"This Time for Africa"

Tonight is my last night in The Gambia. Tomorrow morning we leave for Dakar, Senegal. We are going to drive to Dakar, which will take about 7 hours and then spend Wednesday night in Dakar. Thursday we'll hang out and soak up our last rays of African sun by the hotel pool and then leave for the Dakar International Airport at midnight. Then, I will be back on American soil Friday at 6 am. While I am excited to get home, be back in America, be back with my family and friends, be near a Dunkin Donuts, I am sad to leave Africa. I had a truly eye-opening study abroad experience here which I have not even begun to process. I know I've changed, but I'm yet sure exactly what's different. I do know what I will miss about The Gambia:

1. The smiles. It's not called "The Smiling Coast of Africa" for nothing.

2. The sun. Every day was sunny, hot, bright, and sweaty.

3. Fresh fruit stands everywhere. Not only are they colorful sights along the roads, but they also always have fresh fruit that's ready to eat. Instant snack.

4. The bushtaxis. The taxis were cheap, mostly reliable and always a fun way to get around. No matter where I was going, I knew I would have a ride. It was also a great way to meet regular people going to work, school and get their shopping done.

5. My running routes. Through the Bakau Women's Gardens, up to Kairaba on the weekends to get sweet rolls, by the Gambia Radio and Television Studios, around the Independence National Stadium; I will most likely never run those routes again. For me, running was a great way to just see and look and observe daily life.

6. The markets. I loved to barter for fabric, brooms, shoes, and everything else that's for sale in the markets. Going into The Gap for a shirt just won't be as fun, or as loud, hot, colorful, or provide so many smells to smell.

7. My house. Our sanctuary in The Gambia when we got overwhelmed. I will definitely miss Mohammed, Haddy, and Sainabou. They took care of us while we were here: cooked, cleaned, talked, laughed, helped.

Of course, there are things about The Gambia that I won't miss:

1. The majority of Gambian men. They basically just see American women as a ticket to America and treat us accordingly.

2. The money. It smells like fish because it gets passed around in the many fish markets here.

3. The trash. There is no public waste disposal service so trash gets thrown in piles on the side of the road and burned. Imagine getting a mouthful of that smoke when you're running down the road in 100 degree heat.

4. Not knowing whether or not the food I am eating is safe. You just never know here and when you eat something, you're always taking a chance on getting sick. But, it's eat or starve.

5. Hot, sunny days every day. Rain and thunderstorms are nice once and awhile.

7. Not being able to communicate 100 percent of my meaning 100 percent of the time I'm talking. I won't miss the language barrier. Telling someone five times, five different ways, with five different gestures, that I don't want mayonnaise isn't always funny.

Jermaine Jackson

Last night was the concert of the century. Jermaine Jackson, older brother to Michael Jackson, came to The Gambia to play a tribute concert to MJ. The concert was part of the Kanilai Cultural Festival, which is held every year in The Gambia and attracts a lot of West African artists, performers, and musicians. Many of these West African musicians played before Jermaine. There were Gambian rappers, Guinean singers, Senegalese calabash players, and a Jola (a tribe here in The Gambia) cultural group that danced, sang, and drummed. Tickets went on sale for 100 dalasis, about 4 dollars, but then the priced was dropped to 50 dalasis, 2 dollars, after the concert was changed from Saturday to Sunday evening. I think the reason they moved the concert back a day and dropped the price in tickets was because they didn't pre-sell enough tickets. Then, halfway through the opening acts, President Jammeh said the people hanging around the outside of the stadium could come in free of charge. But the concert did go on on Sunday and I think about 2,000 people attended. Jermaine was supposed to start at 8 pm. But, President Jammeh did not arrive until 10:30 pm, then Jermaine arrived at midnight and went onstage about 1:3o am. So, the concert only started five and a half hours late. He played a bunch of Michael Jackson's songs like Man in The Mirror, Beat It, Billie Jean, Black or White, and some Jackson 5 like ABC and I'll Be There. It was also Jammeh's birthday, so Jermaine sang Happy Birthday to the president. The sound technology was awful, but Jermaine was a good performer and an equally good singer, so it was really fun. President Jammeh got up and danced and the Gambians LOVED it. Apparently, Jammeh is a huge Michael Jackson fan. Jermaine played until about 3 am. I never thought I would go to the first ever MJ tribute concert while I was in Africa. However, it was a lot of fun and an once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Tiereney holding our Jermaine Jackson tickets.

Haddy sitting in the backyard waiting for everyone.

Independence National Stadium all lit up for the concert.

President Jammeh's motorcade arriving at the stadium.

Blair covering her ears because it was SO LOUD!

Jermaine, wearing white, rockin' out.

African Queen

Our last KSAC group activity was today: camel riding! We went out to Tanji, a fishing village along the coast, to Camel Safari Co. Ltd. They saddled (or seated) up the camels, we all jumped in our seats, and the camels swayed upright. Our guide took us along a really skinny bridge, down along the beach, and then up through some salt flats. Riding the camels was really bumpy and wobbly. The camels make a lot of grumbling noises and are constantly chewing, spitting and pooping. However, I am glad we did it because it was our first "touristy" thing we did here and it was a laugh.


The camels all lined up and ready to go. I was under the impression they would be saddled, like horses. But this way is more life threatening.

We're up in the air!

Going along the beach.

Michelle and Tiereney thought it was an amusement park ride.

It's pretty obvious I wanted to stay far away from the camels.

Goodbye UTG

Friday, May 28th was my last day at the university. I took my African Drama final at 9:30 am then got on a bushtaxi to go home. I won't miss the hour-long bushtaxi ride out there and back in the hot sun, but I will miss the Gambian university students. They work hard, are proud of their university, and deserve success.

Kanilai International Cultural Festival

This is a billboard for the Kanilai International Cultural Festival. The title of this year's festival is "Back To Our Roots: Rediscovering The Mystical Powers of Our African Heritage". The main event is a tribute concert to Michael Jackson by his brother, Jermaine. Apparently, this is the first tribute concert to Michael Jackson EVER and it's happening in THE GAMBIA on Saturday. Regular tickets are 100 Dalasis, or about 4 dollars, and VIP tickets are 2,000 Dalasis and up, about 80 dollars. So very cheap to pretty pricey for knock-off MJ. However, this is huge event for The Gambia and Gambians are really excited. If you have time, Google Jermaine Jackson and you can read about the media coverage.

The Sun Is Hot

From 8 am until 5 pm we had no power today. We have not had power a lot these days because the Kanilai International Festival is going on in The Gambia right now. It's an African arts and culture festival and (we think) the power company is diverting all power out to Kanilai. That means no fans, no refrigeration, no internet. We were sweating...so what else is there to do but read while sprawled somewhere trying very hard not to let any one body part touch another body part. As the Gambians say "The sun is hot."

Rules of the Road

Gambians follow their own road rules and regulations. This sometimes results in many gasps, shrieks, and covering of the eyes. Some common rules and regulations:

1. Don't break...ever.
2. Swerving is good. Do it often.
3. Speed up to pass. Do not slow down once you have passed. Always pass when opposing traffic is less than 100 meters in front of you.
4. Pedestrians never have the right of way.
5. Always assume people, cars, goats, small children and other obstacles will get out of your way. Remember you are the most important thing on the road.

This could be either a two-lane or eight-lane highway.

"Eyes on the road sir!"

Traffic police cubicle.

"If you want us to take you to America, you have to get us home alive!"