Here in my little house in Soma, mid way up the country on the south side of the river, my alarm rings at 6.50 a.m. but often I am not fully asleep. Usually I have drifted in and out of sleep for a while, woken by the heat, the dawn chorus and the distant call to prayer. All of these sounds are soothing, making it a pleasant start to each day, especially as I sleep very deeply here throughout each peaceful African night. My rest is aided by a new thick foam mattress on my bed and an electric fan beside it. This rechargeable fan was bought, on the advice of a friend, before I left the city. Not a night goes by when I am not grateful. The nights are hot and as the evening electricity service runs from 7p.m to 2a.m, it is vital to have a fan to continue to cool the air until dawn.
Once up it does not take me long to get ready for work. I “bath” outside in my secluded yard, wearing the Croc shoes that Pippa gave me as farewell present in July. I soap up and rinse off by throwing cups full of water over me from a bucket. Then I tie back my hair and drink a typical English cup of tea. Typical that is apart from UHT milk which I am now used to. I try to moisturise my face but often it is too wet through perspiration to do this well. I dress always in simple thin cotton and never bother with make up.
Locking the bolt on the metal rear door is difficult but eventually I always manage it. At 7.50 I pick up my large shoulder bag packed with lap top, litre of cold water, small towel and mobile phone and leave by the front door which I must secure with a padlock.
The ten minute walk along the sandy road to the Mansa Konko office is one of the high points of the day. I meet lots of people I am beginning to know; at the fire station or in vehicles as well as the many senior school students who walk alongside me. Traditional greetings of “Salaam Maleekum” and Maleekum Salaam” are exchanged.
My place of work is the Head Office of the region’s education department. My desk is in the office with the Assistant Director's. Ours is the first office in the block and luckily is efficiently air conditioned after 9 o’clock when the electricity is restored for the daytime hours, until 4p.m.
I thoroughly enjoy the company of the people I work with. They have made me very welcome. My main task at the moment is to devise systems to support school management and to this end have been given a brand new computer which should be installed tomorrow. I also visited my first Gambian school today which was only a short motor cycle ride away in Pakilinding. The head master and I were in agreement on so many school issues and he felt very positive about my work here so far. I am sure that this paves the way for far more collaboration to come. VSO believes in “exchange of skills”. Both in the office and at Pakilinding School, I feel we are well on our way.
The afternoon today was spent as usual back in the office with the customary delicious food bowl, served just after 3p.m. This is a large platter of a rice based dish that we all share, using a spoon or fingers (right hand only).
Often I am fortunate in getting a lift back home in the office truck. Alieu drives and we usually pick up a few others on the journey. For them it is standing room only in the back!
The evenings are short. After another cold bath to cool off, and a chat on the veranda with my VSO neighbours, we share a light meal, taking it in turns to cook. At some time we usually go together through the scrubby grass, the 30 metres or so to collect our water from the tap. As we must collect all the water we use, we waste little. Several litres are poured into our water filters, ensuring a good drinking supply, vital considering the temperatures here. Later I spend a short time working on my laptop, either planning work or more usually emailing. I am so grateful to everyone who takes the time to contact me this way. It makes a huge difference to being here. There is always time each evening for other hobbies too. I am sewing a little at the moment. In an effort to make my little house more welcoming I am making curtains, hanging them on string secured by nails. I chose material from the market that is fresh and cheerful: a plain gingham check in green and white.
Yes my house in dressed in Sarratt School summer uniform!
