| W e s t A f r i c a ~ |
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| T h e G a m b i a |
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| This is where it all began...I joined the United States Peace Corps in June 1997, and arrived in The Gambia, West Africa on the 4th of July. I was a Natural Resource Volunteer for a year and a half in this small country that is surrounded by Senegal on the North, East and South. The Western border is the coast of the Atlantic Ocean. The Gambia served as a outpost for the English during the slave trade, and so the country simply follows the curvature of the Gambian River, which ironically, is the country's saving grace. The river provides fertile ground and a strong root system from the trees, which helps the Country withstand the slow penetration of the Sahara Desert. |
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| I lived in a small village, Sololo, which sits about two km. from the Gambian River. Two ethnic tribes, the Mandinkas and the Fulas, shared the village, which is mainly comprised of subsistence farmers, and cattle herders. The hut (to the right) was where I lived. It came with all the essentials...a grass-thatched roof, mud-brick walls, and cement floor. The toilet and shower slab were out back. Running water and electricity were not included in this package. I lived here with about 3 bats, 6 lizards, a few mice and the seasonal insects. |
| The people I lived with were truely amazing. The place was obviously one of extreme poverty, at least a poverty that the average Westerner would see. But, for the Gambians, it's simply the way of life, as they held many festivals and celebrations during my time here. |
| My experiences in Africa, are among the highlights of my life thus far. The hardships, heart-aches, and headaches have given me a much stronger sense of what is important in life, and what is trivial. Please take a closer look at The Gambia through my additional pages listed below. Or you can learn more about "The Smiling Coast," at The Gambia's web page at: |
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