Random Gambia
I don't have any particular story in mind so I'm just going to type. I started with the Grade 10s today. I miss my Grade 11s. They were really rowdy but a lot of fun. When I wanted to get their attention, I'd yell "Heeeeey, youuuuu guyyyyys" a la Goonies. They thought it was hilarious and now whenever I see a Grade 11 student (in school or anywhere), they always yell it to me. hahahaha. Chantal! It makes me think of you every time.
We went to a tailor today to have outfits made. Very curious how they'll turn out. Our friend, Inna, is getting married on September 3 so we got dresses (kind of Gambian style) to wear. We pick 'em up next Thursday. I hope they turn out ok. He had one sheet of paper with all of our measurements written on it and a huge pile of fabric when we left (plus assorted drawings and prices and whatnot). Hopefully he matches the right numbers to the right fabrics. Fingers crossed.
I realized today that I don't write about things that were totally strange for the first week and now have just become normal. Like the taxis for instance. You can go almost anywhere around town, to the market, out to the tailor, etc. for 5 Dalasis (a whopping 20 cents) each. And the honking. All taxis and the other drivers honk their horns for everything! They honk to get your attention, they honk when they pass, they honk when they're angry, they honk when they're full, they honk when they have room,... Kairaba Avenue (the main street) is actually quite deafening. Picture the worst driver you've ever known and then picture an entire city full of cars driven by that driver. Now you've pictured any city in Gambia. They actually WILL run you over. I'm sure of it. In Canada we drive on the right side of the road, in England they drive on the left side, and in The Gambia they drive on both :) True story.
We went to a tailor today to have outfits made. Very curious how they'll turn out. Our friend, Inna, is getting married on September 3 so we got dresses (kind of Gambian style) to wear. We pick 'em up next Thursday. I hope they turn out ok. He had one sheet of paper with all of our measurements written on it and a huge pile of fabric when we left (plus assorted drawings and prices and whatnot). Hopefully he matches the right numbers to the right fabrics. Fingers crossed.
I realized today that I don't write about things that were totally strange for the first week and now have just become normal. Like the taxis for instance. You can go almost anywhere around town, to the market, out to the tailor, etc. for 5 Dalasis (a whopping 20 cents) each. And the honking. All taxis and the other drivers honk their horns for everything! They honk to get your attention, they honk when they pass, they honk when they're angry, they honk when they're full, they honk when they have room,... Kairaba Avenue (the main street) is actually quite deafening. Picture the worst driver you've ever known and then picture an entire city full of cars driven by that driver. Now you've pictured any city in Gambia. They actually WILL run you over. I'm sure of it. In Canada we drive on the right side of the road, in England they drive on the left side, and in The Gambia they drive on both :) True story.
posted by brandy at 2:32 PM
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