a Peace Corps volunteer is not easy. It’s hard to gauge how much stress you are under since here it isn’t the amount of paperwork one has to finish or the amount of tasks ahead, but the constant battle to integrate while dealing with losing the conveniences that sometimes I didn’t realize I depended on to relax. In fact, I didn’t even realize I was stressed until I came back to the big city and breathed a big sigh of relief.
This is not to say that it isn’t fun. Though sometimes it’s hard to remind myself how fun it actually is, there are moments that are amazing. I’ve taken a 25 km walk through the bush, having to swim through swamps and spotting baboons and wild pigs. I’ve been invited by village children to watch them skin a bush animal, which I don’t know the English name, only that is called, “waati dingo.” I’ve also eaten this same animal after it had been cooked by a local women in a tomato sauce (and of course, it was kinda chicken-esque.) I tried to make myself try baboon meat, which I got maybe two pieces down, and decided it wasn’t for me (whether from psychological reasons or that it really just didn’t taste good.) I’ve made friends with other volunteers, Gambians and missionaries. I’ve even had a full fledged Korean meal with a random Korean missionary I met, that most locals thought was my uncle or older brother. With all of this sometimes how cool it is doesn’t hit me until I find myself writing about it later.
So with those initial thoughts that I find myself hard pressed to communicate over the phone, here is some updates on the on goings of my life.
Training village was great, I was still juiced just to be in Africa, which really helped me meet people. I made many good friends, including like three marriage proposals, and have been picking up the language pretty well. Every morning I woke up, watered my garden, and then headed for language class. After lunch I usually hung around my language teacher’s compound and spoke to the village women. These conversations were some of the best. It was a lot like being back in the Choy family. You have to have a thick skin, because all we do is make fun of each other, how useless they are, how their husband is a chicken or the size of their butt. It is all in good fun though, and laughing was great medicine for me. There were a lot of good friends made and it was tough leaving, but now the real deal is coming.
So now we bring ourselves to more recent events. After leaving training village, we left to our site for a short 3 day visit. My family consists of my host brother, his two wives, the mother, kids and a few other male relatives. Everyone is really chill, no rude children and everyone really takes care of me. My house is brand new, having to be remodeled to be up to Peace Corps standards, and this has been a great plus. And technically, my brother’s wives are mine and his kids are mine, so technically I now have two wives and 7 children. I’m sure grandma would be very proud.
As far as my work is concerned, there are a lot of ideas, but nothing too solid. There is a credit union that is all but formed, tomatoes that need a market, a hospital that needs computer training and a school that I haven’t even had a chance to take a close look at. But to assess a communities needs in three days is nearly impossible. But the people seem motivated and there seems to be a lot of activity going on that could be encouraged and developed.
So now, I am enjoying my free day, catching up on the on goings of home and catching up home on my own on goings. People are starting to ask what I need out here, but I’m not quite sure yet, and much of the little necessities can be found here. But as I go into service more, I’m sure needs will arise. General care packages are of course, always welcomed.
As I ponder what to write, how to communicate my recent experiences and everything that I want to tell all of you, I’m at a lost for words. Not that it isn’t possible to write about things that happened, like trying random bush meat that local children have caught or having to take bucket baths every night, but there is something intangible that words can circle around but never pinpoint. Even before leaving for service, I had heard past stories and experiences from people who had been volunteers but now I am beginning to understand how those stories that amazed me with the thrill of adventure and excitement were but the outer appearance hiding a soul underneath that until I actual walked the path could never be truly understood.
We were always told during training that we would be constantly learning about ourselves. Only now as I have internet, constant water and electricity, shade and an ocean breeze, have I realized just how much that is true. While in the village, constantly being aware of how I act, trying to speak the local language and dealing with new ways of life, my brain did not have too much time to process what was going on. Even now, I’m not sure exactly what I learned about the world or myself, but coming back to the main city and seeing it with new eyes has acted as a measure for change.
The life of a Peace Corps volunteer is not easy. It’s hard to gauge how much stress you are under since here it isn’t the amount of paperwork one has to finish or the amount of tasks ahead, but the constant battle to integrate while dealing with losing the conveniences that sometimes I didn’t realize I depended on to relax. In fact, I didn’t even realize I was stressed until I came back to the big city and breathed a big sigh of relief.
This is not to say that it isn’t fun. Though sometimes it’s hard to remind myself how fun it actually is, there are moments that are amazing. I’ve taken a 25 km walk through the bush, having to swim through swamps and spotting baboons and wild pigs. I’ve been invited by village children to watch them skin a bush animal, which I don’t know the English name, only that is called, “waati dingo.” I’ve also eaten this same animal after it had been cooked by a local women in a tomato sauce (and of course, it was kinda chicken-esque.) I tried to make myself try baboon meat, which I got maybe two pieces down, and decided it wasn’t for me (whether from psychological reasons or that it really just didn’t taste good.) I’ve made friends with other volunteers, Gambians and missionaries. I’ve even had a full fledged Korean meal with a random Korean missionary I met, that most locals thought was my uncle or older brother. With all of this sometimes how cool it is doesn’t hit me until I find myself writing about it later.
So with those initial thoughts that I find myself hard pressed to communicate over the phone, here is some updates on the on goings of my life.
Training village was great, I was still juiced just to be in Africa, which really helped me meet people. I made many good friends, including like three marriage proposals, and have been picking up the language pretty well. Every morning I woke up, watered my garden, and then headed for language class. After lunch I usually hung around my language teacher’s compound and spoke to the village women. These conversations were some of the best. It was a lot like being back in the Choy family. You have to have a thick skin, because all we do is make fun of each other, how useless they are, how their husband is a chicken or the size of their butt. It is all in good fun though, and laughing was great medicine for me. There were a lot of good friends made and it was tough leaving, but now the real deal is coming.
So now we bring ourselves to more recent events. After leaving training village, we left to our site for a short 3 day visit. My family consists of my host brother, his two wives, the mother, kids and a few other male relatives. Everyone is really chill, no rude children and everyone really takes care of me. My house is brand new, having to be remodeled to be up to Peace Corps standards, and this has been a great plus. And technically, my brother’s wives are mine and his kids are mine, so technically I now have two wives and 7 children. I’m sure grandma would be very proud.
As far as my work is concerned, there are a lot of ideas, but nothing too solid. There is a credit union that is all but formed, tomatoes that need a market, a hospital that needs computer training and a school that I haven’t even had a chance to take a close look at. But to assess a communities needs in three days is nearly impossible. But the people seem motivated and there seems to be a lot of activity going on that could be encouraged and developed.
So now, I am enjoying my free day, catching up on the on goings of home and catching up home on my own on goings. People are starting to ask what I need out here, but I’m not quite sure yet, and much of the little necessities can be found here. But as I go into service more, I’m sure needs will arise. General care packages are of course, always welcomed.
Sunday, February 10, 2008
First Day Off
Hola everyone. Kairya be? (Mandika...is there peace, or peace be unto you...a saalam aleekum.)
Today we had our first free day, so I spent it sleeping in a bit...9:30 am...and then we went off to the beach. Nothing too crazy yet, the beach reminded me of PV a bit, with the cliffs and all...
Tomorrow we find out which language we will be learning which is exciting. Then comes the hard part...the training village. Until the real action starts...just wanted to say I am feeeling goood and it is exciting to be here.
Today we had our first free day, so I spent it sleeping in a bit...9:30 am...and then we went off to the beach. Nothing too crazy yet, the beach reminded me of PV a bit, with the cliffs and all...
Tomorrow we find out which language we will be learning which is exciting. Then comes the hard part...the training village. Until the real action starts...just wanted to say I am feeeling goood and it is exciting to be here.
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