Bully for us!

The pink palace has been bursting at the seams for a week or so now. 

Sarah, still down from Basse, had to move out of her usual temporary lodgings with me and relocate to Mary’s near Bakau.

This was to make way for the group from Kerewan.

I felt like a hotel proprietor: the small bedroom, with recently acquired floor mattress became the “Celtic Corner” for Gareth, the spare double room, for Vicky and Nfamera, was named “The Bridal Suite” in recognition of their recent Islamic wedding. I retained my room (HQ) and poor Suki had to make up her bed each night on the bamboo sofa in the lounge. This suited everyone as she is quite an owl when it comes to bedtime and she also felt that the hard surface would benefit her troublesome back. Actually she deserved more than “Suki’s Squat” but it was all too easy to accept her kind offer.

Everyone was down in Kombos to welcome the new group of volunteers.  At first it seemed strange to us to be regarded as the “old hands” but we soon realized that this is indeed what we have become. The new volunteers are quite an international group with a few from Britain, one from Switzerland, another from Indonesia and several from other African countries. I recognised their bewilderment as we jumped in and out of 7,7s and explained how the geli-geli system operates. After their first week in the Safari Garden Hotel, the newcomers have now moved out, either into their Kombos accommodation or into the shared house, in the case of those going up country. And so the VSO cycle continues!

Lyn, Catherine, June and me

During the five and a half months I have been in The Gambia I have come to realise just how important and sustaining are the strong relationships with fellow volunteers. This is an aspect of the placement I did not consider much before coming and yet it is absolutely vital. The challenges of volunteering can be considerable and completely outside any previous experience. Since coming out we have all needed each others help at some time. We frequently cope with the strange and unexpected and although there may be a lack of expertise amongst us, this is more than outweighed by collective and unstinting support. Solutions are always found.

Just recently it was my turn, having encountered Miss Trunchbull's African cousin! (x ref Matilda by Roald Dahl). I will not dwell on these difficulties here, except to say that I have transferred to a new job with an advocacy group for inclusive education. The staff are enthusiastic, professional and welcoming, I am really looking forward to working with them for the rest of my placement and am glad to say that the focus of my work remains the same.

Luckily for me Suki, Sarah and Mary were around as wise (and often irreverent) counsel throughout.

My mind is now fully occupied with what is happening today because late this evening I shall be on a flight to Brussels and with another “hop” will be at Heathrow by mid morning tomorrow, arriving at my mothers just in time for Sunday roast (A SUNDAY ROAST!!!)

I feel almost overwhelmed by excitement at the thought of a holiday back home, catching up with the family and welcoming my second grandchild (due tomorrow).
It will bring a Blog Break too. I’ll resume in March.