tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-121675712024-03-06T23:16:13.368-08:00The Gambian Goat Post...adventure news you can chew onneseirf ekimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16980748785512587618noreply@blogger.comBlogger66125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12167571.post-42595653171784902522018-07-07T21:36:00.001-07:002018-07-07T21:36:31.364-07:00Week 3 - The Land of WaitingSitting at a bank, waiting for a transaction to take place, gives us plenty of time to reflect on our visit to this land of waiting. <div><br></div><div>Bank transactions*, buying goods, doctor visits, cooking meals, traveling to visit someone, all take a significant time investment here. </div><div><br></div><div>Without accurate references of time, or reliable means of predicting travel times** so it is hard to have a cultural expectation of timeliness or event have appointments for services. Because of this people here will arrive at their destination and need to wait for what ever they came for comes, or becomes available or alternatively someone as been waiting for that other person to arrive. </div><div><br></div><div>Knowing this, people have instead developed the skills of waiting. Here is our rough guide to Gambia waiting competencies. </div><div><br></div><div><b>Competency #1 Networking </b></div><div>Arguably the most important skill to hone in the process waiting is to capitalize on random meet ups. Chances are people are also going to be waiting wherever you are waiting. The Gambia is small - the degrees of separation are few. <span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Learning to leverage this kind of co-waiting makes for a more enjoyable experience, and may even present a variety of new opportunities. </span></div><div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">For example, we are now waiting at the bank. As others sit down next to us, they greet us, and we begin to look for connections. Usually this is starts with some jokes about last names. Our first connection was a Math student at the university. As mathematicians are rare in The Gambia, Mike was able to assume he knew a friend of mine who is teaching at the university - and then they found about 10 people we knew in common. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The next fellow to sit down next to us was a music promoter - it didn’t take Mike long to recognize him as a man I had met while visiting a local musician. Now we have an invite on a local music festival happening later this month. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">This connection competency makes waiting time enjoyable while expanding your social network. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Competency #2 - public napping </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Chances are you woke up early to get to where you are now waiting. Naturally, you are now tired. If you don’t feel like choking down a cafe touba (espresso made with instant coffee and a pepper/ginger like spice mixed in) your next best option may be to take a public. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">People here can sleep anywhere and on anything in any weather. We might find it strange to sleep at the bank, on top of a load of gravel in a truck, under a table at the market, in a wheelbarrow on the side of the highway or in your friend’s bed but here </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The fact is time passes far quicker when you are unconscious. </span></div></div><div><br></div><div>Conpetancy #3 </div><div>Come eat! This is particularly common at market shops and compounds. Street vendors abound selling all sort of snacks, ground nuts, fish pies, local freezies and fruits of the season. No money no problem, giant bowls of rice and sauce are served all over the country and if you are near one you will be invited to eat at it. You need to eat sometime why not while you wait!</div><div><br></div><div>Competency #4 The Name Game</div><div>Best for short waits or when competency #1 doesn’t work. For this conpetancy to work you need a local first and last name. There is a limited selection, so chances are there person you meet will have a connection to that name. </div><div><br></div><div>For given names, your name might be the same as a parent, sibling, cousin, ect. In which case you are their “Toma” person who you were named after. </div><div><br></div><div>For Family names it is usually a little more complex. Different tribes typically have certain names. iE. Fulas (Bah, Jallow, Sowe) Mandinkas (Njie, Fatty, Drammeh) knowing the names connects the tribe, the second is then to know if that tribe is known for eating a lot of food. This is a cultural joke as the guest always eat first and the host will eat the left overs therefore bad guests eat too much leaving the hosts with no food. </div><div><br></div><div>To add the next level certain tribes carry a strong tie based of social status so the game becomes even more complex and you can learn specific jokes about events and habits tribes have.</div><div><br></div><div>The name game never fail to bring a laugh and a smile. Why not enjoy your waiting time!</div><div><br></div><div>So that is our quick guide to waiting in The Gambia fully understanding you had to wait 4 weeks for the week 3 post. Weeks 4,5 & 6 to come! (Hopefully)</div><div><br></div><div>Footnotes: </div><div>* yes, that is right you need to regularly go to the bank - in a cash society with ATMs that don’t accept deposits or limit transactions one can visit a bank many days in a week. </div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">** google/apple maps work but don’t take into account for taxi waiting, police check points, fellow passengers unloading a goat from the roof of your vehicle or most importantly meeting friends along the way</span></div><div><br></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10491945155236518231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12167571.post-33585015236000216472018-06-18T04:29:00.003-07:002018-06-18T04:29:52.546-07:00Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10491945155236518231noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12167571.post-12797453113143020652018-06-13T07:49:00.001-07:002018-06-13T07:49:18.580-07:00Week 2 - TransportJody Friesen<div><br></div><div>There are many options open to Mike and I for traveling around in The Gambia. By foot, bicycle or car, each has a particular Gambian flair that I have gained an appreciation for over our two weeks here.</div><div><br></div><div><b>By Foot </b>👣</div><div>The compound we are living in is located centrally to many local corner stores, a fresh food open air market and a strip of hardware and other general goods. To get there, the best mode of transport is by foot. A good pair of sandals that allow the sand to pass through your shoes, a careful eye for fellow road travelers and road debris, and the following best practices will make the trip an enjoyable and satisfactory one. </div><div><ul><li><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><b>Walk at a leisurely pace. </b>Too fast = too hot! Also walking on soft sand is not something that can be done quickly without compromising something. </span></li><li><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><b>Walk as close as possible to compound walls.</b> The sand is more hard packed close to the walls, as the cars and motorbikes that chew up the sand with their tires usually drive in the middle of the road which tends to be slightly more even terrain. </span></li><li><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><b>Walk on the shady side of the street.</b> Shade for the win, especially when wearing warm head wrapper. </span></li><li><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><b>Carry a sturdy bag to place any purchases. </b>One of Gambia’s new government’s first moves in office was to ban large plastic bags. (Wanjo lovers need not worry, the small clear plastic bag of wonder will be featured in a future post.) The heavy, smelly, black plastic bag, and the consequent black bag beach litter monster and the pile of burning of garbage bags in The Gambia is happily becoming a distant memory. Shops now provide soft fabric bags, which are better for the environment, but do not hold as much and are not as strong. Bringing a good bag or basket is best practice here, as it is at home. Some ladies have plastic waffle baskets with a cover that work well for keeping curious animals from investigating the fresh fish topped with cabbage and carrots that she’s bought for cooking dinner. All food gets piled on top of each other into the basket, plastic bag free!</span></li></ul><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><b>By Bicycle</b> 🚲 </span></div></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Mike and I have had the pleasure of connecting with West Africa Cycling Tours, and have rented two bicycles from them. Cycling is a favourite past time for Mike and I, and this is no different in The Gambia, although it includes some unique challenges. For one, I have only seen one other woman cycling here so far. Road conditions vary. If you find a paved road, it may not be wide enough for the donkey carts, cars, commercial vehicles traveling along it, let alone a shoulder for cyclists. We have a new hobby of noting all of the paved roads with little traffic. More often than not, we end up cycling in sand. Sand cycling is clearly the norm here, and I have gleaned the following best practices in my time here:</span></div><div><ul><li><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><b>Gear down! </b>All the way... or as far as your bike allows. As someone who at one time thought the harder the gear the better, this has taken some adjusting in my habits </span></li><li><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><b>Look for hard pack. </b>Aim to keep </span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">your tires on the hardest packed sand you can see. This is typically where the locals and animals are walking. To watch the cyclists and children and animals and neighbours weave in between each other is to see an amazing dance of limbs. </span></li><li><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><b>Be prepared to wheel wiggle,</b> and/or jump off the bike if the going suddenly gets too tough.</span></li><li><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><b>Ride a mountain bike. </b>The majority of our cycling trips are </span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">to visit neighbours or to go to the beach. Due to sand and variable road terrain (see more below) your best choice in bike is something with plenty of gears and shocks.</span></li></ul></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><b>By car 🚕🚐</b></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">It would be remiss for me to write about vehicle transit without providing a few more details about the surfaces upon which these cars travel. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br></span></div><div><b>On road </b><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><b>conditions</b> </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">All roads in The Gambia that have seen a few rainy seasons have many potholes. As these get larger and larger, and more of a nuisance to drivers, an optimistic</span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"> neighbour hoping to solve the problem will dump a small pile of concrete boulders into the hole, forming a mini mountain. The hope is that vehicles will then crush these rocks over time, creating a smoother, flatter surface. In reality, however, no one wants to drive their vehicle over this rough convex creation and instead the vehicles swerve around these piles, hoping that another vehicle will take one for the team. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Eventually, a vehicle, having done its best, will break down on its way. Then the vehicle owner will jack it up, remove a wheel, and </span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">climb under the vehicle, regardless of where it is located in the road. It</span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"> appears to me the breakdown takes place in the nicest section of a given road surprisingly often. On the spot repair has an advantage of avoiding tow trucks, and one would hope it allows for a faster fix. This pattern of breakdown also has the side benefit of forcong other vehicles to become team players in the overall game of road resurfacing. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><b>On Public Transit</b></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Gambian vehicle transit includes either driving in private cars, or taking a taxi. Donkey carts are also commonly seen on the roads, but are mostly used for ferrying goods (water, rice, etc.) within neighbourhoods. Taxis themselves have two subcategories: </span></div><div><ul><li><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">The luxury “Town Trip”, whereby one negotiates with a taxi driver to drop you off exactly where you need to go. </span></li><li><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">The taxi lines, which run on generally well known and high volume roads, and can be caught at known garages*, or if there happens to be room in the vehicle, anywhere along the taxi line. </span></li></ul><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">*Garages are gathering / parking / turnaround points at the ends of taxi lines. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br></span></div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Taxi cars, </span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">which fit four passengers, are a more roomy and faster option, if you can find one. Gillys or vans can fit up to 22 bums, plus a driver, although children and babies can be stacked on laps to accommodate more people. Gillys always have an apprentice working with the driver. The apprectice’s job is to collect fare, provide change, secure all vehicle doors (a challenging task!), attract passengers so as to keep the gilly as full as possible, and to let the driver know when to stop or go. A good apprentice also will hold a lady’s baby or purchases as she gets in or out of the van. He will also ensure the engine oil is topped up, which usually happens after the engine has started and just before the vehicle parts from the garage. A typical gilly has no interior lining, so you can see the metal paneling of the vehicle. Sliding side doors are usually full of sand and can’t be easily shut until the vehicle starts moving and then makes a gear shift. The original door locking mechanisms have long been replaced by a sliding lock. The apprentice deftly balances all the nuances of his gilly, and is often doing this from the ground as the vehicle is starting to move. He will then jump in and hang out the side of the vehicle, or jump on to the bumper and manage to stay attached to the van on with various hand grips and/or ropes. All seats are bench style, which allows rider’s personal space to collapse or expand as necessary or as comfort allows. </span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">In Gambia only</span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"> the driver and</span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> front seat passengers in vehicles are required to wear seatbelts, although even these are not always in functional order. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><b>By boat ⛴</b></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Next week we will be traveling by ferry across to the North Bank. I’ve been assured that many more </span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">transit adventures will come! </span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10491945155236518231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12167571.post-44974371842942395062018-06-04T04:21:00.001-07:002018-06-04T04:21:06.418-07:00Week 1 Our first week in The Gambia has been a wonderful whirlwind of activity. <div><br></div><div>We have now settled into the routine of having no routine. Plans are suggestions as very few Gambians have day planners and fewer have watches. The haze of Sahara dust often hides the sun’s location to further mask time. </div><div><br></div><div>On her 2nd day in The Gambia, Jody became the 80th member (and honourary president) of the Picadilly- Latrikunda Kafo (women’s coorperative). This group was started last time I was in The Gambia and had 24 members. They learnt how to make and sell local mooringa and beeswax soap. (Let me know if you are interested in buying some $2 a bar) </div><div><br></div><div><img id="id_c6e6_b0cd_c87d_914d" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCZszT5YEhaXlHAWByR5glrKlzgjYiBolj0qa-kkydf_CveY6yZB9igSVvv961929jU2pp1xEi1VE6MzTbMLSVj35t5i3wqeI8InVikOLf2fJ5e5U2PGlIyzauJqut2Om9cCUK/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 298px; height: auto;"><br><br>We have started to reconnect with students and student leaders with-in the scholarship program. There are some great stories of progress and others facing great challenges. Over the coming weeks we will be working with the leadership and investigating ways in which the program can become more self sustaining. </div><div><br></div><div>Jody has been amazing in her integration into the community, she has taken to morning washing and going to the market. Her attention is sought after by all the kids. She has learnt just how mischievous these little ones can be.<br><div><br></div><div>In general living, the community graciously upgraded the place in which Jody and I stay. There is a small kitchen space with a gas stove and running water!!! We made a stop at Amsterdam (a local store specializing in selling discarded second hand items from Dutch thrift stores) to outfit the space and it has allowed us to be more hospitable to the many guests who frequent our door. </div><div><br></div><div>Thanks for staying up to date with our journeys and for your prayers and support! </div><div><br></div><div>Haa Yesso! (Until later) </div><div><div><br></div></div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10491945155236518231noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12167571.post-88536949352405072282018-05-29T12:41:00.001-07:002018-05-29T12:41:19.509-07:00A Starting Point<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; color: rgb(69, 69, 69);">May 26 in a plane above Morocco </p><p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; color: rgb(69, 69, 69);"><span style="font-family: ".SFUIText";"><br></span></p><p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; color: rgb(69, 69, 69);"><span style="font-family: ".SFUIText";">Jody and I were discussing common conversations that come up when we mention to people we are travelling to The Gambia. “Where is that?” Or “I had a friend who went to Zambia.” (This is totally understandable)</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; color: rgb(69, 69, 69); min-height: 20.3px;"><span style="font-family: ".SFUIText";"></span><br></p><p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; color: rgb(69, 69, 69); min-height: 20.3px;">Once we finish our geography lesson... </p><p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; color: rgb(69, 69, 69); min-height: 20.3px;"><img src="blob:file:///290f8b51-a6e3-409a-9140-e89a7e393fa6"></p><p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; color: rgb(69, 69, 69); min-height: 20.3px;"><br></p><p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; color: rgb(69, 69, 69); min-height: 20.3px;"><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; color: rgb(69, 69, 69);"><span style="font-family: ".SFUIText";">...we typically move on to the more exciting and definitely more complicated conversation of “what will you be doing there?” </span></p><p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; color: rgb(69, 69, 69);"><span style="font-family: ".SFUIText";"><br></span></p><p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; color: rgb(69, 69, 69);"><span style="font-family: ".SFUIText";">(much harder to answer as we can’t just point at a map or tell people it is a few countries south of Morroco) </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; color: rgb(69, 69, 69); min-height: 20.3px;"><br><span style="font-family: ".SFUIText";"></span></p><p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; color: rgb(69, 69, 69); min-height: 20.3px;">For Jody having yet to set foot on the red soil of the smiling coast, she has focused on sharing about the goal of learning the culture, supporting community development and eating mangoes. </p><p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; color: rgb(69, 69, 69); min-height: 20.3px;"><br></p><p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; color: rgb(69, 69, 69); min-height: 20.3px;">For myself as the veteran, there is often a higher expectation. People ask about building wells or houses, schools or hospitals - makes sense, as this is what most development charities seem to be raising money for and doing - however, I don’t know much about building buildings out of mud or cement blocks or have the physical strength and heat tolerance to keep up with the young local males. (Although, starting a Gambian version of love it or list it would be amazingly entertaining) </p><p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; color: rgb(69, 69, 69); min-height: 20.3px;"><br></p><p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; color: rgb(69, 69, 69); min-height: 20.3px;">Development of infrastructure is great things to pursue however, it can often out pace the development of the people themselves - there are seemingly endless examples of development projects (gardens, solar powered wells and Internet cafes) that sit in disrepair or no longer exist - this comes from observation and personal experience. </p><p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; color: rgb(69, 69, 69); min-height: 20.3px;"><br></p><p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; color: rgb(69, 69, 69); min-height: 20.3px;">This has lead to a growing focus of helping people develop themselves. This is a far more abstract goal particularly went it is done in a contextual way. </p><p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-family: ".SF UI Text"; color: rgb(69, 69, 69); min-height: 20.3px;"><br></p><p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 20.3px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">A big part of this for has been Learning to walk alongside people and share in their condition. When you understand how people live and what challenges they face you can provide help in a more effective way. </span></p><p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 20.3px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></p><p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 20.3px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Taking this a step further if you understand what people are looking to achieve you can support them in reaching those goals allowing them to take ownership of them. </span></p><div><br></div><p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 20.3px;"><span style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: ".SF UI Text";">It could be said our goals is to support others goals and perhaps encouraging them to reconsider or consider a few new ones. Or perhaps a bit like a coach or mentor. </span></p><p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 20.3px;"><span style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: ".SF UI Text";"><br></span></p><p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 20.3px;"><span style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: ".SF UI Text";">When this plane lands we will begin to figure out what that means for us this trip ... seems like a good starting point. </span></p><p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 20.3px;"><span style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: ".SF UI Text";"><br></span></p><p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 20.3px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">(I’m particularly excited for Jody as she now sits beside me filling out pages of a Fula language book)</span></p> Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10491945155236518231noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12167571.post-29865494395776575832018-05-24T17:11:00.000-07:002018-05-26T04:28:37.282-07:00Taking off! Hello all!<br>
<br>
I’m happy to announce the 2018 edition of the Gambian goat post will include a special contributor!<br>
<br>
Welcome Jody!<br>
<br><img id="id_ca2e_11a6_79b9_5167" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW9igOBJdGPj7-wj17SoD3UELKxxIWeYTf_tVp39jF2xu_8oW3iTdwrPcSSBUW3Ow7_zWMVKhuTtN0dxFDTu7fHnvlqklZCjGXQ2cbjjrfitAC6J7gQS5vnr3bzyPVsxr3n5QC/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 298px; height: auto;"><br><br>
Looking forward to sharing our journey with you all.<br>
<br>
In faith hope and love,<br>
MikeAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10491945155236518231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12167571.post-57757485858250965842015-05-21T15:06:00.001-07:002015-05-21T15:06:45.323-07:00Travelling Between Two Worlds<div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Just riding the train between Heildburg and Paris. I am taking the time to visit a few European based friends on the way home. I felt like it would be good to write and share a few thoughts on transisitioning between two (or three or more) cultures.</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Let's start with some basics :)</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The train is quite different to Gambian transport, clean, quiet, comfortable, reliable and apologetic (thy just apologized for a 7 min delay). </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">However, perhaps the most glaring difference was the price. (Over 100 euros - yikes, I was not expecting that!) it was a mistake not making my booking so far enough in advance. Left with no practical choice and bartering (my initial instinct) was out of the question so I simply handed over credit card and pay. (The train was leaving in 10mins) </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The fact that everything is 10 to 100 times expensive is just a small piece of the puzzle. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Another key difference here is the amount of choice. Food, clothes, services, kitchen supplies, building materials, pretty much everything you can name there is so much choice it can be overwhelming. When you get a coffee their are 10-20 different kinds and 3 sizes. This can be overwhelming after coming from a place with only two breads (see earlier post) and one brand of instant coffee. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Complexity would be the next difference - buying my train ticket was an technological marvel. Very different from getting in a car at Barra or Serekunda to ride up country. The systems that support getting people to places on time and keep these people 'in-line' are complex - no one person understands all there is to know. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">In Gambia there is typically one top person who is setting the conditions and price. If you have friends, family or if you are kind enough pretty much anything can go. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">In the west, the rules and prices are systems that are compiled across huge networks; researched, scrutinized based of cost analysts and user data - information is made available and shared through the web and interactive machines that can translate displays in 3-12 languages. In addition maps, symbols and graphics help further guide the user even then help is often required to understand all that is going on. (As my case today) </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">It is also important to note the rules more often than not don't bend. (I just saw an elderly man get a severe fine for not processing his ticket which he purchased ) </span></div></div><div><br></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Distance between people is another striking reality - people are apart and love separation. Neighbours often don't know each other - and it doesn't bother them it is normal or perhaps even polite. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">In many cases people put as much distance between themselves as possible. People are always engaged in something focused on being productive working (much like I am doing right now)., sleeping (a productive act) or entertaining themselves with an activity. I have not greeted or talked to anyone aside for the person who stamped my ticket - the man beside me reads a book, the women in front is writing emails, the men in front are fast asleep and the woman and child are playing video games. (Interestingly enough the women and child are from a different culture and have the volume up - people are visibly annoyed including myself as I can hear it above my headphones and there is only so much repetitive steel drum calypso I can take - apparently my is somewhere around 40mins) </span></div><div></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">However, the adjustment I find that has the most significant impact on me is advertising and marketing. The subtle yet powerful appeal to fulfill your inner most desires through products, services or other means. Momentary or lasting comfort, happiness, sexual gratification and belonging (and perhaps other) are promises (often true but empty) are fluanted. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I know this also exists in the Gambia (I can see its effects on the people there - fancy headdresses, skin bleaches, flashy cheaply made electronics, miracle 'weight gain' pills (yes you read that right, weight gain) and the migrant criss - (smugglers sell an incredibly desirable service ) but in Gambian the limited level of sophistication and cultural target dilute its effects on me. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Here the prevalence, intelligence and relevant targeting make it a powerful predator of your thoughts and emotions, particularly after being away from it for a few months.</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">It is not just billboards, radios and TVs. Everything is made to look appealing store displays, buildings, musical, wrappers, clothes, social media and community landscapes. Someone has thought and acted on just about everything. Town centres and malls are a spectacle of desire. Not that all of these are evils but hooks and snares abound and it is hard to know friend and foe (sometimes they are one and the same)</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Deep inside my emotions oscillate wildly anywhere between a welcome full embrace (nice to be back in the land of efficient service, functional design and predictable quality/experience) to falling into the trap of lustful self seeking desires to an outright violent rejection (disgust, sorrow and shame) often resulting in a physical knot in my stomach or pain in my chest. <br></span><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">All said, getting between the two worlds is an intensive boot camp mentally, emotionally and physically. With out doubt all cultural worlds are places of both beautiful God given humanity and devilish inhumane brokenness - each display these realities in unique patterns.</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Where all this thinking brings me too in the acknowledgment that I often wrestle to find the presence of the gospel in the experience of transisitioning between two culture. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">How does it apply in worlds - each seem to have their own priorities? </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Can it be completely compatible and continuous in both worlds? </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Are there different truths and gospel messages for different people? </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Which type of civilization does it ultimately draw us too? </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">It does not take long to interpret the Bible in a way that marginalizes and dehumanizes cultures. (Or to justify the same type of acts). In each place we teach and understand the gospel through the lense of the culture. Is God and his character or way so fickle? </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">With these lenses stumble down the path of life. Is there a way to remove the lenses? </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I don't feel like I have good answers to this experience of colliding worlds even after so many journeys. I am equipped only with a few nuggets of wisdom, a gift of faith and a handful of coping strategies that fills in the holes. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">In the end I choose to believe the recorded events and life of Jesus Christ or Nazareth (and the supporting cannon). What I have read and come to understand is the only thing that I believe can possibly bridge the gaps between all worlds and cultures. I don't fully understand how and often I wrestle and fight to hold to this believe but what else can I turn to? It is the only place I see hope that can sustain myself and has room for everyone else - in is a hope for all people in all situations. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Lord have mercy teach and lead me in your way - my heart, mind and soul need your rest. Fill me with faith hope and love for the journies ahead. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Aside for posting the link to my best of photo collection, this will most likely be my last post for a while. Thanks for reading along. I hope you found it interesting, amusing and encouraging. If you want to chat about any of the posts or anything else related to the trip (or life in general) drop me a line I would glad to hear from you and discuss further. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Peace and joy. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Mike</span></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4emPEFPUXfcc064Pjp3RjVZnjA62V9hXrzHkN-QwaevhsOYQDzS6r73pZ__FPF9vHM0QjAMlQnw9kQ-vor3rviY5FT7g3srE2S9n6hKYKrQsyFaFSDYAwd5Qjbo1FK3VICfIIlQ/s640/blogger-image--678069533.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4emPEFPUXfcc064Pjp3RjVZnjA62V9hXrzHkN-QwaevhsOYQDzS6r73pZ__FPF9vHM0QjAMlQnw9kQ-vor3rviY5FT7g3srE2S9n6hKYKrQsyFaFSDYAwd5Qjbo1FK3VICfIIlQ/s640/blogger-image--678069533.jpg"></a></div><br></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhK3eBlcEaIyyxNjBXS3mEralZwMvtVjyRVRPvi3u4sdq9RcUdZnRWSHYVdom0UsQR8hk15SckC8oiNKtVOGj9TuKmv32PWNwjcPY8c9sBlghaH2lEu7FW0SoiTBOww7dopoGTmA/s640/blogger-image--606796166.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhK3eBlcEaIyyxNjBXS3mEralZwMvtVjyRVRPvi3u4sdq9RcUdZnRWSHYVdom0UsQR8hk15SckC8oiNKtVOGj9TuKmv32PWNwjcPY8c9sBlghaH2lEu7FW0SoiTBOww7dopoGTmA/s640/blogger-image--606796166.jpg"></a></div><br></div>neseirf ekimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16980748785512587618noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12167571.post-57284746974252805252015-05-21T01:02:00.001-07:002015-05-21T01:02:23.031-07:00Weddings and Culture<div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Marriage is (or should be) an important event for a couple, their families and community. When things are important people develop many expectations. So wedding are a celebration full of expectations. This makes weddings an wonderful window into the mindset and inner workings of a culture. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif">Last weekend I attended an urban wedding which was hosted at my compound. I've put together a few observations to help understand some differences. </font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif">Let's begin with planning... </font></div><div><br></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif">In western society weddings are typically planned over 6 months to 2 years. 6 months being rushed needing flexibility for venue, photographers and typically void of elaborate extras two years for the dream wedding with handcrafted designer everything. Last week's wedding the date of the wedding was announced a month before and the planning atarted the week of. </font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif">Wedding invitations:</font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif">Typical Western:</font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif">A strategic list is compiled - balancing numbers scrutinizing relationships of friends and family. In many cases invites are sent to unlikely attendees first then after their regrets are received new people are added to the list.</font></div><div><br></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif">Last week's:</font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif">Public announcement was made two week's ahead - phone calls made to all friends and family. Even if you don't know the bride or groom you are welcome. </font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif">The dress:</font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif">Typical Western -with bridal magazines in hand brides brides maids and moms parade the wedding district searching for he perfect dress (the right price is part of the perfection). The dress is then fitted and refitted to check. </font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif">Last week:</font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif">The dress was still being made 30mins before the wedding was due to start. </font></div><div><br></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif">Food:</font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif">Typical Western:</font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif">Bride and groom taste the menu selection month ahead. Buffet or plated meals. Cost $40 and up per head. </font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif">Last week's:</font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif">The women or the community get together and cook serve 3-4 meals for the day. Total cost ~ $2 a head.</font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif">Venue:</font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif">Typical western: </font></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">1 to 2 hired venues plus picture sites. Reserved a year or so in advance. </span></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif">Last week:</font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif">In your front yard. </font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif">Marriage ceremony sermon or advise</font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif">Typical Western:</font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif">5-20 minute personalized encouragement to the bride and groom and the community.</font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif">Last week's:</font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif">1 hour plus discertation on marriage. </font></div><div><br></div><div><div><font style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Processional Music:</font></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Typical western: </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Hired professionals, competent friends and family (sometimes family is allowed to be incompetent) or a cousin with an iPod will play music pre-selected music for the bride. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Last week's:</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">A group of musicians wondering around town saw there was a wedding about to start and showed up and started to play as the bride "walked down the aisle" (no aisle so she just circled the chairs)</span></div></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Finally, the reception:</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Western typical:</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">A programmed affair with speaches, coordinated food and assigned seating. Only invited people can typically attend. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Last week's </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">People sitting around and eating for the rest of the day. Many people come even after missing the ceremony. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">All in summary, both cultures have ridiculous expectations and practices. (That what is many way make them special occasions as we aim to make them important throught cultural significance) </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The western wedding typically strives to achieve this through organization and thoughtfulness. Meanwhile The Gambian wedding achieves this with the priority on inclusiveness. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><br></font></div>neseirf ekimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16980748785512587618noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12167571.post-14185242639017909252015-05-04T18:37:00.001-07:002015-05-08T00:52:05.961-07:00Work To Get HerAfrica is culture build on sharing and relationship. Even if you just met someone 5 minutes ago you share bowls, spoons, cups, bikes, chairs, shovels, phones, buckets, brooms, flashlights, hammers, pens, scissors, toilets, beds, water sources, shoes, money,.... I think you are getting the picture. <div><br></div><div>This phenomenon is primarly driven by scarcity - you share a large bowl when you eat because you cannot afford for everyone to have their own plate. You share chairs because few can (or choose to) afford to have more than a couple chairs of their own. <div><br></div><div>In the west we are capable of having our own and are even frowned upon when we don't - millions of garages and closets across the west are filled with tools, toys, clothes and sports equipment that are barely used once a year (or once). <span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">You wouldn't dare share the same cup with all your co-workers or all the people in line at Starbucks - of course not! This is what cups, cans and bottles you use once and throw away are for. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Finally, if you decided to gather enough courage to knock on your neighbour's door (at random) to talk to them, you definitely wouldn't ask them to borrow you a bucket everytime you need to flush your toilet because you do want to pay to fix its flushing mechanism. </span></div><div><br></div><div>However, there is one thing I have noted in my African experience that is not easily shared. It is <b>work</b>. </div><div><br></div><div>Realizing it has surprised me as I only was able to make the connection recently. This is probably because the thing most often shared in the west is work. I have grown up in home not unlike many others where work was shared. People cooperated to see the benefit of the whole entity. Leadership pulls people together to get people to share in a vision and work towards it. (You may disagree but I see the progress of our culture has been entirely dependent on it) </div><div><br></div><div>It is possible that it is related back to the lack of affluence. However, I would have thought it would drive people to group together to help overcome. Instead, there seems to be more of a mistrust or worry about who will get the best of who. Perhaps the stakes always seem high even with small value - you can live a week off of $3 here. In addition there are very few controls and reports in a cash society. For these reasons I can see it hard to trust people. </div><div><br></div><div>In many cases you can ask the question if the affluence is cause or the symptom of not being able to work together.</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div>A few examples:</div><div><br></div><div>The power bill... People would prefer paying for a $60 meter so they can differentiate who is consuming exactly what and avoid paying a flat rate (a the full power bill for the average family is $3 or less - the differences would be a dime or two) </div><div><br></div><div>Farmers here do not have a co-op to help sell their crops at a fair price. Each farmer would rather each negotiate their own price. (I guess for either believing they can do better, lack of trust or or not having to pay a communal due or membership fee) They later complain when the get a bad deal from the savy businessmen who waits until they are starving before offering to buy it at an under valued price. .</div><div><br></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Husbands and wives often refuse to share in each other's responsibilities (this is particularly true of men) - even if there are coinciding responsibilities, a sickness or a birth. If something isn't right or working (dinner is late, daily market money not being enough). When such an event occurs there is little collaboration on how things should be resolved or improved upon. </span></div><div><br></div><div>Women and men will seldom collaborate on business ideas or ventures. This is true even when it could make the difference between starving and eating or there is no or little downside the offer. </div><div><br></div><div>Each person wants their own business and to be accountable to themselves alone. I have seen this in cases where someone (me or others) have even offered an amazing deal. Like offering paying all startup cost or buying communal tools to be shared) </div><div><br></div><div>What triggered today's thought is I am currently trying to get a group to collaborate in synergistic businesses to provide pull through revenue opportunities. ie. Sew a young women a custom made dress - why not sell them the custom made bracelet, necklace and earing that go with it? It just seems like a slam dunk but everyone is more worried about being compensated for their exact work and costs. Argh! </div><div><br></div><div>All said, if I see progress in working together before coming home I will be quite pleased. :)</div></div><div><br></div>neseirf ekimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16980748785512587618noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12167571.post-80805996985852457872015-05-02T03:07:00.001-07:002015-05-02T11:44:11.074-07:00Breads of The Gambia a Consumer Review<div>In the west there has been an increasing trend to offer consumers more choice when it comes to the breads they eat. Gone are the days of a simple white or whole wheat selection. The market is flooded with breads containing complex mixtures of sesame, flax, pumpkin, rye, quinoa and potato. There are whole grains, ancient grains, up to 12 grains (I can't even name 12 grains). They even sell bread without the main bread ingredient, glutten. </div><div><br></div>Much like the west The Gambia now offers its resdidents a wide selection of bread at local stores across the nation. Namely two kinds, Tapalapa and Sensfuru - long gone are the days of the tapalapa's monopoly in the rural areas. Consumers now have a choice to make.<div><br></div><div>I went to my local store bought and then ate both breads this morning order to provide you the reader a comprehensive review. </div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNL9odD7vABrthL1IDGGMK3GomY6JNsAJObIGYm-Px-qqw5pvWnlpR_Atr6bOOj5gSCE3ACWxxp9xT77jJl0qoOh88JufQ-Z_zvqGgeg_TGV-gOhN74e6uamPRa7nD_UOI2HTZZg/s640/blogger-image-128026731.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNL9odD7vABrthL1IDGGMK3GomY6JNsAJObIGYm-Px-qqw5pvWnlpR_Atr6bOOj5gSCE3ACWxxp9xT77jJl0qoOh88JufQ-Z_zvqGgeg_TGV-gOhN74e6uamPRa7nD_UOI2HTZZg/s640/blogger-image-128026731.jpg"></a></div><br></div>Malwbe's store sells both breads 7days a week day and night conviently right across the street from my compound. Both breads are priced at 7D ($0.20) so the choice is left to the consumer's preference in taste, texture and social associations.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvtqy9djbXa9lvCzDrmA-iAZbqHIYebcIG4e0g-jMBmZOK7-t88K5-OlvKFIeVfXq95PidUjx-Ni0cXp7sTIA9rwE_eBD-Wgji0zhPpyyC-pF2eNEFOXvObUGeeeDGzoVqqqWLDg/s640/blogger-image-296148190.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvtqy9djbXa9lvCzDrmA-iAZbqHIYebcIG4e0g-jMBmZOK7-t88K5-OlvKFIeVfXq95PidUjx-Ni0cXp7sTIA9rwE_eBD-Wgji0zhPpyyC-pF2eNEFOXvObUGeeeDGzoVqqqWLDg/s640/blogger-image-296148190.jpg"></a></div>Sensfuru, the Incumbent, pictured towards the top and the long reigning tapalapa pictured on the bottom. </div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div>The Tapalapa tradition runs deep into the stomachs of the of local people. The loaf carries more weight then Senfuru despite its smaller size. Tapalapa is the pride of the Qu'ranic school tradition. Made by hand the bread if first tapa'd (rolled) and then lapa'd (beaten), thus the name. It is then baked in wood fire ovens across the country. It is the symbol of the working man. No maisoner or welder dare show up at the job site with anything else.</div><div><br></div><div>As you pick up a Tapalapa you realize this was made with one purpose, to satisfy your hunger. It is a robust bread capable of holding shape after a 30 min ride on the back of a motorcycle - store owners will often demonstrate the bread's integrity as they smack them together to remove inwanted sand or dirt before they are sold. </div><div><br></div><div>Notably Tapalapa is not the most refined product - ants, rocks and other foreign debris often find there way into the dough. However, they frequently go unnoticed do the the dense texture and satisfying nature of the bread (think of it as extra protein, minerals or fibre). </div><div><br></div><div>Tapalapa is best enjoyed with simple spreads (butter, mayo, chocolate or with a greasy fried egg). For this morning's evaluation I used a local peanut butter and chocolate spread mix. Due to the density of the bread it took about 4 minutes to make it through the half a loaf.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi27-doWd3Qv5Q02BQKZv9Eg6LSaOAIOWy-dDx4l4qckze80xJ-cRBIRR_EnkPf6AMhw6oKUnYqEY8G05wCzVvTe2UcCeQId8Dq8XhZrV41wwi2JVPsGWgES3uS9lvpF0FnZjVsMw/s640/blogger-image-846201570.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi27-doWd3Qv5Q02BQKZv9Eg6LSaOAIOWy-dDx4l4qckze80xJ-cRBIRR_EnkPf6AMhw6oKUnYqEY8G05wCzVvTe2UcCeQId8Dq8XhZrV41wwi2JVPsGWgES3uS9lvpF0FnZjVsMw/s640/blogger-image-846201570.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><br></div><div>Sensfuru is named after the famed "high tech" bakery that first produced it in the affluent part of town. It wasn't until more recent years that the bread was able to be transported reliably to more remote areas. </div><div><br></div><div>Soft and supple to touch Sensfuru appeals to those with more refined taste. Ultra refined ingredients and modern electric oven make for a consistent bake that is typicall free of any ants, rocks or other debris. It is a particular favourite of women who are hoping to move up the social ladder. </div><div><br></div><div>However, many will complain the Sensfuru's light airy text texture does not do enough to satisfy one's hungry and often comes squished or deformed from the store - Note my sample had a squished end left end. </div><div><br></div><div>Sensfuru really excels at complex sandwiches with numerous toppings particularly ones that are voluminous as the soft inner bread compacts to the outer crust allowing ample room for lettuce, tomatoes, boiled eggs, potatos, Salads and the like. </div><div><br></div><div>I enjoyed this morning's Sensfuru as a delightful egg salad sandwich. </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqXRRtd-4o5JDYPILvkOsiOvDwSwNU8C9hjKurzl6gh1S_dJvhD6BDroLHuGIXsOOaSwbydyvaYa-LX8PhJn_Kqzx0BOMbQN4XwUf8kwdrtBq_1YRmaoe26JjoKRmqEQgcMHoaRg/s640/blogger-image-1766800363.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqXRRtd-4o5JDYPILvkOsiOvDwSwNU8C9hjKurzl6gh1S_dJvhD6BDroLHuGIXsOOaSwbydyvaYa-LX8PhJn_Kqzx0BOMbQN4XwUf8kwdrtBq_1YRmaoe26JjoKRmqEQgcMHoaRg/s640/blogger-image-1766800363.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>In conclusion, the arrival of this new bread will only further improve the quality of life for the locals. At the end of the day I still prefer the Tapalapa mostly for its hardy nature. However I am delighted to be have Sensfuru available for its ability to hold a proper egg salad sandwich. </div><div><br></div><div>For the future of bread in rural Gambia. I see the continued rise of Sensfuru. The possible arrival of dense sweet bread, despite the view that a sweetness in bread is too radical and progressive, may once again bring more choice. However, at this time it remains only a speculation.</div><div><br></div><div>For now what is important the Gambians will for the forseable future continue to enjoy the luxury of choice with their breads. </div><div><br></div>neseirf ekimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16980748785512587618noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12167571.post-67425158278910070932015-04-30T01:21:00.001-07:002015-04-30T01:21:29.994-07:00Adama and Dot Inc.<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZljbGZHwfsHI2ZhslovnBczW9Dz0_ZWHxByJxe3_K5FCHcxaHOozwMASzWV_2aqg_sEgqFKAFgWXs17ZdDSNmOKTGO8l_55ZeTjqhAWzdWm7dvmeF5Y8PJA3BEZrdyKiG40J3bg/s640/blogger-image-555949971.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZljbGZHwfsHI2ZhslovnBczW9Dz0_ZWHxByJxe3_K5FCHcxaHOozwMASzWV_2aqg_sEgqFKAFgWXs17ZdDSNmOKTGO8l_55ZeTjqhAWzdWm7dvmeF5Y8PJA3BEZrdyKiG40J3bg/s640/blogger-image-555949971.jpg"></a></div>Normally my posts are not gender targeted and neither is this one despite initial appearances. (men, a friendly reminder that you may have an anniversary or know of a upcoming birthday). <div><br></div><div>My neighbour Adama and her daughter Aligail make stylish jewelry - I am willing to provide her with your order - Just send me an email to let me know what you would like (colours etc) Michael(dot)J(dot)Friesen@gmail(dot)com<div><br></div><div>Custom requests welcome! Samples and prices below. </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhynFwHPRJ2T3h6QXKG-_NqhaN31gWEznd7T1VGKq-tCH5svpe5dNi5QMTRL52GF746qdBXnYSjj_BF_JuciOOkDOSeSUaFN9oLB1DvzN55_D4dMRuuXouoD6Tx-1dayzAi2qLzBg/s640/blogger-image-1155192120.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhynFwHPRJ2T3h6QXKG-_NqhaN31gWEznd7T1VGKq-tCH5svpe5dNi5QMTRL52GF746qdBXnYSjj_BF_JuciOOkDOSeSUaFN9oLB1DvzN55_D4dMRuuXouoD6Tx-1dayzAi2qLzBg/s640/blogger-image-1155192120.jpg"></a></div>Bracelets $3 each</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFZ1qudOuicgY1bGodSX9N4FfNk2eEFrJRnWSNNXOmvRMwZOpVm4y-FCFxhh5flhWovesF5j9FUctAGT4AAxcvYNtUOabgZy49VsyA_K5ZL4KAnpA7Vec4SEfLp1PUhB_PllEcdA/s640/blogger-image-1486305936.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFZ1qudOuicgY1bGodSX9N4FfNk2eEFrJRnWSNNXOmvRMwZOpVm4y-FCFxhh5flhWovesF5j9FUctAGT4AAxcvYNtUOabgZy49VsyA_K5ZL4KAnpA7Vec4SEfLp1PUhB_PllEcdA/s640/blogger-image-1486305936.jpg"></a></div> <span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Necklaces $5 each</span><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4mJd2IaWhfocVhqeOREcoX7nSUBvxAU9E7ZcKe5o50R8xdaa6uU67dcYFhyphenhyphen54fq23tf5WFRI-SkNCMNEyGPiilbMtr_vSCKF-G29j14R2LAfxK5qTQTPvrqg1qFy-UOglwxY9Ag/s640/blogger-image-1765662768.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4mJd2IaWhfocVhqeOREcoX7nSUBvxAU9E7ZcKe5o50R8xdaa6uU67dcYFhyphenhyphen54fq23tf5WFRI-SkNCMNEyGPiilbMtr_vSCKF-G29j14R2LAfxK5qTQTPvrqg1qFy-UOglwxY9Ag/s640/blogger-image-1765662768.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>Necklace and Earing Sets for $7<br><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx4_GLH5WjIoPeL-kxYGzBukU4KWtkXj9gHBdrGlphWBG01Y2wvpjBwO5lUGKSIILA13hLgGxjH5yCSN6Dc62AO2G7r9SGcAg1nX82U3-NtLjk05fO-0CO_Ucce9yd33hrpOkNJg/s640/blogger-image-1125083532.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx4_GLH5WjIoPeL-kxYGzBukU4KWtkXj9gHBdrGlphWBG01Y2wvpjBwO5lUGKSIILA13hLgGxjH5yCSN6Dc62AO2G7r9SGcAg1nX82U3-NtLjk05fO-0CO_Ucce9yd33hrpOkNJg/s640/blogger-image-1125083532.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>Adama looks forward to taking your order! </div><div><br><div><br></div><div><br></div></div></div></div></div>neseirf ekimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16980748785512587618noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12167571.post-15667065658168380432015-04-28T07:03:00.001-07:002015-04-28T07:04:10.613-07:00In the Shade of the MangoesThe shade of the compound mangoes trees is a familiar place, particularly as the evening sun prepares to tuck itself behind the horizon. However, what was unfamiliar was the silent crowd of around 50 - 60 who had gathered in the shade with me. The <span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">crowd representing 5-6 different tribes and two or more faiths were the likes of whom that would typically would not gather together. </span><div><div><div><br></div><div>I am sure when exactly when or how it dawned on me, perhaps it was the unfamiliar cultural silence or the reality that we were now sending children to neighbouring compounds to find more chairs <span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">the the but I realized these people had come because of something I was doing and to hear what I was going to say. To complicated the matter I felt I had no idea what I was doing or what I was going to say. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Abandonning any hope of being culturally appropriate to arriving guest, I thought it would be a good idea to start making a few notes. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">After a brief introduction and an spirited argument to select a common enough language for translation, I began telling the story which brought us all to were we are today. </span></div></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">During my past trips to The Gambia, I came to understand the decision most families make in The Gambia; food in the bowl or their child in school. In 2010 I became to assist a few famillies which eventually grew into a program administered by local volunteers able to properly prioritize and oversea any funds. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">As of this current academic year over 75 students representing all academic levels who are actively receiving support to help with their school. This has occurred with minimal infighting and attempts of corruption. A reality I can only attribute to God's work in my life and those who have partnered in the vision both volunteers and participants. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">My message was simple - let's pray and work together so we can continue to sustain and further develop the program. The goal being not simply to provide education but furthermore use this education to develop good leaders</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"> who are willing to invest the knowledge and skills back into The Gambia for Faith, Hope and Love.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif">We talked through program logistics, some new rules preventing parents from taking advantage of the system and the importance of family and community involvement in students pursuits. In all the meeting lasted 3 hours - I was not always sure what was going on or how things would end up b</font><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">ut, as we concluded there was a spirit of unity and sense that we we're on the right path and God is doing great things. </span></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><br></font></div></div>neseirf ekimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16980748785512587618noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12167571.post-85446110383378018262015-04-24T14:32:00.001-07:002015-04-24T14:32:13.378-07:00Belief and Truth in the Dance-a-thon of LifeBelief and truth can at times be awkward dance partners in the dance-a-thon of life. <div><br></div><div>Truth is experienced and wise. Her steps are firm, unyielding and certain. Yet she seems to find a way of being elusive changing shape as you move around the great big dance floor of life. When you are tripped up you are not sure if she has moved or it was just your imagination. Judges and critics sum her up her up with numbers, fans take pictures and while haters try to make her out to be a liar and a cheat. Yet she doesn't seem to pay much attention to critics, she remains true to form. <div><br></div><div>Belief is young and free, trotting around the dance floor to his heart's desire. Until of course, truth gets in the way. Most of the time belief does its best to be in step with his partner but, often he gets distracted caught up in his own fancy footwork. At times he will take exception and will argue with Truth. If he persists long enough truth may just seem to move to accomadate the new rhythm and open to a new movement. However more often than not it is Belief that must learn to yield to the wise and experienced Truth and really should be respectful and diligent to do so.</div><div><br></div><div>But don't think truth can steal the show alone, Truth's is nothing without him - Belief sets the tone, can bring pain and suffering, bore her to death or put <span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">love and joy to her step.</span></div><div><br><div><br></div><div><br></div></div></div>neseirf ekimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16980748785512587618noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12167571.post-54037158839869730082015-04-20T11:15:00.001-07:002015-04-20T11:38:18.402-07:00New Money!<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Gambia is soon getting new money with a familiar face!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Gone will be the days of soiled damp and taped together dalasis which scream 'Where is the hand sanitizer?' after every purchase. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc8sydcInz5F_87rrzk7q2gj2fXKEfPxiiYGLfMQiMWksnM6m6EIkO6rvxnfvv_YZUZH_B1HHt09r7wf85A9WUhX4A9g-Pcg96OdI6hFjwVZMXwbMJK26NIt7VH9GQxJIFK-VnYg/s640/blogger-image-827849414.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc8sydcInz5F_87rrzk7q2gj2fXKEfPxiiYGLfMQiMWksnM6m6EIkO6rvxnfvv_YZUZH_B1HHt09r7wf85A9WUhX4A9g-Pcg96OdI6hFjwVZMXwbMJK26NIt7VH9GQxJIFK-VnYg/s640/blogger-image-827849414.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>Note newish current bill vs a typical bill to help get an appreciation that it is time for some real change (cheesy literary device fully intended!)</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMUr5DefzRJ07zJqlAdsa_hRSkz4M4DyhzvhbiPZYR8FI5OQm_oeU5IMSZtQWE7Lj2GRs-WyNheJuF1d8Ny7uXZw0M2AA95IKkLdWsOZiKZqFtJsbLmqUltg-yvvLU6Y9buKf1aw/s640/blogger-image-2111899621.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMUr5DefzRJ07zJqlAdsa_hRSkz4M4DyhzvhbiPZYR8FI5OQm_oeU5IMSZtQWE7Lj2GRs-WyNheJuF1d8Ny7uXZw0M2AA95IKkLdWsOZiKZqFtJsbLmqUltg-yvvLU6Y9buKf1aw/s640/blogger-image-2111899621.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>The new series is similar to the recently minted Canadian bills and features tear and moisture (sweat) resistance allowing it to endure the heavy wear of a cash society enabling it to be able to stay in circulation seemingly forever. </div><div><br></div><div>A D20 bill replaces the odd yet sought after D25 bill. As well a new D200 bill will be added to reduce the number of suitcases of money it takes to sell a D250,000 cashew crop or buy a big chunk of land from an Alkalo (village chief) who doesn't have a bank account. </div><div><br></div><div>While the landscapes on the back remain unchanged the front removes the traditional African faces and replaces it with their current leader, demonstrating to all the country's development progress and stability of the democratic political situation which the Gambia enjoys. </div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8I8ldAKsJGhURGg8bsq0qwbkJOnX-C_XPnAi9ZjTn73GUn8TwlfkBOP3zV1A130fTR4mdm8MYCUPXbMsLIlfT4HmTbZ2zm8wcCo3TosCO0ntqsqq2w7bMTmtgM8Y7PAD-6NDTtA/s640/blogger-image-2123611834.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8I8ldAKsJGhURGg8bsq0qwbkJOnX-C_XPnAi9ZjTn73GUn8TwlfkBOP3zV1A130fTR4mdm8MYCUPXbMsLIlfT4HmTbZ2zm8wcCo3TosCO0ntqsqq2w7bMTmtgM8Y7PAD-6NDTtA/s640/blogger-image-2123611834.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Please join me in congratulating the central bank on their new Dalasis! </div>neseirf ekimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16980748785512587618noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12167571.post-63209960516725494592015-04-17T17:56:00.001-07:002015-04-17T17:56:01.518-07:00The Hot Topic?!?Upon arrival I expected to find Ebola as a hot topic of conversation. It Certainly was a hot topic in Canada. In its peak the fears over the spread of the deadly virus in western nations was taken serous with public out cries over the lack of preparedness in our already over crowded hospitals. Being Ebola is actually in the region, figured people would want to talk about it.<div><br></div><div>When we are talking about the spread of this virus. One needs to understand where society is at in regards to health. I have put together a few concerning factoids to help <span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">put things in perspective. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"> - 90% of the west African population eat out of the same bowl as 4-6 people 2-3 times a day. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">- Maybe a third will wash with water only before eating.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">- during my last visit to the national hospital there was no running water or soap to wash my hand in the room with 16 beds and 40 visitor </span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">- i did find a sink was plugged intentionally so you could rinse with the water that was sitting there. At the time I decided I liked the germs already on my hands. </span><div><br></div><div>Even with all of this people don't seem to concerned about this topic. It doesn't seem to be a big deal. </div><div><br></div><div>Over the past three days I have been sharing living space with a friend who travelled from the heart of the Ebola epicentre. The thought of Ebola hadn't crossed my mind until the yesterday. No one here in the compound seems to concerned about it either as we eat together around the bowl. </div><div><br></div><div>For people here life goes on. </div><div><br></div><div>I<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">'m sure ignorance plays a role here and there would be benefit and I have no doubt some improved basic hygiene and germ theory would go a long way. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Of course this is in constrast to the ignorance of some westerners who would chastise anyone for even travelling to the continent. This show a lack of knowledge of the kind of scale or the difficulty and limited travel with-in the Africa context. </span></div><div><br></div><div>Perhaps the greater influence in the lack of ebola-phobia is the simple statement from the human condition which says "what else are we supposed to do". </div><div><br></div><div>An estimated 1.3 million people die in car accidents every year - yet few hesitate to get in their car and drive to work everyday. Why? What else are you supposed to do? </div><div><br></div><div>Risks are a <span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">reality of life it just so happens the odds are worst and stakes are higher.</span></div><div><br></div><div>Africans are so adapt at 'risk apathy' that many get voluntarily in migration to Europe. T<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">here is one word spoken frequently here. Its powerful enough to empty communities of its young men... </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Lampaduza, the Italian island. If you haven't read any report on the migrant criss do take time to read this one. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-32337725">http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-32337725</a></div><div><br></div><div>The stories of men getting thrown overboard are chilling (particularly knowing Africans can't swim) - however the same man from Ebola land staying with me also attempted the trip to Europe "the back way" in 2006 and said he saw 7 men be thrown overboard for complaining. (He never made it - he spent time in a camp in Morroco</div><div><br></div><div>Now I know 8 or more young men from my small circles of contact who have left and another half dozen or so who have at least tried. These are people who are pursuing this treacherous journey as I write. <span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">One boy I personally sponsored to finish his grade 12. (Kind of disappointed)</span></div><div><br></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">This is hardly a new thing but now the rate of departure is incredible. Many of these people are not coming from woefully oppressive or poor situations. And it is important to understand it is not just the individuals, parents and families members are putting resources together and are selling land to send their boys. </span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">It is to the point that you can sense and see the difference just by walking the streets.</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"> It is to the point girls are complaining there are not enough boys to go around. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Young men are equipped with funds (minimum cost to get to Libya have been reported around $1000 and then another similar amount to get on the boat), given information on contacts and instructions for the route and even taught how to out smart the systems in the western migrant camps. (Destroy your documents, Claim you are under age, lie about your originating country, inflict injuries upon yourself)</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">t is a madness fuled by the western entertainment/media industry and catalyzed by Lybia's</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> organized crime networks. Currently, I fear things will be worse before they get better.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I have much more to write about this 'hot topic'. I hope to cover more in an upcoming post. </span></div><div><br></div></div>neseirf ekimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16980748785512587618noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12167571.post-32229276218598862202015-04-14T17:58:00.001-07:002015-04-14T17:58:16.226-07:00A brief message to the insects in my roomMr spider you are welcome to stay providing you help deal with the mosquito and fly that are keeping me awake. <div><br></div><div>Mosquito and fly consider yourselves warned. </div>neseirf ekimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16980748785512587618noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12167571.post-75275206469942809392015-04-14T17:52:00.001-07:002015-04-14T17:52:26.638-07:00Learning from Village LifeI spent the past 4 days in in a small village on the On the northern side of The Gambia river. <div><br></div><div>In addition to picking up what I suspect is my first parasite of the trip. I spent the days coping with the inland +40oC temperatures, chasing goats out of my hut and trying to be social with a vocabulary of 150 odd words and the grammar of a stereotypical cave man. I<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"> will not deny there are momments I wonder what benefit is found in it all - in theory there is a quite a bit. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">First, there</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"> is a massive significance of visiting and development of relationship in this culture. This time spent develops trust and respect which provide the foundations for any future partnerships. Secondly, understanding how people live and feeling their struggles provides insight to better help with resolving community needs and development. (This 2nd technique is commonly referred to as going to Gemba in efficiency improvements in lean manufacturing circles) </span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">All said, as with any theory, it is not until you see the results that one fully appreciates its value. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">I had one such momment sitting in my room hearing a young Fula man pour out his heart about his struggles support his aging parents, frustrations not being able to develop his language the way he wants to, his fatalism in the lack of opportunity to work or start a business and continual dependence for life's basic needs despite his best efforts. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif">As I sat listening, my mind drifted back to my recent experience in the village struggling to live in a system I didn't know, unable to communicate, not understanding what is going on or why things are this way and seeing so many things that need to change and not really knowing what to do about any of it. </font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif">Then I thought to myself, I</font><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"> may not be able to help with all of his problems but at least I have an idea about what he may be feeling. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"> </span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div>neseirf ekimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16980748785512587618noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12167571.post-88047052608291945572015-04-07T15:51:00.001-07:002015-04-07T15:51:16.037-07:00Weather Or Not You'll SleepLife in a Gambian suburb is mostly lived outside. Days inside doing computer work (like today) feel strange and out of place. My dad once described the experience of living hear like camping in concret tents. <div><br></div><div>Living outside you develop a real connection to the weather. When it is hot, you are hot, when it is cold you are cold. This may seem obvious but it is not appreciated fully until you realize that with no sheets at 19oC you need to put on a hoodie so you can sleep or with no wind and an outside temp holding at 25oC your room at 30oC from the day. it will not cool down enough so for you to sleep any time soon. This leave a very narrow temperature window of comfort. It helps me understand how decoupled our lives are from the climate. </div><div><br></div><div>Time to put on a hoodie and go to bed. </div>neseirf ekimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16980748785512587618noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12167571.post-24532620652524171002015-04-04T02:38:00.001-07:002015-04-04T03:35:27.374-07:00Good Friday<div>In Gambia and currently with out a formal schedule it is easy to loose track of what day it is. For this reason (and the fact Gambia is 90%+ Islamic) I am not too ashamed of not realizing today was Good Friday - it <span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">went pretty much unnoticed until mid afternoon. </span><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">This said today was quite a good Friday. (Some productive meetings around scholarships, speghitti for lunch, successful Market shopping using only Fula and some beach time) </span><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif">This got me thinking about Good Friday. What makes it good and how does my personal 'good Friday' relate (if it is at all related) to the Good Friday celebrated today. <br></font><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">My thoughts gravitated to my definition of 'The Gospel' or 'good news' and how my understanding of it has developed over the past 15 years of my life. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">For those who choose to live from a faith perspective at some point we decide how and why does the somewhat routine grusom murder (and a soon there after resurrection) of a Jewish man who identified himself as the son of God (crazy talk?) constitute 'good news' for all the people of the world in all momments of time.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">I will make an attempt at describing my progression without writing a theology textbook. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">The Gospel I used to understand and put my faith in had a narrow and yet blurred focus: </span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Good News! 'all people have the opportunity to beleive in Jesus so they can get past God's judgement and go to heaven' </span></div></div><div><br></div><div>In this type of Gospel my Good Friday time spent playing frisbee on a sandy beach with a few Wolof teens has little value, nor would meeting around children going to school or even enjoying a good cup of tea. It was the apparent devaluation of these things that prompted a re-evaluation of what I believed to be the Gospel. </div><div><br></div><div>Over the years I have come to know the Gospel in a far wider sense now believing God is up to a far greater saving work. </div><div><br></div><div>Good news!</div><div>"Jesus is king has come to show that evil and death can and will be one day completed defeated. Heaven is joining with the earth and will restore all that is has been broken through faith, hope and love. Come and be part of it!"</div><div><br></div><div>I believe that from this perspective of this gospel much that transpired this Friday was important and valuable - indeed making it a good Friday. </div></div></div>neseirf ekimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16980748785512587618noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12167571.post-43742542581328235212015-04-02T10:35:00.001-07:002015-04-03T15:27:57.613-07:00Kontong, Kontong & Kontong<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div>When you learn a language there are always quirks and inexplicables. For us who have grown-up speaking English we know to get in a car and on a bus rather than getting on a car and in a bus. Some one once explained this was most likely an artifact of the original open top cars. No longer a reality it is now a frustrating quirk for those who learn to speak the English language. Then of course there is live and live or there and their or two, too and to all of which I see little logic in. <div><br></div><div>With the Mandinka language there is the word Kontong which can mean the action of greeting people, eating lunch or the noun referring to your last name. Beyond being very confusing, once you understand their culture perhaps there is something deeper going on. </div><div><br></div><div>On my own logic your last name is your identity (more so than just your name). You are identified as having certain characteristics (similar to how we associate an Irish name or perhaps Dutch or german). </div><div><br></div><div>From here it is easy to arrive at the meaning for greeting particularly as it is most often used as a "say hi to the people in your place". </div><div><br></div><div>Now as for lunch, here you begin to understand the importance of eating together. In Gambian culture it is almost as if you have not visited someone until you have eaten from their bowl.</div><div><br></div><div>As I have returned and begin to visit my many friends from over the years I have become accustom to the need to eat meals in all those places - this cultural act shows I feel confortable and at home. Naturally it also ensures I am also well fed. </div><div><br></div><div>Speaking of which a plate of nyan ka tan has just arrived. I should get to visiting. Here is a photo. </div><div><br></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL8FnfMXhYVEXREfEL3xs16Krlq0JLbMQnZwhJ4KFpCytzVwXSKwY8vGOgFNfNZWctOtJYYQmU6A-xHXCaCGhumHOyRBFbYRIzAQvbmT6U1ni_8MtvNOPUGDrakgwamiTRVXWyVA/s640/blogger-image-516458545.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><font color="#000000"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL8FnfMXhYVEXREfEL3xs16Krlq0JLbMQnZwhJ4KFpCytzVwXSKwY8vGOgFNfNZWctOtJYYQmU6A-xHXCaCGhumHOyRBFbYRIzAQvbmT6U1ni_8MtvNOPUGDrakgwamiTRVXWyVA/s640/blogger-image-516458545.jpg"></font></a></div><div><br></div>neseirf ekimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16980748785512587618noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12167571.post-61210135127429310032015-03-26T16:51:00.001-07:002015-03-26T16:51:49.714-07:00A few thoughts 15hrs from my front door<span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">A few thoughts 15hrs from my front door... March 25th, 1pm GMT</span><br style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392);">Travel in our current day and age is something to marvel - Cheaper, Safer , predictable-(er) and effective-(er) - </span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">(even in spite of the recent events)</span></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">Over the past half a day my baggage and I have been transported over 10 province an ocean and a couple of island nations while enjoying a climate controlled environment, atmospheric lighting, a warm meal, sufficiently comfortable seating, the protection of competent national and local security professionals, accurate departure/arrival times and quality on demand entertainment. All for less than a week's wages (even at a minimum wage). </div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">Add in the tools and available to support travel (phones/tablets with data) it is little wonder why our current generation travels for pleasure more than any other in history. (Unverified fact but quite sure it is true) - </div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">All this said I am very much excited at the thought of getting off the bus I've been riding for the past 2 hours and finding a more comfortable spot to nap. </div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">Ok, Next thought. </div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">I had originally planned to sleep on my flight but I also didn't expect to sit beside a national award winning Alaskan professor who happens to be half Fulani and raised in West Africa. (The tribe I live with when in Gambia) needless to say we hit things off quite well and enjoyed discussing all levels of life in Africa. The arrangement made for an auspicious kick off for the months ahead - granted some sleep may have been nice. Perhaps I can catch up on sleep on my next flight. </div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">Thanks for you prayers! </div><div><br></div>neseirf ekimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16980748785512587618noreply@blogger.com0High Weald AONB (null)51.056493 -0.135205tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12167571.post-61144291207752661342015-03-23T16:58:00.003-07:002015-03-23T16:58:56.761-07:00Ready, Set, Go - Gambia 2015Quick update to let you all know I will be updating my blog over the next couple of months as I return to the Gambia. More to come soon...<br />
<br />neseirf ekimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16980748785512587618noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12167571.post-89999566434633565362013-05-31T18:31:00.001-07:002013-05-31T18:31:09.652-07:00Season of Change<p><br>
The First Rain</p>
<p>After 2 months without seeing a drop of rain – it comes as a bit of a surprise to see rain again particularly this early (the season is a month or so away). Many where caught without a roof, including some of my friends as they are scrambling to make repairs to their homes. </p>
<p>Rain brings change to the region, dry dusty land gives life bringing a season growth and new life. Such a season brings the challenges of disintegrating homes (mud block homes melt like sugar if water gets in), the labour in the hot humid fields, illnesses born in insects and the dewindling food supply as families wait to harvest. </p>
<p>In any case, my woes are far less, a state of constant sweat, a small field in a village to farm and the need to check the sky before i wander too far from home on my bicycle. <br></p>
<p>Si Allah Jabi<br>
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Without doubt at some point in time during a conversation “Si Allah Jabi” (or another language's equivalent) will find its way into the conversation. The words “If God Wills” may seem benign however it soon becomes the scape clause of responsibility for every commitment, decision or accident – it really permeates the mentality of the culture and becomes a major hindrance to moving forward as it is expected all is up to Allah's whim or any other spirit who happens to pass through the physical world that day.</p>
<p>For example if a wheel falls off a car – it wasn't because you didn't tighten the lugs rather it was God's will. For this reason most injuries are taken first to spiritual healers and the physical is secondary. I some light it is nice to see their holistic (physical and spiritual) approach however, it is somehow misguided. The need to be freed from the mentality that human are a simply pawns subject to the whim, judgement and wrath of God. Although by no means unique to the region or the prevailing religion, I honestly believe a change in this thought pattern would result in a transformation of the development of the nation / continent.            <br>
I had the opportunity to share in this morning's service and attempted to share what I believe is a  healthier (and more scriptural) perspective on the will of God. One which understands the love and purpose of God as the conductor who invites us rather as participants to share in the opportunities to align our lives to see it fulfilled on earth as in heaven. </p>
<p>Whether partnering or just plain God's will – it is my hope and prayer the people here and around the world would come to an understanding of the life and resources they have been entrusted with and the beauty that comes through faith, hope and love.</p>
<p>Life on the Road</p>
<p>Full of surprises travel here is never mundane. Each vehicle have their own character – the colourful graphics, the music, the smells, the collection of religious leaders plastered across the windshield and the outrageous the seat covers that are soaked in someone else's sweat.  You learn to play the odds with the door handles and the 50/50 split whether the door handle on the outside will work or if you will need to reach inside of the car to get in (or vise-versa). </p>
<p>Safety and comfort are a typically not a priority this said a car will at least have one strap for the front seat belt (to avoid a fine) and typically will have 3 of 4 wheels in reasonable alignment. If it is to hot, cold, raining or dusty there is typically one window winder that is passed around to adjust the windows accordingly (if not you can usually borrow one from another car). Sliding door become hinged doors and the occasional sliding door falling off is a good incentive to take the less comfortable middle seats in the vans. </p>
<p>Long distance travel opens the door to an entirely new set adventures. From simple flat tires to the youth who decided your motorbike fuel was best used in village generator for the party the last night, you can typically expect an hour to a half day delay on most adventures out of the city. </p>
<p>If your journey is taking you across the river Ferry travel brings an entirely new set of possibilities. The on slot vendors and thieves in the waiting area are the prelude to the loading procedure. I was recently loaded onto a ferry and then 20 mins later loaded off the boat so we could wait for the next one as someone decided there were not enough cars to use one than one ferry that day Enough cars usually means more than can reasonably fit. Case in point a friend of mine was on the boat a few years back when they pushed a gravel truck off the ferry as the boat had begun to take on water during its crossing.   </p>
<p>However, it would be unfair to paint only half the picture of travel here. Not all surprises of travel are woes. Often you meet wonderful people, see the beautiful sights of the country and even have the chance to come home with a few gifts from the journey. A friend of mine recently came home with 3 chickens as gifts. Although not quite the same I inherited a backpack full of perfectly ripe mangoes – while it may have made the pack heavy but they were wonderfully sweet in a year where the mangoes have been slow to arrive.</p>
<p>All said, I am looking forward to my next trip. <br></p>
<p>The Becoming of a Generation </p>
<p>One thing that is demographically clear is that Gambia is full of children and youth. The town is full of kids, teens, and young adults loitering around town. From birth each one fights and suffers for attention, resources and opportunities. Eaten form a common bowl no one will force you eat your vegetables, meat or rice – there will simply be none left and given the fact dessert is never served you won't get that before you go to bed. This is a stark contrast to the baby poor western culture where much is invested in one of two children.  </p>
<p>There is also an ever present hierarchy. 3 year olds will supervise babies who are in turn supervised by 8 years olds who are supervised by an 11 year old and so on. If something dare reach the elders level (which can happen) someone will typically need to bare the burden of scapegoat. In addition to this with so many children around communities can easily get to the point where they view child as another suborn pest (pretty much anything that gets broken is blamed on the children) particularly the bright eyed curious ones. </p>
<p>All said, this makes it tremendously encouraging to find parents who are there behind their children and makes it incredibly rewarding for those who choose to invest in the lives the coming generation. (you could see this particularly with my mom's visit here earlier this trip) During my stay I have had the privilege to be involved in the lives of many of the youth and  young adults whether simply helping teach English, reading or just offering advise. (reading blog you may get the impression the quality of help may be lacking – I can only challenge you to come help and offer some of yours) </p>
<p>It is important to recognize the community structure and social investments of the average local here far exceeds that of western culture.  I have come to understand it as a natural instinct to cope with poverty this is an area as whole where they are experts and have a lot to teach us. This community structure creates a social net that performs the role equivalent role of western welfare programs (costing billions of dollar) with astounding effectiveness. A man or woman with good relationship can survive months without buying a single meal or material possession.  </p>
<p>However, in many of these communities relationship become toxic. Major betrayals, over money, actions or a simple misunderstanding of words corrode the supports. People take advantage of a system design to ensure no one ever goes hungry.    </p>
<p>For this reason of all the things I can hope to teach or inspire in a sense of unity and love between one another. Really this is the hope of the region – people here live dangerously close to the edge each day. In friends and community you have the support and encouragement to hang on and keep yourself from the pitfalls of poverty. I am a strong believer openness, respect and forgiveness are critical to maintaining the health of such a community.  </p>
<p>I am privileged to be involved in a group of youth who are in the process of pursuing just that. I ask you to pray to the youth of the region and those who continue to build into their lives. </p>
<p>   </p>
neseirf ekimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16980748785512587618noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12167571.post-74620274977731305032013-05-22T08:26:00.001-07:002013-05-22T08:26:06.089-07:00My First Fulani Wedding attemp #2<p>http://db.tt/DcOsjO9M</p>
<p>Let's see if this link works. </p>
neseirf ekimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16980748785512587618noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12167571.post-19793733775195160292013-05-19T12:44:00.001-07:002013-05-19T12:44:24.390-07:00A Wedding, a Bet and a Birthday <br />
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<b>My First Fulani Jamballi</b></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">I
recently had the privilege to witness a traditional Fula Fuladoo
wedding ceremony on the North Bank of the Gambia. With permission
from the family and community I was able to document the wedding to
my best ability and sought cultural explanations for the things I saw
and might have otherwise missed. </span></span>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">This
record is not intended to be academic but rather observational. It is
also by no means is the definitive Fulani wedding guide as all
villages and families have their own idiosyncrasies. </span></span>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">All
said, I hope it captures the essence bringing understanding to the
unique beauty and quirks of the Fulani culture.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">The
document full of pictures can be found here at this link. Enjoy</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B0Z2tVWpNevyOXVWbWpGWFBqUXM/edit?usp=sharing">https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B0Z2tVWpNevyOXVWbWpGWFBqUXM/edit?usp=sharing</a></span></span></div>
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Please let me know if it doesn't work as I have been fight the internet for a couple of days to get it up. I think it is good but can't confirm. </div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><b>West
Africa Cycling Tours</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">One
of the projects I'm currently working on to help support the local
economy and the scholarship program. </span>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Like
it on Facebook</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/westafricacyclingtours">www.facebook.com/westafricacyclingtours</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Will
Dodu speak Fula?!?</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">I
have a date of June 12 marked on my calendar by which time I wish to
be speaking conversational Fula. I told people on the compound I will
owe them 5 Dalasi if I need to speak English to them. Place your
bets now. </span>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><b>We
are making Jewelry now</b>!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Interested
in supporting local fula woman in rural settings and looking fashionable at the same
thing. Check out these sweet earrings made from a local bean. </span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK0rqAHfmtCaw5hcbgALXCV4opsMtlGSo0QZZxc3Q26jHiEN9tTnAG1Nn92bdMTZdH1q8rtWwc27HvgqXwAi37mq-yF9ZFlCDvaPJu96_I-gpmu_Z1yh6KLa4MjsdVK_KAT96VbA/s1600/IMG_2618.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK0rqAHfmtCaw5hcbgALXCV4opsMtlGSo0QZZxc3Q26jHiEN9tTnAG1Nn92bdMTZdH1q8rtWwc27HvgqXwAi37mq-yF9ZFlCDvaPJu96_I-gpmu_Z1yh6KLa4MjsdVK_KAT96VbA/s320/IMG_2618.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">$4
a pair let me know your order by the end of May. I will bring them back mid July. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><b>African
Birthdays</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">If
you are one who fears getting old African birthdays are for you. Most
people here don't even know what year they were born on never mind
the day. Many simply point at a cow or a tree to help provide a rough estimate
of age (guess you could count the rings if you where really curious).
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">I
spent the day going about my business (working with a friend on a music project), read a card from my parents
and received a simple Happy Birthday wish from a close friend who
happened to know. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">32 is looking to be a good year. :) </span>
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neseirf ekimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16980748785512587618noreply@blogger.com1