Sunday, March 22, 2009
The past three weeks have been a whirl wind and I can’t believe it’s almost April! I’m realizing how fast the time is going to fly and I’m already sad thinking that I’m going to be leaving in less than 4 months. It must been getting pretty warm back home and I’m sure there are slight signs of spring coming. I talked to my mom and dad this week and they said that the last few weeks have still been very cold but the last week has warmed up a bit. I couldn’t believe when they said it was still -30! Well even if the weather still is cold I sure hope everyone is doing well and excited for spring to get there.
Right now we are in the middle of exam week. We began exams on Friday and we go until Wednesday of this coming week. After exams we have a two week break. Easter is in the middle of the break so it’s kinda nice to have the time off. The kids have been trying to study and I’ve been working really hard to get the kids prepared. It’s interesting to think, since as an adult you don’t really think that you had to “learn” to take a test. I’m realizing that yes, even taking a test is a learning process. I thought that during exam week, it would be a bit more relaxing where I wasn’t as active in the class and I could focus on getting my exams marked. I’ll say this right now….I was very wrong. I think it’s the complete opposite actually. Since my kids can’t read, they can’t read instructions and since most of them have trouble with just sitting in their desks and listening in the first place, I can’t only explain the instructions once. I have a wide range in my class because some of the kids are very very intelligent and can pretty much move on to grade two – IF they could just sit and concentrate and then I have some kids who can’t speak English or don’t know they’re alphabet. It’s interesting come exam week, that’s all I’ll say.
One thing is for sure, that when I take my camera out at the school almost every child wants his or her own picture. Its hilarious to see the extent that the kids will go to just get their picture taken. I’ve been in the middle of a screaming circle of kids that were trying to jump on my back to get their picture taken and every time I get a kick out of it. I have tried to take a lot of video because it’s hard to get what the kids are actually like through just a picture. And, boy when the kids see the play back of themselves they go crazy. It’s really funny.
On the 9th of March (I think that’s the actual date) is “commonwealth day” and since the Gambia is part of the common wealth they always have a celebration at school. I have heard of commonwealth day before but I can’t honestly say that we ever celebrated it in Canada. But Paul and Armando were heading the whole day’s events and they had a little play that they were organizing. They had the kids chosen to each be a president, vice president, queen, etc of each county that was in the commonwealth and so they would each come out with their “first lady” and make speeches. It was so cute because all of the boys dresses up in suits and the girls dressed in their nicest dresses. Then the big hit at the end was that the president of the Gambia – Yaya Jammeh and his wife were coming out. The great thing about it was that he looked just like how Yaya Jammeh dresses! It was really cute! My camera battery had died that day but there was a photographer who was there, so I bought a few pictures from him and I was fortunate enough to get one with “Yaya Jammeh”. The speeches were great and the kids liked that they had a day off of studies. The rest of the kids who weren’t involved in the play were supposed to dress up in their native tribes dress. From what I’ve learnt, each tribe has different woven fabrics and ways they dress to distinguish from each other. The girls came in their woven wraps and they all had their hair plaited (which was one plait down the center of the head and three on each side) and they had candies (which they call minties) and shells tied in it. Most of the boys didn’t dress in the traditional dress. They all brought their own lunches and at lunch time, since it’s tradition to always invite everyone to eat – even if you only have a little bit, all the kids were inviting all the teachers to come and eat with them. I tried various different foods that day and it was all very good.
One question a lot of people have been asking me from home is if I have lost much weight. Haha…I wish that was the case. To my surprise, Gambian’s cook with a lot of oil. I would say that the majority of every meal is cooked in oil. So, I actually haven’t lost much weight. I really enjoy African meals so if anything I think I’ve stayed close to the same weight as when I left. I’ve been trying to make sure I get a run in every day or two and even though it’s not the same as going to the gym every day I think I will probably come back a bit lighter than when I left, but not much. I thought it was hilarious because just a few days ago, Lucina said to me when I walked outside, “Ha…Jennifa’s skinny now.’ And my reply to her was, “Was I ever fat?!” She laughed and said, “yes, when you got here you were fat.” Haha…I just laughed knowing that the girls here are so thin and most of them have never learnt to work out that when I came and since I’ve always been athletic and never had a problem putting on muscle size, to them I looked fat. If there’s one thing I can say about the word “fat’ it’s that the people here don’t have any discretion about telling anyone if they are fat. To me, since in America to tell someone they are fat, it is such an insult that when I hear it it’s like nails on a chalk board. But they are only just telling the size of the person, not to insult anyone. I had to get that through my head the first few times I heard it. Speaking of being active, like I said I’ve been trying to go for a run every day or two but recently I’ve been playing a lot of football. I have a friend who plays on a division 1 football team and when I first met him he was injured so he was just recovering by playing with some of the younger players by the college. One day he invited me to come out and play and even though I had been playing with some of the younger kids, I was a bit nervous as to what everyone was going to say since I was the only girl playing. I didn’t actually play that long that day because they were almost through when I arrived but at the end the score was tied so of course they had to have a shootout. I think they just like to see who can score and goal keep well. Anyway…they all took their turns trying to score on the keeper and then they all wanted to see if I could score. Of course, being the only girl on the field and all the guys eyes staring back seeing if I was good enough to score really made me a bit nervous. After I kicked they all started laughing and I thought they were all laughing at me because I couldn’t understand them. So I asked my friend Musa what they were saying, and as he was laughing he said, “They said, you kick harder than this guy,” as he pointed to one of his teammates. I began to laugh thinking that they had been laughing at my American skills. Every time I go out to the field they’re always asking me if I want to play. I have always loved soccer but this has given me a good opportunity to play it a bit more, and I’m enjoying every minute of it.
On the 14th of March the young sisters had a vocational retreat for all sisters, priests and aspirants (young people who would like to become religious), and anyone else who wanted to join in. The sisters asked if I had wanted to go and sit in on the retreat and to see the place. The retreat was held in Lamin, a village about 20 minutes north of Brikama. What I didn’t realize was that Lamin had a junior seminary and college. We got there and mass was being said by the Bishop at St. Peter’s church which is just off of the highway and just inside the grounds of St. Peter’s. The church is huge! It’s the biggest one I’ve seen since I ve been here and it’s really beautiful. After mass we went to the junior seminary to start the retreat and there were actually quite a few people who had come to attend so we had to move from a room inside to underneath the mango trees. I thought it was really neat, we ended up sitting under the trees all afternoon for the retreat. The junior seminary is for young men who think they have a call to the priesthood. They stay in the seminary and go to the secondary school which is on the same campus. During the lunch hour Sr. Bernadette, Sr. Biban and I went to look around at the campus. It was really beautiful. When you first come onto the campus you see St. Peters’s church on your right hand side. Just behind the church, which as you’re walking down the driveway is on your right hand side. Right behind the church is a huge football field and then a bit further there is a basketball court. There are trees that line the whole field and actually the whole drive way. On your left hand side is the seminary and once you get to the middle of the campus you have a huge courtyard with trees and actual grass (which you rarely see anywhere here – at least in the dry season). The school begins where the courtyard begins and wow, it’s really quite big! I’m pretty sure it’s a technical school, so there are a lot of classrooms for computers, woodworking, electricity, etc. It’s really quite neat to see.
The retreat was really good and we spent the afternoon getting to know everyone and a bit about how some of the religious became religious. It was inspiring to see some of the young people and I was inspired most by one young kid. The funny thing, was that he couldn’t speak English very well so when he went to share he didn’t speak a word of English. While I was listening to him talk there was just something about him that was inspiring and I realized that when someone beholds “Christ” living and being within themselves, that Christ just draws you to that person, not to draw you to the PERSON but to draw you closer to CHRIST himself. This young kid, even though I couldn’t understand at all what he was saying knew that Christ lived in him and Christ just poured from his being. I found out later by Sr. Josaphine that this young kid had always wanted to become a priest and when he told his family his father wouldn’t allow it. He actually kicked him out of the house because he didn’t support his idea that he wanted to become a priest. So, an uncle helped him to get to the seminary so that he could start his journey. It was amazing to hear it after I had had my little realization because to see someone so young and so sure of who Christ is and knew that he wanted to become a priest, it was just inspiring to see how Christ uses him in just being himself. Like I said…I didn’t understand a word he spoke but yet when he spoke it was like Christ was speaking to my own heart. Just the realization that our Lord desires to do something great in my life too, as He does all of us. When I finally realize my own weakness, that I can do nothing without Christ, then Christ within me can fully shine through and He can do the work without my pride and selfishness getting in the way.
After the retreat we headed home and we had taken a taxis to get there so we took a taxi home. I’m definitely getting a bit more used to taking taxis and as uncomfortable as it was for me in the first place to be the only white person in a crammed vehicle, I’ve come to the realization that I’m the only white person most places so if I’m in a rush to get somewhere, I just hop on in and take the ride and don’t mind all the stares. I’m not sure if I have mentioned it but I have started driving here. Did I mention that yet? If so…I’m very sorry for the repetition. I think all of you know how scared I was of driving when I first got here because of the amount of people and the random animals that like to cross the road when your travelling Mac speeds. But one day when we were travelling back from selling eggs, Sr Sue asked if I wanted to drive. I will admit that the fear slowly has been fading because I’m getting used to how things run around here but it was a bit dark and I was hesitant to drive. But, I tried to look at the bright side of the situation and I thought, “well…we may as well start with it being dark then maybe I’ll figure it’s easy in the day time.” And it wasn’t bad. I have to say that the amount that people are beeping their horns – just to let you know that they’re coming, or at animals or even people sometimes on bikes, I don’t’ know that I will get used to using it that often. Seeing that anyone beeping their horn at home seem to be upset drivers. So, Sr. Sue had to reach over to the steering wheel a few times to just let people know we were behind them. I’ll have to get the hang of that one. We arrive home safe and sound and since that day, I’ve been driving a lot. The sisters enjoy it since most of them don’t like driving, and I actually have come to enjoy it. I’m not sure what I’m going to do when I have to go home and not have pot holes or animals or people to swerve around! Then again, I remind myself that I come from Saskatchewan….we’re known for our bad roads. Haha… but yes, the only thing I wish I had done before I left was taken a crash course on automobile repairs from Rene before I came here since the truck likes to break down often.
This week I received a few packages from my friend Josh. Do you remember I said that he and my friend Wendy had decided to donate volleyball and footballs? Well…all I can say is that when the Lord gives, He gives abundantly. We received 6 new volleyballs and 5 new footballs. I wish I would’ve had my camera out when we gave the kids the balls because they went CRAZY! It was probably the most rewarding and funny moment I’ve seen with these kids so far. I hadn’t even given the balls and the response that we got was honestly priceless. They were saying “Thank you friend of Jennifa, Thank you Jennifa!” It was so priceless.
About two weeks ago, I was on my way to the bank after mass when I saw a friend, NdayFatou (who is my friend Musa’s sister) and she was on the way to the hospital to bring her son because he was sick. Since the bank and the hospital are on the same street we walked together and when we reached the bank I realized it was closed for another hour, so she asked me to go with her to the hospital. I didn’t mind at all. So off we went, through the market to the hospital and I was kind of shocked at what I saw, but I kind of expected it too. There were tons of people waiting to get in to see the doctor and I think because NdayFatou knew a few people she just said a few things in the local language and we went around the waiting room to another area of the hospital. It didn’t take long and the nurse had done what he needed to do and we were out of there. The whole time I just stood in the door way and watched. I’ll be honestly that it looked better than I thought it would but it still didn’t look like the type of hospital I was used to. Definitely not as organized but you can tell that it’s developing. On our way out the Pharmacy was closed so we thought that we would go and check if the bank was open and if not we would go to the market so she could get the things she needs to buy for lunch. The bank wasn’t open, so off we were into the market. I’ve learnt a little bit more about the Brikama market and from what I see there are “areas” just like in a supermarket. Ok…just bare with me, I’ve used my imagination on this one – just so that I can maybe try to grasp more about the market. So from what I see, there is an area where you get tourist things, an area for clothes, and the area we went to today is where you buy the local grown food. I like to call this area “the produce isle”. You can get anything you need for cooking. One thing is for sure, I stick out like a sore thumb. I just look like a tourist and I hate that. I can’t talk to anyone since they’re all ladies who don’t speak much English, so I just follow along and smile. But Nday was good about telling me what to say when people greeted me and I appreciated that she cared enough to help me out. One thing I realized after we left the market was Nday (as well as most women) do this everyday. They get up early in the morning to get the things they need to cook, since most don’t have a fridge or freezer or sometimes its because they may only be able to afford what they can eat for that day. I’m not exactly sure what the case is for Nday and her family but I would guess it’s closer to not being able to afford much for each day. I met Nday because, like I said her brother Musa, introduced me to her and her family. She is married to a musician – who, funny enough used to always stop me on the street to chat. I’m finding that this definitely is a small world and the Lord is bring people into my life that are significantly intertwined. It’s really crazy. Every day that I walk to the supermarket or to church I stop by their little store to just say hi and sometimes to chat and I honestly look forward to it every time. I don’t always get to see Nday because she is sometimes at home cooking but most times she’s there cooking fish to sell. But her husband’s name is Pupiss (I think I spelled it right) and he is a local Brikama musician who apparently is very good. I hear about him on the street and I just find it funny that Lord placed this family in my life. I know that even though he is a musician, he doesn’t make a lot of money and I know that they have a very hard time making ends meet. They have three children, two boys ( I can’t remember the oldest one’s name but the youngest is Babocar) and one girl (Mancy). On our way back, after we had made it to the Pharmacy and the bank, we walked to their little shop and Nday invited me to their home to visit. Like I said, when someone invites you to their home, it’s an honor and they like to show you what is theirs. I was glad to go and see. I am continually reminded of what an extravagant life I live at home, and I am honestly grateful for coming from where I have come from. When I saw their home, it was a small room that didn’t have much with another room that had a bed and the few things that they owned. It wasn’t much. I didn’t say much but I knew she was so proud of the things that they had. These are the times you wish you could just hand over money to someone to give them a little better situation than what they are in. Like I said, I’m so grateful for what I have and where I have come from and I can say that when I left Canada I thought I would come back with a realization that I don’t need all the things that I have, but I can’t really say that is the case. What I will say is this…I APPRECIATE the things I have at home more and more every day. I appreciate the fact that I can buy clothes and food and what ever I need or want and that I don’t have to go by day to day struggling and wondering if my kids are going to be fed or if I will be able to pay my children’s school fees. I wasn’t able to stay long but I know that she was grateful that I stopped and I don’t think I will ever forget her hospitality. Since that day, Nday now calls me, “Jennifa, my stranger.” I think that as surprised as I was to have her come into my life, she is just as surprised to have me in hers. I know that over the next months her and her family will make a great impact on my life. Even to this day every time they see me coming on the street, Mancy runs straight to me yelling, “toobob, Jennifa. Toobob, Jennifa” the whole way. Also, since I went with her to the hospital that day to take Babocar, she now calls him, “Babocar, your son.” I’m grateful for these people being in my life, and I’m realizing that Mother Teresa really is right when she says, “do small things with great love.” The people here appreciate even the smallest thing that you do for them.
I had gotten home that same day and since Sr. Josaphine had the nursery school independence day march, I walked out to SSP (which is a huge football field on the edge of Brikama) where they were holding the festivities. It was quite the walk but I really enjoyed myself. I always go out that way on my way to Kembojeh but usually I’m in a rush and never get to see anything that is on the way. So I really enjoyed having the opportunity to walk and take in the sights. When I got there the kids were just starting the march and the scouts were the first to start marching. It was adorable because all the kids were so young and looked like little soldiers all marching in a line. They all wore their school uniforms and the teachers marched right beside all of them. I think there were also sponsors who marched because I honestly haven’t seen so many white people in Brikama at one time! Most of the sponsors had dressed in traditional dress just like the other teachers. It was really nice to see! It was really hot out and I can’t imagine the kids standing out there for much longer than they did. After the march, Sr. Josaphine and all the kids loaded the bus and went to make lunch. I decided to go back to the house to do a for things like wash my clothes and clean my room up a bit but by the time I ended up getting home, since I had seen so many people I knew on my way, I only ended up getting the cleaning my room part done before I had to go back and then go on my way to Kembojeh for the evening. I had actually met up with a friend who wanted to join me in Kembojeh so we walked to SSP and then we were on our way to Kembojeh. We were going to get a taxi and we started walking and realized that we were not very far from Kembojeh so we just kept walking. I was really shocked at how close it was from Brikama and most of the walk was done on our way out to SSP. I’m glad that I actually walked because it makes me appreciate driving there most of the days that I go.
Well I’m sure this is long enough but I guess I had to make up for three weeks of not writing! I hope that everyone at home is well, I miss everyone a lot! Please pray pray pray for me as well as the Sisters and Brikama. I’m praying for all of you!
Much Love, In Jesus and Mary,
Jen
Monday, March 30, 2009
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Kartung...of all places.
March 1, 2009
Once again, this week has been full and not one ounce of a lack of anything to do. This week, having Ash Wednesday and the beginning of another Holy Season has added to the “busy-ness” in this household. The Ash Wednesday service here was held in the evening at 6:00pm. What I was overwhelmed with was the amount of people who came. Seriously, this is no joke but the entire church was full and Sr. Cecile said that the majority of the parking lot/courtyard was full. I’ve never seen an Ash Wednesday mass full like that. Sr. Odile and I were sitting next to one another and the time the middle of mass came around we were almost on top of one another because people kept coming in and trying to fit themselves into the pews. I felt so claustrophobic and it was hot in the church by the end of mass. And the thing was that not everyone was there. All the kids in Anne Marie and Presentation weren’t there since we had a service at school for them earlier in the day. So imagine if all of those kids came too, I can’t even imagine….
Thursday evenings during lent there is a Holy Hour at the church. After school I ate some lunch and then took some time to do a few things before I walked to the church for Adoration. When I first got there there were only a few people but slowly throughout the hour, many people came. I’m realizing more and more about myself through the Eucharist here. There is a peace in my heart when I’m face to face with our Lord in the Eucharist and I enjoy sitting in silence, contemplating the Lord’s Love. I am excited for lent. It has always been my favorite time of year, especially in our Liturgical calendar because – for me – I understand more about Jesus through His cross and resurrection. Dying to oneself and rising anew with Christ…
This past weekend has been so wonderful. I can honestly say that I thought it was going to be really difficult but it turned out to be one of my favorite weekends so far, for many reasons. Initially I thought, “oh good, I’m going to relax this weekend. Some of the girls have an interhouse, I’ll wash my clothes, workout a bit, maybe take in a football game and meet with some friends.” It sounded like a great weekend to me, and on Wednesday Sr. Josaphine asked me to go to Kartung – a villiage 30 minutes south of Brikama for a football tournament that her group of 100 Junior Anne Marie Rivier kids were taking part in. My initial thought was that I was hesitant to go, mostly because I had an idea of what a relaxing weekend would be like. And then I got to thinking, “it will be fun, a new experience, and I’m not here for myself – I’m here to volunteer my time for these kids and for the sisters.” And on Thursday morning I said to the Lord, “well if the issue comes up again, I will tell her that I’ll come and help.” And, of course, it came up many times throughout the day and every time I thought about it, I just thought how much I just wanted my “relaxing weekend”. So by Thursday night I had decided to go. My voice was saying that I would go and help but my mind and heart were saying something very different. I guess I was thinking that I wanted a break from the loud group of young kids and I was going to be going straight from the classroom of screaming kids, to a bus full of screaming kids. Lord….give me patience. The one thing that was giving me comfort was knowing that I would be spending some time with Sr. Josaphine. Out of all of the sisters, I have not yet spent much time with Sr. Josaphine because she is the head mistress of Presentation nursery school which is in Brikama. I have wanted to get to know her better, since I thinking out of all of the sisters, Sr. Jos and I are the most similar. She is also the youngest. So the only thing that was giving me comfort was knowing that I would have the opportunity to get to know Sr. Josaphine a little bit better over the weekend.
Of course, just as he does – Satan takes full advantage of every situation. I wasn’t necessarily excited to go and just as we were leaving to come home from the school to get ready to pack up our things and get on the bus, I started to get a really bad head ache. I thought that maybe some food, and a nap might help a bit but neither of them did. I woke up after having ate lunch and taken a nap with an even worse head ache and I just kept thinking that I wanted to stay home. Just as I got up, I started to pack my things since I hadn’t yet packed and then Sr. Sue asked me if I would run an errand for her. I didn’t mind although I was a bit hesitant since I hadn’t packed yet and we were leaving in less than an hour. On my way while running the errand I kept saying, “Lord, are you sure you want me to go…”I” don’t even want to go, I have a head ache, I haven’t packed and I think I’m going to be late.” And earlier in the morning I stubbed my toe really bad to where I almost thought I broke it. I honestly am not saying this because I want sympathy ( I’m actually quite embarrassed to mention all of these stupid little things) but I just want to mention it to explain how Satan used even the tiniest thing to try to distract me from the Lord’s purpose in bringing me here…ultimately, to give of my time for the sisters and the kids in any way I can help. I’m not here to help myself – I’m here to help others. And as all of this played out on Friday it was to the point where I was making up excuses as to why I shouldn’t go. And…why not go?! I think about it now and I laugh. Why would I not want to go and have a new experience?! I think I was just looking forward to being comfortable this weekend and not having much to do and of course, with experiencing something new, sometimes comes a bit of change whether habit or environment. I know that the Lord was –yes, giving me the option to sit here over the weekend and have time for myself but he was also giving me the opportunity to go and have a completely different experience as well. I realized when I was at the bank, running the errand for Sister that the Lord was giving me the choice to make. And, as the perfect gentleman that the Lord is, He would bless either choice I’m sure. So, as I loaded the bus to go, there was a sense of peace that followed and I knew that there was a definite plan that the Lord had for me to go on this trip, I just wasn’t sure why.
We arrived at the church because we had to pick up all the kids and when we pulled up, it was like mass ciaos. The kids are all trying to get on the bus and fit their luggage on and honestly, it’s quite hilarious to sit back and watch. When we got to the church, I saw a friend Vincent who I realized would be making the trip as well. I was glad to see a familiar face and to know that he would be helping out with the kids too. As we left, the bus was packed full with food, luggage, kids and all of a sudden all the kids started singing. And they sang songs the entire ride there, clapping and laughing and smiling. It was a really fun environment and I was glad to have witnessed it.
We arrive in Kartung just as the sun was setting so we didn’t have much time to get unpacked and the kids into their classrooms. And…another thing, Kartung is just by the ocean so it’s SO cold at night. I had shorts and a tank top on and I was anxious to get to my bag to put a sweater on. As the kids were getting situated in their classrooms, I went to check to see what everyone was doing. I realized then that all of the girls were in one room. They had laid out mats (thin mats) and all they were covering up with was their wraps (Milan). I just thought, “oh thank you Lord, for giving me a bed and blanket!” I was so grateful that we were staying in a house and not in that classroom. I’ve shared my fair bit of classroom sleeping on the floor and I was very glad to see a bed at the end of the day. But let me tell you, the kids were so excited to be there and they were all so excited to be sharing time with all of their friends that nothing phased any of them. We went over to Father Jaqcue’s house where all of the cooking was done (just across the street from the school) and we fed all the kids. It was dark by then and after they all ate, they headed to bed. Sr. Josaphine and I and another sister, Sr. Elizabeth (who is part of another order but knows Sr. Josaphine really well) all shared one room which had two beds. I was glad to be a part of their little group and we had lots of laughs over the last few days/nights we all spent together. By the end of the day, my head ache was still there but I hoped that by the morning it would be gone, and it was. We were actually able to sleep in a bit before mass, and after mass we started breakfast (which was bread and tea) and then we all started on lunch. The more and more I’m here, I realize that the majority of how time is spent here is spent cooking. It took all afternoon to make the lunch meal which we ate at around 3:30pm. It was fun though, I really enjoy helping out and learning how African cooking is made. And usually it’s made for a lot of people so the more hands to help the better. I think there were 6 or 7 of us cooking and cutting and we all laughed and had a good time. Vincent is hilarious and I always kill myself laughing at him moreso because he isn’t trying to be funny and he just says what’s on his mind. Throughout the time we were cooking I went to get the kids ready for their game so I brought the balls over so they could play a little bit and while I was over at the school, I realized I had a little friend following me. He couldn’t have been more than 3 years old, but he was walking – barefoot with his matching little orange and green pair of shorts and t-shirt. I had picked him up once to say hello and I then later realized that he was following me the entire day. He didn’t understand a word of English and I had to ask someone to translate to ask him his name. His name was “Zoe” ( I think that’s how you spell it?!) and I can honestly say that I don’t think I heard him say one word the entire time I saw him. He was so quiet and so darn cute.
After lunch was served, which was again in huge bowls set for 5 kids each, we went out to the football field which was just behind the school. I am continually overtaken with how beautiful things are here. But I will say, that it’s been a gradual attitude toward how I feel since when I first got here, everything was so different and there was sand everywhere. Now I’ve realized how beautiful things are, and how “African” they are. And realizing that because it’s different – it’s “African” – it wouldn’t be much of an experience if everything was like home. As we walked up to the field it was this cleared out area that obviously had been a football field for a long time. It was all sand except for the tall, stick-like weeds that were on the outer corners of the field. There were two concrete benches that were for both teams and there were “hut” houses on the one side of the field. It was so beautiful. Palm trees and fruits trees in the background and I was taken back by all the kids who showed up to watch. And of course, they were all singing and dancing. I didn’t realize this but one of the houses on the side of the field was Therese’s (one the girls in the hostel). It now explains why she loves football.
The girls played first and lost only in a shootout since the score was 0-0 at the end of the game. It was heart breaking since they played really well. The boys won by a forfeit since the score was 1-0 for Kartung and our boys scored from a penalty shot about a minute before the end of the game, one of the coaches got so mad that he wouldn’t let his team shoot in the shootout. So they forfeited the game to us. They all played so well and Sr. Josaphine was really proud of all of them. The kids loved it! There are always a ton of kids around and by the end of the game, I had two kids on my back wanting a piggy back ride. I enjoy the kids so much! It brings back a simplicity to my life that in “growing up” I’ve lost. So every opportunity I get to race or jump with them, I take it. And they love for anyone to play with them. On our way walking home, I became familiar with two little girls who had been walking around with me, but I didn’t really notice until we were walking home. One of them, Rose, asked me as she grabbed my hand, “Do you like kids?” And I said, “yes, I do. I love kids!” And her reply to that was, “well then you will be my mother. And I’m going to call you ‘my mama’”. I was so shocked, and as I grabbed her around the shoulders to give her a hug, I realized how as hard as it is going to be to leave in July – I’m going to have had made many friends, as well as been impacted by all of these young kids.
So as we were walking home I took the opportunity to race Miss Rose and some of the other girls to the end of the street. They all took off running and since they are all pretty young as I passed them they all started laughing! It was funny because everyone on the street was looking and probably thinking, “who is this white woman?!” haha…I definetly got a kick out of it and the kids love when you play with them. We got the kids fed back at Father’s house and sent them all to get ready for bed and we cleaned up and went to bed. It was a pretty relaxing evening but we were all tired from the sun and cooking earlier in the day. We woke up in time for mass at 9:00am. And as I was walking into the church I looked down and saw the little Zow following me. He was all dressed in his shorts and shirt and he grabbed my hand and followed me into the church. He sat with me the entire mass and for the most of it he sat on my lap playing with my braclet since the church was packed and the adults had to fit into the pews. I think he was quite content just sitting on my knee because he didn’t move and he didn’t say one word throughout the entire mass. One thing I was quite impressed with was that when the consecration came and when everyone knelt, so did he. He was kneeling and hanging on to the top of the pew so he wouldn’t fall in between the pew and kneeler. I was just amazed because he knew just what to do, you could tell it wasn’t because everyone else was doing it. The church was a little tiny church and it reminded me of one of the old little country churches back home. Father Jaque said mass.
After mass all the kids filed out to father’s to have breakfast, so we were all there cooking and enjoying our bread and tea/coffee. As I was eating my breakfast I saw that little Zow was sitting away from everyone just as content as could be waiting for something. So I took my bread over to him and gave him a quarter of my bread. He didn’t hesitate to take it and I didn’t mind sharing with him. As much as I enjoy his company, I thought I would take him back over to where the kids were playing so that he could enjoy the fun. On my way back, I was stopped by the referee from our game yesterday. He mentioned to me that some of the people wanted to “know me”. I just laughed because for the most of the weekend when I would walk by where these people were sitting, I would get a, “hello! How are you? Are you fine?!” And today all of them wanted me to sit and visit with them. The one thing I’m realizing, that for the most part, everyone would just like some time with you – even if it’s only 5 minutes. They just want you to sit with them to show that you care about who they are and that you’re not just some tourist passing through. I’m realizing that since I’m living here, and one of the few white people here, people are recognizing me and getting to know me a bit more. When most people see a white person it’s because they’ve come out of their hotel to just “SEE” what it’s like. And then they go on back to the hotel thinking they’ve experienced all that they’ve had to see in bush villages. I’m grateful that it’s the other way around for me. When I first arrived here, I would’ve given anything to be a tourist, but now I have grown to love the people in the small villages and here in Brikama because I’ve learnt more about the simplicity of life and what a smiling face and five minutes spent with someone can really do to a persons heart. I’ve been extremely touched by the people who have allowed me to just sit and visit. Today, as I sat down to visit with these people in Kartung, I realized more and more of this lesson. They offered me some palm wine and we all sat around asking each other questions. They definitely had a lot for me, as it seems that they had been watching me walk back and forth from the school to father’s over the weekend and they must have been wondering who I was. So they asked me about my home, family, customs, traditions, politics, economics…etc. At one point in the conversation I thanked them for inviting me over to visit with them. One gentleman mentioned something so true to me that I’m not sure I will ever be able to forget his advice. He said, “everyone has ideas of what a place is like – from books or the news, etc, but rarely do people ever find out what the place is really like because they refuse to sit with the people who experience that culture everyday and discuss what it’s really like.” I realized then, how stupid I have been. I walk and walk and walk some days and all I say is a surface “hello” when someone greets me, just trying to be polite, never to actually really mean it. And I would’ve NEVER sat down with these people if it hadn’t been for them inviting me to get to know them – even for as many “hello! How are you doing? Are you fine?!” ‘s that I would’ve gotten. How often do we do that in our lives? How often do we only give what’s on the surface and never go deep within our souls to possibly relate to one another? I’m definitely realizing that I need to be more open with people, and be a bit more inviting.
I sat with them for quite some time and as many times as I said, “ I should really go and help cook dinner,” I found myself really enjoying the time that I spent with them. I got some email addresses and phone numbers and they all invited me as their personal guest to visit them during the upcoming festival on the 26th of March.
When I left them, which was I’m sure close to an hour later, I met up with Vincent and Fatima who were just leaving to go to the beach, where everyone else was. To get to the beach you have to just go behind father’s house and cross a pretty big pasture. But…get this, there is a sacred crocodile pool in the back forest behind father’s house. I guess it’s sacred because there once appeared these crocodiles- which is rare in that area- and they couldn’t figure out how they got there. Apparently even Friday at noon they come out to hunt, so many people get to see them. We got to Kartung late on Friday so we didn’t get to see them, we only saw the pool. We walked past the field and I was amazed at what I was experiencing while I walked to the beach. The three of us were walking together and as we were getting closer to the beach –which was about a 15 minutes walk- the sand got heavier and heavier. After we left the crocodile pool the landscape was just like a pasture that we would have at home although the trees are all very different. There was one point where we got to that the sand was like walking in the Sahara desert. So fine…and thick! There came a point where there was a hill and the sand was beautiful. I took my sandals off and walked up the hill only to see the beautiful ocean waves with a hut on the beach. I was overwhelmed. I can honestly say that of any beach I’ve ever been to – tourist beach, or non tourist beach – this was the most beautiful beach I’ve ever been to. The kids were all playing in the water and as we walked down to meet them, I thanked the Lord for bringing me here – to Kartung of all places. The place I didn’t want to come to at the beginning of the weekend. We played football with some of the boys and most people took a swim. I hadn’t thrown my bathing suit on, so I just went into the water up to past my knees. I honestly love the beach and it reminds me of how huge God is – how He has complete control over the depth of the sea and He can control – what seems to be “uncontrollable” waves. I find I can just be silent and take in the surrounding when I’m at the beach. No words are necessary and I could just sit the entire day and would never get bored. I took a bit of a walk and had a young girl join me. She was asking me all sorts of questions.
We only stayed for about an hour because we had to get back to get the kids fed before we left, but I wished that we could’ve stayed longer. Vincent, Fatima and I stayed back with a few kids and enjoyed the sun a bit and then started walking back. As hard as it was to realize how different everything is here when I first got here, I have learnt to love the sand in my toes and the sun on my face. I know I’m getting more and more used to everything because I don’t find things as shocking now. When I run or walk past a donkey on the path, it doesn’t surprise me anymore.
We got back and distributed the food and after we all ate we cleaned up and packed the bus. It wasn’t as uniform as you think. The kids all want to be the first ones ON the bus and the first ones OFF. And, any school bus kid, knows that can’t happen. But it seems that these kids don’t get it, so it’s mass chaos. I tried to help, but realized my yelling and trying to organize only ended me in the middle of a group of pushy anxious kids, so I stopped. They eventually all got on the bus. HAHA…teach me to mess with the African way of doing things. .
The bus ride home was good and as we pulled up to the church to let the kids off, all the kids surrounded the bus waiting for all their things to come off. I was glad when we were heading home because I was excited for a hot shower. When we got home, I helped unpack the bus and the sisters were having a meeting with Sr. Madeline. Sr. Madeline comes to stay for a couples days during the year to visit the communities to see how things run. This weekend is her time to stay so, I greeted them and then I boiled water and took a shower. I realized then that I had gotten quite the suntan.
I’m very grateful for this weekend, I am so glad that I actually went and didn’t let all the stupid little things get in the way of the Lord speaking to my heart. I am so glad that I got to spend some time with Sr. Josephine, I really enjoy her company and she’s really funny. I love it when she is excited about something because she explains with large hand gestures and she makes the story so funny! We have some really good stories to tell and I appreciate her so much more now having gone through this weekend with her. All in all…it was a huge success.
Once again, this week has been full and not one ounce of a lack of anything to do. This week, having Ash Wednesday and the beginning of another Holy Season has added to the “busy-ness” in this household. The Ash Wednesday service here was held in the evening at 6:00pm. What I was overwhelmed with was the amount of people who came. Seriously, this is no joke but the entire church was full and Sr. Cecile said that the majority of the parking lot/courtyard was full. I’ve never seen an Ash Wednesday mass full like that. Sr. Odile and I were sitting next to one another and the time the middle of mass came around we were almost on top of one another because people kept coming in and trying to fit themselves into the pews. I felt so claustrophobic and it was hot in the church by the end of mass. And the thing was that not everyone was there. All the kids in Anne Marie and Presentation weren’t there since we had a service at school for them earlier in the day. So imagine if all of those kids came too, I can’t even imagine….
Thursday evenings during lent there is a Holy Hour at the church. After school I ate some lunch and then took some time to do a few things before I walked to the church for Adoration. When I first got there there were only a few people but slowly throughout the hour, many people came. I’m realizing more and more about myself through the Eucharist here. There is a peace in my heart when I’m face to face with our Lord in the Eucharist and I enjoy sitting in silence, contemplating the Lord’s Love. I am excited for lent. It has always been my favorite time of year, especially in our Liturgical calendar because – for me – I understand more about Jesus through His cross and resurrection. Dying to oneself and rising anew with Christ…
This past weekend has been so wonderful. I can honestly say that I thought it was going to be really difficult but it turned out to be one of my favorite weekends so far, for many reasons. Initially I thought, “oh good, I’m going to relax this weekend. Some of the girls have an interhouse, I’ll wash my clothes, workout a bit, maybe take in a football game and meet with some friends.” It sounded like a great weekend to me, and on Wednesday Sr. Josaphine asked me to go to Kartung – a villiage 30 minutes south of Brikama for a football tournament that her group of 100 Junior Anne Marie Rivier kids were taking part in. My initial thought was that I was hesitant to go, mostly because I had an idea of what a relaxing weekend would be like. And then I got to thinking, “it will be fun, a new experience, and I’m not here for myself – I’m here to volunteer my time for these kids and for the sisters.” And on Thursday morning I said to the Lord, “well if the issue comes up again, I will tell her that I’ll come and help.” And, of course, it came up many times throughout the day and every time I thought about it, I just thought how much I just wanted my “relaxing weekend”. So by Thursday night I had decided to go. My voice was saying that I would go and help but my mind and heart were saying something very different. I guess I was thinking that I wanted a break from the loud group of young kids and I was going to be going straight from the classroom of screaming kids, to a bus full of screaming kids. Lord….give me patience. The one thing that was giving me comfort was knowing that I would be spending some time with Sr. Josaphine. Out of all of the sisters, I have not yet spent much time with Sr. Josaphine because she is the head mistress of Presentation nursery school which is in Brikama. I have wanted to get to know her better, since I thinking out of all of the sisters, Sr. Jos and I are the most similar. She is also the youngest. So the only thing that was giving me comfort was knowing that I would have the opportunity to get to know Sr. Josaphine a little bit better over the weekend.
Of course, just as he does – Satan takes full advantage of every situation. I wasn’t necessarily excited to go and just as we were leaving to come home from the school to get ready to pack up our things and get on the bus, I started to get a really bad head ache. I thought that maybe some food, and a nap might help a bit but neither of them did. I woke up after having ate lunch and taken a nap with an even worse head ache and I just kept thinking that I wanted to stay home. Just as I got up, I started to pack my things since I hadn’t yet packed and then Sr. Sue asked me if I would run an errand for her. I didn’t mind although I was a bit hesitant since I hadn’t packed yet and we were leaving in less than an hour. On my way while running the errand I kept saying, “Lord, are you sure you want me to go…”I” don’t even want to go, I have a head ache, I haven’t packed and I think I’m going to be late.” And earlier in the morning I stubbed my toe really bad to where I almost thought I broke it. I honestly am not saying this because I want sympathy ( I’m actually quite embarrassed to mention all of these stupid little things) but I just want to mention it to explain how Satan used even the tiniest thing to try to distract me from the Lord’s purpose in bringing me here…ultimately, to give of my time for the sisters and the kids in any way I can help. I’m not here to help myself – I’m here to help others. And as all of this played out on Friday it was to the point where I was making up excuses as to why I shouldn’t go. And…why not go?! I think about it now and I laugh. Why would I not want to go and have a new experience?! I think I was just looking forward to being comfortable this weekend and not having much to do and of course, with experiencing something new, sometimes comes a bit of change whether habit or environment. I know that the Lord was –yes, giving me the option to sit here over the weekend and have time for myself but he was also giving me the opportunity to go and have a completely different experience as well. I realized when I was at the bank, running the errand for Sister that the Lord was giving me the choice to make. And, as the perfect gentleman that the Lord is, He would bless either choice I’m sure. So, as I loaded the bus to go, there was a sense of peace that followed and I knew that there was a definite plan that the Lord had for me to go on this trip, I just wasn’t sure why.
We arrived at the church because we had to pick up all the kids and when we pulled up, it was like mass ciaos. The kids are all trying to get on the bus and fit their luggage on and honestly, it’s quite hilarious to sit back and watch. When we got to the church, I saw a friend Vincent who I realized would be making the trip as well. I was glad to see a familiar face and to know that he would be helping out with the kids too. As we left, the bus was packed full with food, luggage, kids and all of a sudden all the kids started singing. And they sang songs the entire ride there, clapping and laughing and smiling. It was a really fun environment and I was glad to have witnessed it.
We arrive in Kartung just as the sun was setting so we didn’t have much time to get unpacked and the kids into their classrooms. And…another thing, Kartung is just by the ocean so it’s SO cold at night. I had shorts and a tank top on and I was anxious to get to my bag to put a sweater on. As the kids were getting situated in their classrooms, I went to check to see what everyone was doing. I realized then that all of the girls were in one room. They had laid out mats (thin mats) and all they were covering up with was their wraps (Milan). I just thought, “oh thank you Lord, for giving me a bed and blanket!” I was so grateful that we were staying in a house and not in that classroom. I’ve shared my fair bit of classroom sleeping on the floor and I was very glad to see a bed at the end of the day. But let me tell you, the kids were so excited to be there and they were all so excited to be sharing time with all of their friends that nothing phased any of them. We went over to Father Jaqcue’s house where all of the cooking was done (just across the street from the school) and we fed all the kids. It was dark by then and after they all ate, they headed to bed. Sr. Josaphine and I and another sister, Sr. Elizabeth (who is part of another order but knows Sr. Josaphine really well) all shared one room which had two beds. I was glad to be a part of their little group and we had lots of laughs over the last few days/nights we all spent together. By the end of the day, my head ache was still there but I hoped that by the morning it would be gone, and it was. We were actually able to sleep in a bit before mass, and after mass we started breakfast (which was bread and tea) and then we all started on lunch. The more and more I’m here, I realize that the majority of how time is spent here is spent cooking. It took all afternoon to make the lunch meal which we ate at around 3:30pm. It was fun though, I really enjoy helping out and learning how African cooking is made. And usually it’s made for a lot of people so the more hands to help the better. I think there were 6 or 7 of us cooking and cutting and we all laughed and had a good time. Vincent is hilarious and I always kill myself laughing at him moreso because he isn’t trying to be funny and he just says what’s on his mind. Throughout the time we were cooking I went to get the kids ready for their game so I brought the balls over so they could play a little bit and while I was over at the school, I realized I had a little friend following me. He couldn’t have been more than 3 years old, but he was walking – barefoot with his matching little orange and green pair of shorts and t-shirt. I had picked him up once to say hello and I then later realized that he was following me the entire day. He didn’t understand a word of English and I had to ask someone to translate to ask him his name. His name was “Zoe” ( I think that’s how you spell it?!) and I can honestly say that I don’t think I heard him say one word the entire time I saw him. He was so quiet and so darn cute.
After lunch was served, which was again in huge bowls set for 5 kids each, we went out to the football field which was just behind the school. I am continually overtaken with how beautiful things are here. But I will say, that it’s been a gradual attitude toward how I feel since when I first got here, everything was so different and there was sand everywhere. Now I’ve realized how beautiful things are, and how “African” they are. And realizing that because it’s different – it’s “African” – it wouldn’t be much of an experience if everything was like home. As we walked up to the field it was this cleared out area that obviously had been a football field for a long time. It was all sand except for the tall, stick-like weeds that were on the outer corners of the field. There were two concrete benches that were for both teams and there were “hut” houses on the one side of the field. It was so beautiful. Palm trees and fruits trees in the background and I was taken back by all the kids who showed up to watch. And of course, they were all singing and dancing. I didn’t realize this but one of the houses on the side of the field was Therese’s (one the girls in the hostel). It now explains why she loves football.
The girls played first and lost only in a shootout since the score was 0-0 at the end of the game. It was heart breaking since they played really well. The boys won by a forfeit since the score was 1-0 for Kartung and our boys scored from a penalty shot about a minute before the end of the game, one of the coaches got so mad that he wouldn’t let his team shoot in the shootout. So they forfeited the game to us. They all played so well and Sr. Josaphine was really proud of all of them. The kids loved it! There are always a ton of kids around and by the end of the game, I had two kids on my back wanting a piggy back ride. I enjoy the kids so much! It brings back a simplicity to my life that in “growing up” I’ve lost. So every opportunity I get to race or jump with them, I take it. And they love for anyone to play with them. On our way walking home, I became familiar with two little girls who had been walking around with me, but I didn’t really notice until we were walking home. One of them, Rose, asked me as she grabbed my hand, “Do you like kids?” And I said, “yes, I do. I love kids!” And her reply to that was, “well then you will be my mother. And I’m going to call you ‘my mama’”. I was so shocked, and as I grabbed her around the shoulders to give her a hug, I realized how as hard as it is going to be to leave in July – I’m going to have had made many friends, as well as been impacted by all of these young kids.
So as we were walking home I took the opportunity to race Miss Rose and some of the other girls to the end of the street. They all took off running and since they are all pretty young as I passed them they all started laughing! It was funny because everyone on the street was looking and probably thinking, “who is this white woman?!” haha…I definetly got a kick out of it and the kids love when you play with them. We got the kids fed back at Father’s house and sent them all to get ready for bed and we cleaned up and went to bed. It was a pretty relaxing evening but we were all tired from the sun and cooking earlier in the day. We woke up in time for mass at 9:00am. And as I was walking into the church I looked down and saw the little Zow following me. He was all dressed in his shorts and shirt and he grabbed my hand and followed me into the church. He sat with me the entire mass and for the most of it he sat on my lap playing with my braclet since the church was packed and the adults had to fit into the pews. I think he was quite content just sitting on my knee because he didn’t move and he didn’t say one word throughout the entire mass. One thing I was quite impressed with was that when the consecration came and when everyone knelt, so did he. He was kneeling and hanging on to the top of the pew so he wouldn’t fall in between the pew and kneeler. I was just amazed because he knew just what to do, you could tell it wasn’t because everyone else was doing it. The church was a little tiny church and it reminded me of one of the old little country churches back home. Father Jaque said mass.
After mass all the kids filed out to father’s to have breakfast, so we were all there cooking and enjoying our bread and tea/coffee. As I was eating my breakfast I saw that little Zow was sitting away from everyone just as content as could be waiting for something. So I took my bread over to him and gave him a quarter of my bread. He didn’t hesitate to take it and I didn’t mind sharing with him. As much as I enjoy his company, I thought I would take him back over to where the kids were playing so that he could enjoy the fun. On my way back, I was stopped by the referee from our game yesterday. He mentioned to me that some of the people wanted to “know me”. I just laughed because for the most of the weekend when I would walk by where these people were sitting, I would get a, “hello! How are you? Are you fine?!” And today all of them wanted me to sit and visit with them. The one thing I’m realizing, that for the most part, everyone would just like some time with you – even if it’s only 5 minutes. They just want you to sit with them to show that you care about who they are and that you’re not just some tourist passing through. I’m realizing that since I’m living here, and one of the few white people here, people are recognizing me and getting to know me a bit more. When most people see a white person it’s because they’ve come out of their hotel to just “SEE” what it’s like. And then they go on back to the hotel thinking they’ve experienced all that they’ve had to see in bush villages. I’m grateful that it’s the other way around for me. When I first arrived here, I would’ve given anything to be a tourist, but now I have grown to love the people in the small villages and here in Brikama because I’ve learnt more about the simplicity of life and what a smiling face and five minutes spent with someone can really do to a persons heart. I’ve been extremely touched by the people who have allowed me to just sit and visit. Today, as I sat down to visit with these people in Kartung, I realized more and more of this lesson. They offered me some palm wine and we all sat around asking each other questions. They definitely had a lot for me, as it seems that they had been watching me walk back and forth from the school to father’s over the weekend and they must have been wondering who I was. So they asked me about my home, family, customs, traditions, politics, economics…etc. At one point in the conversation I thanked them for inviting me over to visit with them. One gentleman mentioned something so true to me that I’m not sure I will ever be able to forget his advice. He said, “everyone has ideas of what a place is like – from books or the news, etc, but rarely do people ever find out what the place is really like because they refuse to sit with the people who experience that culture everyday and discuss what it’s really like.” I realized then, how stupid I have been. I walk and walk and walk some days and all I say is a surface “hello” when someone greets me, just trying to be polite, never to actually really mean it. And I would’ve NEVER sat down with these people if it hadn’t been for them inviting me to get to know them – even for as many “hello! How are you doing? Are you fine?!” ‘s that I would’ve gotten. How often do we do that in our lives? How often do we only give what’s on the surface and never go deep within our souls to possibly relate to one another? I’m definitely realizing that I need to be more open with people, and be a bit more inviting.
I sat with them for quite some time and as many times as I said, “ I should really go and help cook dinner,” I found myself really enjoying the time that I spent with them. I got some email addresses and phone numbers and they all invited me as their personal guest to visit them during the upcoming festival on the 26th of March.
When I left them, which was I’m sure close to an hour later, I met up with Vincent and Fatima who were just leaving to go to the beach, where everyone else was. To get to the beach you have to just go behind father’s house and cross a pretty big pasture. But…get this, there is a sacred crocodile pool in the back forest behind father’s house. I guess it’s sacred because there once appeared these crocodiles- which is rare in that area- and they couldn’t figure out how they got there. Apparently even Friday at noon they come out to hunt, so many people get to see them. We got to Kartung late on Friday so we didn’t get to see them, we only saw the pool. We walked past the field and I was amazed at what I was experiencing while I walked to the beach. The three of us were walking together and as we were getting closer to the beach –which was about a 15 minutes walk- the sand got heavier and heavier. After we left the crocodile pool the landscape was just like a pasture that we would have at home although the trees are all very different. There was one point where we got to that the sand was like walking in the Sahara desert. So fine…and thick! There came a point where there was a hill and the sand was beautiful. I took my sandals off and walked up the hill only to see the beautiful ocean waves with a hut on the beach. I was overwhelmed. I can honestly say that of any beach I’ve ever been to – tourist beach, or non tourist beach – this was the most beautiful beach I’ve ever been to. The kids were all playing in the water and as we walked down to meet them, I thanked the Lord for bringing me here – to Kartung of all places. The place I didn’t want to come to at the beginning of the weekend. We played football with some of the boys and most people took a swim. I hadn’t thrown my bathing suit on, so I just went into the water up to past my knees. I honestly love the beach and it reminds me of how huge God is – how He has complete control over the depth of the sea and He can control – what seems to be “uncontrollable” waves. I find I can just be silent and take in the surrounding when I’m at the beach. No words are necessary and I could just sit the entire day and would never get bored. I took a bit of a walk and had a young girl join me. She was asking me all sorts of questions.
We only stayed for about an hour because we had to get back to get the kids fed before we left, but I wished that we could’ve stayed longer. Vincent, Fatima and I stayed back with a few kids and enjoyed the sun a bit and then started walking back. As hard as it was to realize how different everything is here when I first got here, I have learnt to love the sand in my toes and the sun on my face. I know I’m getting more and more used to everything because I don’t find things as shocking now. When I run or walk past a donkey on the path, it doesn’t surprise me anymore.
We got back and distributed the food and after we all ate we cleaned up and packed the bus. It wasn’t as uniform as you think. The kids all want to be the first ones ON the bus and the first ones OFF. And, any school bus kid, knows that can’t happen. But it seems that these kids don’t get it, so it’s mass chaos. I tried to help, but realized my yelling and trying to organize only ended me in the middle of a group of pushy anxious kids, so I stopped. They eventually all got on the bus. HAHA…teach me to mess with the African way of doing things. .
The bus ride home was good and as we pulled up to the church to let the kids off, all the kids surrounded the bus waiting for all their things to come off. I was glad when we were heading home because I was excited for a hot shower. When we got home, I helped unpack the bus and the sisters were having a meeting with Sr. Madeline. Sr. Madeline comes to stay for a couples days during the year to visit the communities to see how things run. This weekend is her time to stay so, I greeted them and then I boiled water and took a shower. I realized then that I had gotten quite the suntan.
I’m very grateful for this weekend, I am so glad that I actually went and didn’t let all the stupid little things get in the way of the Lord speaking to my heart. I am so glad that I got to spend some time with Sr. Josephine, I really enjoy her company and she’s really funny. I love it when she is excited about something because she explains with large hand gestures and she makes the story so funny! We have some really good stories to tell and I appreciate her so much more now having gone through this weekend with her. All in all…it was a huge success.
Friday, March 27, 2009
A day at the beach
Sunday, February 21, 2009
This week has been a pretty relaxing week if I do say so myself. Well…maybe I shouldn’t say relaxing, just a bit out of the routine of the way things normally are.
February 18th in the Gambia is “independence day” (just like July 1st in Canada and July 4th in the USA). One thing that is different that they do here is that each school in the Gambia is chosen to send a few representatives to travel to Banjul (to the football stadium) to march in what is called the “Independence Day March Past” The reason they call it this is because each school lines up with their banner and all dressed up in their school uniform and they “march past” the President – Yaya Jammeh. He basically sits there watching the kids just march past where he is sitting. I’m not sure exactly why they do this but it seems a bit strange to me. I’m sure they have good reason. We didn’t take part in it because the nursery and primary schools are too young to stand in the sun all day waiting for all the high school and upper basic schools to go. The nursery and primary schools have theirs later on, I guess. So I only heard about it but I hope to go when the other kids have theirs.
We (the community and I) spent the day at the beach! And…as many of you know, if there is one thing I love…it’s the beach. On wed we got up early for mass and then when we got home we cooked the food that we were going to take with us to eat. We made many different things since each community brings whatever they would like to feed the people in their house and then we all share. We made meat pies, nan borom ( which is rice that is pounded and made into balls and then mixed into baobob juice. I probably spelled that the wrong way but I don’t know how else to spell it) and a few other things. There is always PLENTY of food around this community and I enjoy all of the different foods I get to try. Sister Cecile and I looked through the games that they had at the house so that we could bring them and we ended up bringing a few decks of cards and some familiar board games. As we were all packing up and almost ready to go, the girls in the hostel were sad to see that they were not making the trip but they were all hanging around the house and it seemed like they were waiting for something to happen. I didn’t know why that is until the young sisters started all coming out with random “beach attire”. Sister Josaphine came out with a bright blue beach dress and a straw hat along with her beach bag, sunglasses, etc. Sister Catherine had another style of beach dress and a brimmed hat that kinda looked African. And Sister Bernadette came out wearing her head tie and a different kind of ball cap on her head, along with a t-shirt and a beach skirt. All the girls started yelling and laughing and I was in the truck at the time so I had to RUN to see what was going on. I’m not sure if that is a tradition when the sisters go to the beach or if it was a one time deal but we all had a good laugh over it all. We all packed into the truck- and I mean PACKED into the truck – and were on our way to the beach. We went to a lodge which was just north of Sr. Catherine’s home village of Kartung. I can’t remember the name of the lodge but it was really nice, very African looking. The had a really big round hall area where people could have gatherings and parties at the top of the hill just off the beach side. you can see the beach from the windows. From there, there was a path that lead down the hill to a little gate just off the side of the beach. Just before the gate, the beautiful but hot sand started. As we walked through the gate we noticed that the other sisters had already arrived and they were all sitting under a little palm hut. I was over taken with the beauty of the ocean. It was the first time I had really seen the ocean here (beside the time I went to the fish market – and it was so busy and loud). What I loved most about it was that it wasn’t busy at all. We were close to the only ones on the beach. We had miles and miles of beach all to ourselves. Well I shouldn’t say to “ourselves” since there was a herd of cattle around 100 meters away from us enjoying the beach. I’ve seen dogs, horses, and maybe even a cat or two on the beach but cows?! That’s a new one for me. We unpacked our things and the two postulants that had come – Ellen and Harriet wanted to play a little bit of football. So we took the football down to the water and we kicked it around for a bit. The sun was hot but the nice thing about being by the ocean is that there is always a cool breeze. The down side…you don’t realize that you’re getting sun burnt. I even put 50 sunblock on and at the end of the day – I was really red. I didn’t realize it until I had gone to shower and I was pretty sore. We had an awesome day. After we played football we had a bit of lunch and I saw a few new foods that I haven’t tried yet. I guess in Ghana, they make these balls – what look like dough to me – made of rice or corn and they eat it with palm oil. The sisters all love them and I tired them but for me I didn’t really enjoy it all that much. Maybe later if I try it again. There was a ton of food a we ate desert and snacked all day. The sisters played a few games and as much as I enjoy all of their company, I kinda felt like sitting by myself, so I took my book and I went out by the water to read. I spent a bit of time reading and then Sr. Gladys came to read her book as well. I’m not sure if many of you know who Sr. Gladys is but she spent 3 years in Canada – in Prince Albert to be exact. The funny thing is that I didn’t realize who she was when I first got here but she used to come to the Pharmacy in PA. After we both figured out who one another was, I could recall the times she had come into the Pharmacy. What a small world. So Sr. Gladys and I talked for a bit and enjoyed the sun and our books. It was nice to just sit and chat with her. One thing I really liked about Sr. Gladys is that I could understand her when I first got here. Since she had spent time in Canada, she knew how to say words that I understood. And it’s always good to be able to relate to someone who knows close to home.
We spent the rest of the day just relaxing and then the wind started to pick up a little bit later in the day. So we packed up our things and headed up the hill to make a bit of supper. The sisters had brought their little charcoal grill so Sr. Bibian and Sr. Bernadette grilled fish that we ate with lime and onions.
There was a group of Anne Marie Rivier Associates women who had gathered in the hall area on top of the hill who had music playing and were enjoying dancing. They invited us to go and enjoy the music and we did for a little bit. But as it got dark we decided to pack up and go home.
On our way home it started raining! We couldn’t believe it. It was the first time I had seen it rain since I got here and it was really refreshing. We unpacked the truck and since it had been such a long day I took a shower and went to bed.
They way it works in the Gambia, is that if you have a government holiday the president will declare the day after a holiday as well. The sisters all laugh and mention that we need a holiday from the holiday. But since this year it wasn’t clear because the president didn’t say anything on the news we weren’t sure if many of the students were going to come to school. So we all got up and went to mass and when we got to the school there were no children! So Sr. Odile declared that it would be a midterm break. So we took Thursday and Friday (since none of the kids would probably come since we usually only have half a day of school on Fridays). So when we got home we had some breakfast and then for some reason Sr. Odile, Sr. Cecile and I got talking about skipping and Sr. Cecile reminded me that she had a skipping video for “double dutch”. Do any of you remember what Double Dutch skipping is? I remember doing it when I was a kid, but the people on this video were experts! We watched it and tried to take a few pointers as to how to get into the ropes and then how to just skip. After we watched we went out to try…and trying is about as far as we got. Boy, it’s a lot harder than it looks! I forgot how to do it and when I went to try my memory didn’t remind me. The girls from the hostel came out and wanted to try but they hadn’t watched the video and most of them hadn’t seen Double Dutch before so they all piled into the living room and watched the video. When they first saw the people skipping faster than anyone they’d ever seen skip, there were many, “woah..”, “ah….”, “woah…”’s and it was hilarious to see their reaction. When the video finished they all got up and were so excited to see if they could double dutch and of course all of them wanted to get into the ropes at the same time. So it took some time to get organized. FatouBintou was the closest to getting in but she couldn’t do the skipping part. And none of the other girls were able to do it either. So at one point we all just gave up and skipped with one rope. I got it on video, so it’ll be interesting to watch all of them.
Other than that, I washed clothes a bit and then Saturday evening is my night to go out to Kembojeh. I always enjoy it since there is usually a good crowd and they enjoy when I come. I love that the kids all jump in the back of the truck to just ride for maybe a block. It’s not much but the excitement that they get in their voices is priceless.
I hope all is well with all of you!
In Jesus and Mary,
Jennifer
This week has been a pretty relaxing week if I do say so myself. Well…maybe I shouldn’t say relaxing, just a bit out of the routine of the way things normally are.
February 18th in the Gambia is “independence day” (just like July 1st in Canada and July 4th in the USA). One thing that is different that they do here is that each school in the Gambia is chosen to send a few representatives to travel to Banjul (to the football stadium) to march in what is called the “Independence Day March Past” The reason they call it this is because each school lines up with their banner and all dressed up in their school uniform and they “march past” the President – Yaya Jammeh. He basically sits there watching the kids just march past where he is sitting. I’m not sure exactly why they do this but it seems a bit strange to me. I’m sure they have good reason. We didn’t take part in it because the nursery and primary schools are too young to stand in the sun all day waiting for all the high school and upper basic schools to go. The nursery and primary schools have theirs later on, I guess. So I only heard about it but I hope to go when the other kids have theirs.
We (the community and I) spent the day at the beach! And…as many of you know, if there is one thing I love…it’s the beach. On wed we got up early for mass and then when we got home we cooked the food that we were going to take with us to eat. We made many different things since each community brings whatever they would like to feed the people in their house and then we all share. We made meat pies, nan borom ( which is rice that is pounded and made into balls and then mixed into baobob juice. I probably spelled that the wrong way but I don’t know how else to spell it) and a few other things. There is always PLENTY of food around this community and I enjoy all of the different foods I get to try. Sister Cecile and I looked through the games that they had at the house so that we could bring them and we ended up bringing a few decks of cards and some familiar board games. As we were all packing up and almost ready to go, the girls in the hostel were sad to see that they were not making the trip but they were all hanging around the house and it seemed like they were waiting for something to happen. I didn’t know why that is until the young sisters started all coming out with random “beach attire”. Sister Josaphine came out with a bright blue beach dress and a straw hat along with her beach bag, sunglasses, etc. Sister Catherine had another style of beach dress and a brimmed hat that kinda looked African. And Sister Bernadette came out wearing her head tie and a different kind of ball cap on her head, along with a t-shirt and a beach skirt. All the girls started yelling and laughing and I was in the truck at the time so I had to RUN to see what was going on. I’m not sure if that is a tradition when the sisters go to the beach or if it was a one time deal but we all had a good laugh over it all. We all packed into the truck- and I mean PACKED into the truck – and were on our way to the beach. We went to a lodge which was just north of Sr. Catherine’s home village of Kartung. I can’t remember the name of the lodge but it was really nice, very African looking. The had a really big round hall area where people could have gatherings and parties at the top of the hill just off the beach side. you can see the beach from the windows. From there, there was a path that lead down the hill to a little gate just off the side of the beach. Just before the gate, the beautiful but hot sand started. As we walked through the gate we noticed that the other sisters had already arrived and they were all sitting under a little palm hut. I was over taken with the beauty of the ocean. It was the first time I had really seen the ocean here (beside the time I went to the fish market – and it was so busy and loud). What I loved most about it was that it wasn’t busy at all. We were close to the only ones on the beach. We had miles and miles of beach all to ourselves. Well I shouldn’t say to “ourselves” since there was a herd of cattle around 100 meters away from us enjoying the beach. I’ve seen dogs, horses, and maybe even a cat or two on the beach but cows?! That’s a new one for me. We unpacked our things and the two postulants that had come – Ellen and Harriet wanted to play a little bit of football. So we took the football down to the water and we kicked it around for a bit. The sun was hot but the nice thing about being by the ocean is that there is always a cool breeze. The down side…you don’t realize that you’re getting sun burnt. I even put 50 sunblock on and at the end of the day – I was really red. I didn’t realize it until I had gone to shower and I was pretty sore. We had an awesome day. After we played football we had a bit of lunch and I saw a few new foods that I haven’t tried yet. I guess in Ghana, they make these balls – what look like dough to me – made of rice or corn and they eat it with palm oil. The sisters all love them and I tired them but for me I didn’t really enjoy it all that much. Maybe later if I try it again. There was a ton of food a we ate desert and snacked all day. The sisters played a few games and as much as I enjoy all of their company, I kinda felt like sitting by myself, so I took my book and I went out by the water to read. I spent a bit of time reading and then Sr. Gladys came to read her book as well. I’m not sure if many of you know who Sr. Gladys is but she spent 3 years in Canada – in Prince Albert to be exact. The funny thing is that I didn’t realize who she was when I first got here but she used to come to the Pharmacy in PA. After we both figured out who one another was, I could recall the times she had come into the Pharmacy. What a small world. So Sr. Gladys and I talked for a bit and enjoyed the sun and our books. It was nice to just sit and chat with her. One thing I really liked about Sr. Gladys is that I could understand her when I first got here. Since she had spent time in Canada, she knew how to say words that I understood. And it’s always good to be able to relate to someone who knows close to home.
We spent the rest of the day just relaxing and then the wind started to pick up a little bit later in the day. So we packed up our things and headed up the hill to make a bit of supper. The sisters had brought their little charcoal grill so Sr. Bibian and Sr. Bernadette grilled fish that we ate with lime and onions.
There was a group of Anne Marie Rivier Associates women who had gathered in the hall area on top of the hill who had music playing and were enjoying dancing. They invited us to go and enjoy the music and we did for a little bit. But as it got dark we decided to pack up and go home.
On our way home it started raining! We couldn’t believe it. It was the first time I had seen it rain since I got here and it was really refreshing. We unpacked the truck and since it had been such a long day I took a shower and went to bed.
They way it works in the Gambia, is that if you have a government holiday the president will declare the day after a holiday as well. The sisters all laugh and mention that we need a holiday from the holiday. But since this year it wasn’t clear because the president didn’t say anything on the news we weren’t sure if many of the students were going to come to school. So we all got up and went to mass and when we got to the school there were no children! So Sr. Odile declared that it would be a midterm break. So we took Thursday and Friday (since none of the kids would probably come since we usually only have half a day of school on Fridays). So when we got home we had some breakfast and then for some reason Sr. Odile, Sr. Cecile and I got talking about skipping and Sr. Cecile reminded me that she had a skipping video for “double dutch”. Do any of you remember what Double Dutch skipping is? I remember doing it when I was a kid, but the people on this video were experts! We watched it and tried to take a few pointers as to how to get into the ropes and then how to just skip. After we watched we went out to try…and trying is about as far as we got. Boy, it’s a lot harder than it looks! I forgot how to do it and when I went to try my memory didn’t remind me. The girls from the hostel came out and wanted to try but they hadn’t watched the video and most of them hadn’t seen Double Dutch before so they all piled into the living room and watched the video. When they first saw the people skipping faster than anyone they’d ever seen skip, there were many, “woah..”, “ah….”, “woah…”’s and it was hilarious to see their reaction. When the video finished they all got up and were so excited to see if they could double dutch and of course all of them wanted to get into the ropes at the same time. So it took some time to get organized. FatouBintou was the closest to getting in but she couldn’t do the skipping part. And none of the other girls were able to do it either. So at one point we all just gave up and skipped with one rope. I got it on video, so it’ll be interesting to watch all of them.
Other than that, I washed clothes a bit and then Saturday evening is my night to go out to Kembojeh. I always enjoy it since there is usually a good crowd and they enjoy when I come. I love that the kids all jump in the back of the truck to just ride for maybe a block. It’s not much but the excitement that they get in their voices is priceless.
I hope all is well with all of you!
In Jesus and Mary,
Jennifer
Sunday, March 22, 2009
I know...I'm sorry!
Hi everyone!
I know I own everyone an appology for the late posting. I've been trying to get connected to the internet and even though I've had a bit of time to get on, the connection is very weak and I have alot of trouble just trying to reply to a simple email. So trying to upload such a large quantity of reading material is a big problem. But, my plan - since I have posts from over a month ago saved on my computer - is to just upload one at a time this week (since the connection has been ok) until I'm updated. I hope you haven't forgotten about me, since it's been a while since I updated last! I can't thank you all enough for the kind emails that you've written! I enjoy hearing how much you enjoy the experience I'm having! It's been amazing so far and there is always a new adventure every morning that I wake up. Please continue to pray for me as I am for all of you!
Much love - In Jesus and Mary,
Jen
I know I own everyone an appology for the late posting. I've been trying to get connected to the internet and even though I've had a bit of time to get on, the connection is very weak and I have alot of trouble just trying to reply to a simple email. So trying to upload such a large quantity of reading material is a big problem. But, my plan - since I have posts from over a month ago saved on my computer - is to just upload one at a time this week (since the connection has been ok) until I'm updated. I hope you haven't forgotten about me, since it's been a while since I updated last! I can't thank you all enough for the kind emails that you've written! I enjoy hearing how much you enjoy the experience I'm having! It's been amazing so far and there is always a new adventure every morning that I wake up. Please continue to pray for me as I am for all of you!
Much love - In Jesus and Mary,
Jen
progress in the classroom
February 15, 2009
This week has been another full week and there is never a dull moment around this house. You hardly ever find a time with no one in the house or lack of anything to do. There is always cooking and cleaning that is needed to do and I enjoy being a part of something that is so universal but done SO very differently.
On last Sunday I got up early to get ready to go out to outstations with Sr. Cecile in Tanhene. I am always so amazed when I get to meet these people because since there are not enough priests for the villages, these people have to have a lay service. And it’s not only just every once in a while, it’s every Sunday and most of the time a priest can only come out maybe once a month or even sometimes every two months. I just think of how fortunate we are to have the ability to have a priest celebrate every Sunday, and even for us lucky ones – every day. In my own time here, I’ve realized what a “gift” the mass is. And I mean a real gift – the Lord gives it to us not because we deserve it but because He wants us to share in HIS divinity. I only imagine how the Lord sees it when I take the mass for granted since, in remembering that God IS “God”, that He doesn’t NEED us –we’re mere humans- but He WANTS us to share in it because of His incredible love for us. God could’ve very well said –literally , “to hell with all of you – I really don’t need you”. But He didn’t…and doesn’t. I think – especially for myself- He wants me to see that He loves me SO much that He would come and be with me (by receiving Him in my own body) to allow me to share in all that He is – His divinity. If that’s not a gift…I’m not sure what really is?
After mass, we went to give communion to a blind man and a man who is home bound because of a serious pain in his legs. Both men were very excited to see/ hear sister Cecile and to be able to receive our Lord in the Eucharist. I’m overwhelmed with the generosity of Sister Cecile. You can tell that in her heart, she really loves these people. Some days I feel like I have been here for almost a month and a half and I have learnt nothing of how to love others. Some days you do things just out of obligation and not because you really love the other people you are doing it for. Although, even if you do not “feel” love for that person in your heart the act in which you do it is still the most important thing. I think I need to pray for more of a heart of service and love – to love those who live in such different circumstances than I do.
I was hoping that we would get back into Brikama early so that we wouldn’t miss the beginning of mass and thank the Lord we did. I am continually intrigued with the fashion around here. The women wear the most beautiful clothing and it’s so colorful! I wish I could wear some of the things they wear but seriously, it doesn’t look the same on a white person. I always say that to the sisters and the girls because they always remind me to make sure I bring some Gambian clothing home with me when I leave in July and I continually remind them I think it looks hilarious when a white person wears their traditional clothing. There are a few different items of clothing that I would like to have made for me though. The thing here is that you buy the material yourself and have a pattern that you like made by a tailor. It’s really different than home. So you can’t just go to a store and pick our your size, you actually have to go and get the material you like and get fitted with the many many styles that there are. It’s neat but very different. There are a few shops that have certain clothing already made, but it doesn’t guarantee that the ONE that is made is going to be your size or if you like the patterns. So hopefully when I come home I’ll have a few articles of clothing to remind me of my time here. I’m sure I’ll think the clothing back home is so plain, when I return. I’m not sure if I mentioned what the priest’s vestments look like, but I will again if I have. The priest wears tied dyed vestments. If I was anywhere else other than Africa I would’ve thought that the thought of a tie dyed vestment would look ridiculous, but the way they do it here it adds to color of the season. Since we’re in ordinary time right now, the priest wears a tie dyed green vestment to match the altar clothes and coverings for the tabernacle and stands. It’s really beautiful.
After mass, I was approached by a lady who really wants her son, Francis to go to Canada to study for college. She just wanted me to meet him and to maybe give him some ideas of good colleges and any other information that would be helpful. I guess I don’t realize how fortunate I am to have come from Canada. Almost EVERY person here wants to visit Canada, with the hope of -if they can finally get there, to stay or at least give them an opportunity to get an education and come back to work for a high paying European company. So, I said that I would love to help in any way I could. So this week I met up with Francis to give him some information and we had a good chat. Turns out he’s good friends with the girls in the hostile and he’s pretty active in the parish so I’m sure I’ll get to know him more and see what happens with the whole college thing.
Monday was Sr. Odile’s birthday, so for supper Sr. Josephine was on supper duty and she made what we would call “shish kabob’s”. One of the sisters decorated the table with flowers from the yard and I love the flowers here…all sorts of colors and shapes and sizes and since it never snows here they have all these flowers year round. We all shared a bottle of red wine during supper and we had ice cream for dessert afterwards. I know for a fact that Sister Cecile loves it when people have birthday’s because she LOVES ice cream.
It was so cute because on Monday mornings we have an assembly at the school and we had told the kids earlier that it was Sr.’s birthday so they were all very excited to sing Happy Birthday to her when she came out for the assembly. August (our bus driver) even picked a flower at the house for one of the kids to give to her. When she came out of her office all the kids started singing Happy Birthday and I have to admit she had a huge smile on her face. Modoulamin (one of the little boys in my class) was picked to give her the flower and the look on his face when he gave her the flower was absolutely priceless. He’s got little puppy dog eyes and when he handed it to her he just kinda flopped his arm out like “here….here’s something THEY told me to give you.” EVERYONE was laughing because it was so cute! I wish I would’ve had it on camera.
I think Sr. Odile enjoyed her birthday celebration.
As much as I dislike running, I’ve been doing a lot more of it here than I thought I would be. I’ve always hated running long distances mostly because it’s so boring and seems so long but I have begun to enjoy it a lot more since I’ve been here. I usually start my run by going through the college campus (which is just across the highway from our house). I will sometimes run to the football field just behind the farthest building on campus and run laps around the field but most of the time I will run through the campus and then go down the streets of Brikama. I really enjoy it because you get to see a lot of the compounds and there are SO many people outside doing random things. The kids are usually playing football or running around and there are always tons of people walking in the streets. The only thing I don’t like is that it’s really sandy and there are tons of pot holes in the road so I have to look down at the ground the entire time so I don’t sprain an ankle. Every day it’s impossible to go running without a young girl or boy grabbing my hand and running with me. At least for about block or two. It’s straight out of a movie. I think people here are starting to get used to seeing me here. I’m one of the very few white people here and since everyone knows the sisters, I’m getting associated with them. It’s kinda nice because I’ve realized that people are starting to know who I am and now I always have a few places to stop and say hello on my way home when I walk.
I can say that I think we’ve made some progress in the classroom…..YES! Slowly every day I see small changes in the kids and I think that one day (probably the day before I leave) they might all be good on the same day…. Lord teach me patience….
I definitely shouldn’t say that I have a favorite student, but I do. And what I think is hilarious is that it is the student who is the trouble maker. His name is Saibou (pronounced “Say-Boo”) On the first few days of class he was the student who just wanted to try my patience. If I said, “Stop” he would go. If I said “sit” he would stand. And he had the most bazaar way of getting out of doing any work. I realized this lesson while we were still in the other class but it’s becoming more and more evident since we have moved because we have less students and I can concentrate on each of them individually. So, to get out of doing any work that was assigned in class he would say, “Miss Jennifa, my pencil cut.” (yes, that’s the exact way he says it.) So he would get up and sharpen it, sit down and honestly – this is not a joke- stick it in his mouth and bite the tip of his pencil off. Then he would say, “Miss Jennifa, my pencil cut.” When I realized what he was doing (which didn’t take long) I said, “ok…you can just sit there then.” All he wanted to do was to get out of doing work because he often times would say that he can’t write so to get out of having to TRY – even if he failed, he would rather just make up excuses. He realized after one class of sitting watching the other kids get praised for doing a good job in their work that he wanted to try, so the pencil issue has stopped as of now. Ha ha…oh the joys of kids. Saibou, as much as he gives me grief and sometimes a big head ache, has this funny way of making my heart melt. There was one incident where he was doing something wrong in the classroom and I stood at his desk trying to figure out why he would do what he had done and as I looked at him, he just looked back at me with the biggest puppy dog eyes with a HUGE innocent looking smile on his face. And what makes it even more adorable is that he has his two front teeth missing. Ha ha….I just laugh sitting here writing about it…
I am learning more and more about each student and I’m appreciating each of them individually. All of them have a lot of work to do before they move on to grade 2 but they’re working at it, which makes me proud.
I was lucky enough to get a letter from my mom and dad on Wednesday of this week and then on Friday I got a package from them! I was excited because my mom sent me a few books that I’ve been wanting to read and a few things from Hawaii. They have been on vacation in Hawaii for the past month and a bit so it was sent all the way from Hawaii. I think they sent it at the end of January (28th I think) and I just got it, so it took about just over 2 weeks. That’s not too bad! I also got a card from my Aunty Carol and Uncle Bernie and Eric! Thank you! I was so glad to see that you were thinking of me to send me a Valentine’s day card!
On Friday the Brikama Parish held a concert at St. Teresa’s parish hall in Serrekunda. I had been told about it but just like many things have been around here, I wasn’t prepared for what I actually witnessed. First of all, I spent part of the afternoon taking a nap and when I woke up I assisted in the cutting up and preparing of the meal for the concert. Today I realized some of the “raw” talents I’m picking up. Most of us know that if we want pork, or steak, or ground beef to cook for supper all we have to do is go to the super market and buy it and cook it. The hardest thing you have to do it get to the super market to actually buy it! But here, you buy the meat and cut it or grind it all yourself. I think because I’ve been watching all the girls and the women just dive right into cleaning raw meat it was just second nature for me to just do it too. I realized that I even surprised myself because I was sitting there thinking, “wow, I’ve come a long way from being totally grossed out from watching my mom take chicken skin off of the chicken.” HAHA…I know, laugh but please don’t laugh too hard….just remember that this is all a learning experience for me. So, here I was sitting taking all of this in. The pig they had brought in must have been just cleaned before it was brought to the sisters so the head was on the counter just beside us and we were cutting up the meat into small pieces (bone, meat, fat and all). We were just preparing the food because they were going to bring it all to Serrekunda to grill it when the concert started.
Sister Catherine and the others members of the choir left with the bus to go early for the concert and we only went later in the evening. Event like this in the Gambia only begin at around 9:00 in the evening. I was shocked to hear that it was so late! Usually something like that in Canada would start at 7:00pm and be done by maybe 10pm. But here, they start late and end early in the morning (around 6:00am). Sr. odile and I were the only ones who went from the house – well a few of the girls joined us too. But Fatima and Betty were singing in the choir. We arrived in Serrekunda late (around 10:00pm) and they weren’t even close to starting. I’m sure it didn’t start until close to 11:00pm. That is Gambian time for you. When the choir first came in they make an entrance from the back of the hall and when I saw them I just began to smile. They were all dressed in African looking costumes. The men wore a dress made of woven African cloth over one shoulder with paint on their faces and the women wore a skirt with a top (the same material) with one set of beads over their one shoulder and another set over the other. It looked like a big X from the front. The women had painted faces and none of the men or women wore shoes. The came in singing a beautiful African song stepping to the music. I definitely felt like I was in Africa. The concert was awesome and I was smiling the entire time because it was another time when I realized that I’m in Africa and there is no where else I would be sitting with these people listening to their music like this. They had an intermission where the “Balantas” danced their traditional dances. I’m not sure if I have explained this yet but in Africa the people are divided into tribes and even though the country is developing you still see the differences in each culture. The people mix and are mostly accepting of others tribes so most times unless you know the characteristics of each tribe you wouldn’t know who is from what tribe when you walked down the road. Each tribe has their own set of traditions and customs (just like the Native American’s would in Canada or the US) and one thing that distinctly separates each tribe is the way the they dance. The Balantas are known for their creative dancing and I witnessed a little bit of it on Friday night. For the intermission there were two men dressed in African style Balantas dress, which was a wrap that went to about their knees made of woven fabric and white tank top looking shirt. They had beads wrapped on their bodies as well as fur that wrapped around their ankles and then they had these interesting looking head pieces. If I can even try to explain it, it reminds me of something off of the Flinstones. Haha…I’m not sure exactly how to explain it but it had sticks or bones or something coming out of it. There were two young girls who danced as well and they wore something very similar to the men although they didn’t have the fur on their ankles. And instead of the head piece, they each had their hair plaited and there were seashells tied along each plait. I guess it’s a tradition to plait your hair and then tie things like seashells or candies, etc. in your hair. The way that they danced is almost unexplainable because you really have to be here to witness it. It’s not even dancing (well what we would call dancing), it’s more like stepping with BIG body movements. I know for a fact that the Kareninka’s (Sr. Catherine’s tribe) dance by making HUGE steps with their feet and legs really really fast. Would you think that would be dancing? No…I didn’t either, but somehow they make it look really cool. If I did it, Boy….would I get laughed at. The intermission was sure a sight to see and I wish that we would’ve stayed longer because apparently after the entire concert the Balantas danced again but it was even better since the men got on each others shoulders and danced. I wish I would’ve had the opportunity to see it, maybe next time. One thing I was really surprised at and I was actually quite confused with at first was that because the concert was a Benefit for the church they had a basket up at the front of the stage where you could go up and give money as a donation. I didn’t realize it at first but I always saw people getting up and dancing to the front of the hall but I couldn’t see them throw money into a basket so I was wondering what they were all doing. I was just hoping that it wasn’t that people were going up to dance row by row because I would’ve hightailed it out of there right quick. I enjoy dancing, but I’m sure my “American” style of dancing would’ve had it’s own show besides the concert. People already stare at me for having white skin never mind how I would dance. But to my relief, Sister Odile informed me that people could go up and give whenever they wanted and they didn’t have to dance, it’s just that people like to dance here. So for every song I saw some of the same people go up many times to give a donation. The choir dedicated a song to the sisters, since Sr. Catherine is the head of the choir and they are very involved in the church, so Sr. Odile even went up and when she got out of the row…she started dancing and everyone started clapping! I was laughing and laughing! She’s a good dancer! Everyone here is, since they basically learn to dance on their mother’s backs while they’re very young. It was really good to see.
Both Sr and I were very tired and by around 12:30 the concert finished and we were ready to head home and go to bed. All of the others stayed for the dance that was happening afterward. I would’ve liked to have seen it all but I think I would’ve spent most of the night in a corner sleeping since I was so tired. I guess they dance up until the week hours of the morning. We got up for mass at 7:30 yesterday morning and just as we were all walking out of the church from finishing mass the bus pulled up. All you could hear was drums and singing. I think the bus rocked the whole way home from the people bouncing in it. They piled off the bus still dancing and singing. I just smiled watching all the excitement. They didn’t look tired at all, but I’m sure when they got home they all went straight to bed. I on the other hand, walked home and then washed clothes for the week. As much as I appreciate the lesson I’m learning in washing clothes…I don’t really look forward to it. The girls still all snicker, and they sure don’t try to hide it. Yesterday I started washing my clothes and just as Edwina sat down to help me I said, “nope…you get out of here. You always laugh at me and I would rather wash my clothes in peace than have you help and laugh at me.” I was laughing as I said it and she was laughing too, but I wouldn’t let her get near my buckets. Edwina has been the one to help me wash since I’ve gotten here and every time….EVERY time she laughs the entire time and says, “ah…boy…this girl cannot wash.” I knew she wanted to help but I was going to teach her a lesson. So she sat on a bench a little ways away looking at how I was washing and she knew not to say a word or even hint at a laugh, otherwise I would’ve chased after her. Haha…it was really funny and as some of the girls were witnessing this they were all laughing. I washed my clothes in peace this week….
This week has been another full week and there is never a dull moment around this house. You hardly ever find a time with no one in the house or lack of anything to do. There is always cooking and cleaning that is needed to do and I enjoy being a part of something that is so universal but done SO very differently.
On last Sunday I got up early to get ready to go out to outstations with Sr. Cecile in Tanhene. I am always so amazed when I get to meet these people because since there are not enough priests for the villages, these people have to have a lay service. And it’s not only just every once in a while, it’s every Sunday and most of the time a priest can only come out maybe once a month or even sometimes every two months. I just think of how fortunate we are to have the ability to have a priest celebrate every Sunday, and even for us lucky ones – every day. In my own time here, I’ve realized what a “gift” the mass is. And I mean a real gift – the Lord gives it to us not because we deserve it but because He wants us to share in HIS divinity. I only imagine how the Lord sees it when I take the mass for granted since, in remembering that God IS “God”, that He doesn’t NEED us –we’re mere humans- but He WANTS us to share in it because of His incredible love for us. God could’ve very well said –literally , “to hell with all of you – I really don’t need you”. But He didn’t…and doesn’t. I think – especially for myself- He wants me to see that He loves me SO much that He would come and be with me (by receiving Him in my own body) to allow me to share in all that He is – His divinity. If that’s not a gift…I’m not sure what really is?
After mass, we went to give communion to a blind man and a man who is home bound because of a serious pain in his legs. Both men were very excited to see/ hear sister Cecile and to be able to receive our Lord in the Eucharist. I’m overwhelmed with the generosity of Sister Cecile. You can tell that in her heart, she really loves these people. Some days I feel like I have been here for almost a month and a half and I have learnt nothing of how to love others. Some days you do things just out of obligation and not because you really love the other people you are doing it for. Although, even if you do not “feel” love for that person in your heart the act in which you do it is still the most important thing. I think I need to pray for more of a heart of service and love – to love those who live in such different circumstances than I do.
I was hoping that we would get back into Brikama early so that we wouldn’t miss the beginning of mass and thank the Lord we did. I am continually intrigued with the fashion around here. The women wear the most beautiful clothing and it’s so colorful! I wish I could wear some of the things they wear but seriously, it doesn’t look the same on a white person. I always say that to the sisters and the girls because they always remind me to make sure I bring some Gambian clothing home with me when I leave in July and I continually remind them I think it looks hilarious when a white person wears their traditional clothing. There are a few different items of clothing that I would like to have made for me though. The thing here is that you buy the material yourself and have a pattern that you like made by a tailor. It’s really different than home. So you can’t just go to a store and pick our your size, you actually have to go and get the material you like and get fitted with the many many styles that there are. It’s neat but very different. There are a few shops that have certain clothing already made, but it doesn’t guarantee that the ONE that is made is going to be your size or if you like the patterns. So hopefully when I come home I’ll have a few articles of clothing to remind me of my time here. I’m sure I’ll think the clothing back home is so plain, when I return. I’m not sure if I mentioned what the priest’s vestments look like, but I will again if I have. The priest wears tied dyed vestments. If I was anywhere else other than Africa I would’ve thought that the thought of a tie dyed vestment would look ridiculous, but the way they do it here it adds to color of the season. Since we’re in ordinary time right now, the priest wears a tie dyed green vestment to match the altar clothes and coverings for the tabernacle and stands. It’s really beautiful.
After mass, I was approached by a lady who really wants her son, Francis to go to Canada to study for college. She just wanted me to meet him and to maybe give him some ideas of good colleges and any other information that would be helpful. I guess I don’t realize how fortunate I am to have come from Canada. Almost EVERY person here wants to visit Canada, with the hope of -if they can finally get there, to stay or at least give them an opportunity to get an education and come back to work for a high paying European company. So, I said that I would love to help in any way I could. So this week I met up with Francis to give him some information and we had a good chat. Turns out he’s good friends with the girls in the hostile and he’s pretty active in the parish so I’m sure I’ll get to know him more and see what happens with the whole college thing.
Monday was Sr. Odile’s birthday, so for supper Sr. Josephine was on supper duty and she made what we would call “shish kabob’s”. One of the sisters decorated the table with flowers from the yard and I love the flowers here…all sorts of colors and shapes and sizes and since it never snows here they have all these flowers year round. We all shared a bottle of red wine during supper and we had ice cream for dessert afterwards. I know for a fact that Sister Cecile loves it when people have birthday’s because she LOVES ice cream.
It was so cute because on Monday mornings we have an assembly at the school and we had told the kids earlier that it was Sr.’s birthday so they were all very excited to sing Happy Birthday to her when she came out for the assembly. August (our bus driver) even picked a flower at the house for one of the kids to give to her. When she came out of her office all the kids started singing Happy Birthday and I have to admit she had a huge smile on her face. Modoulamin (one of the little boys in my class) was picked to give her the flower and the look on his face when he gave her the flower was absolutely priceless. He’s got little puppy dog eyes and when he handed it to her he just kinda flopped his arm out like “here….here’s something THEY told me to give you.” EVERYONE was laughing because it was so cute! I wish I would’ve had it on camera.
I think Sr. Odile enjoyed her birthday celebration.
As much as I dislike running, I’ve been doing a lot more of it here than I thought I would be. I’ve always hated running long distances mostly because it’s so boring and seems so long but I have begun to enjoy it a lot more since I’ve been here. I usually start my run by going through the college campus (which is just across the highway from our house). I will sometimes run to the football field just behind the farthest building on campus and run laps around the field but most of the time I will run through the campus and then go down the streets of Brikama. I really enjoy it because you get to see a lot of the compounds and there are SO many people outside doing random things. The kids are usually playing football or running around and there are always tons of people walking in the streets. The only thing I don’t like is that it’s really sandy and there are tons of pot holes in the road so I have to look down at the ground the entire time so I don’t sprain an ankle. Every day it’s impossible to go running without a young girl or boy grabbing my hand and running with me. At least for about block or two. It’s straight out of a movie. I think people here are starting to get used to seeing me here. I’m one of the very few white people here and since everyone knows the sisters, I’m getting associated with them. It’s kinda nice because I’ve realized that people are starting to know who I am and now I always have a few places to stop and say hello on my way home when I walk.
I can say that I think we’ve made some progress in the classroom…..YES! Slowly every day I see small changes in the kids and I think that one day (probably the day before I leave) they might all be good on the same day…. Lord teach me patience….
I definitely shouldn’t say that I have a favorite student, but I do. And what I think is hilarious is that it is the student who is the trouble maker. His name is Saibou (pronounced “Say-Boo”) On the first few days of class he was the student who just wanted to try my patience. If I said, “Stop” he would go. If I said “sit” he would stand. And he had the most bazaar way of getting out of doing any work. I realized this lesson while we were still in the other class but it’s becoming more and more evident since we have moved because we have less students and I can concentrate on each of them individually. So, to get out of doing any work that was assigned in class he would say, “Miss Jennifa, my pencil cut.” (yes, that’s the exact way he says it.) So he would get up and sharpen it, sit down and honestly – this is not a joke- stick it in his mouth and bite the tip of his pencil off. Then he would say, “Miss Jennifa, my pencil cut.” When I realized what he was doing (which didn’t take long) I said, “ok…you can just sit there then.” All he wanted to do was to get out of doing work because he often times would say that he can’t write so to get out of having to TRY – even if he failed, he would rather just make up excuses. He realized after one class of sitting watching the other kids get praised for doing a good job in their work that he wanted to try, so the pencil issue has stopped as of now. Ha ha…oh the joys of kids. Saibou, as much as he gives me grief and sometimes a big head ache, has this funny way of making my heart melt. There was one incident where he was doing something wrong in the classroom and I stood at his desk trying to figure out why he would do what he had done and as I looked at him, he just looked back at me with the biggest puppy dog eyes with a HUGE innocent looking smile on his face. And what makes it even more adorable is that he has his two front teeth missing. Ha ha….I just laugh sitting here writing about it…
I am learning more and more about each student and I’m appreciating each of them individually. All of them have a lot of work to do before they move on to grade 2 but they’re working at it, which makes me proud.
I was lucky enough to get a letter from my mom and dad on Wednesday of this week and then on Friday I got a package from them! I was excited because my mom sent me a few books that I’ve been wanting to read and a few things from Hawaii. They have been on vacation in Hawaii for the past month and a bit so it was sent all the way from Hawaii. I think they sent it at the end of January (28th I think) and I just got it, so it took about just over 2 weeks. That’s not too bad! I also got a card from my Aunty Carol and Uncle Bernie and Eric! Thank you! I was so glad to see that you were thinking of me to send me a Valentine’s day card!
On Friday the Brikama Parish held a concert at St. Teresa’s parish hall in Serrekunda. I had been told about it but just like many things have been around here, I wasn’t prepared for what I actually witnessed. First of all, I spent part of the afternoon taking a nap and when I woke up I assisted in the cutting up and preparing of the meal for the concert. Today I realized some of the “raw” talents I’m picking up. Most of us know that if we want pork, or steak, or ground beef to cook for supper all we have to do is go to the super market and buy it and cook it. The hardest thing you have to do it get to the super market to actually buy it! But here, you buy the meat and cut it or grind it all yourself. I think because I’ve been watching all the girls and the women just dive right into cleaning raw meat it was just second nature for me to just do it too. I realized that I even surprised myself because I was sitting there thinking, “wow, I’ve come a long way from being totally grossed out from watching my mom take chicken skin off of the chicken.” HAHA…I know, laugh but please don’t laugh too hard….just remember that this is all a learning experience for me. So, here I was sitting taking all of this in. The pig they had brought in must have been just cleaned before it was brought to the sisters so the head was on the counter just beside us and we were cutting up the meat into small pieces (bone, meat, fat and all). We were just preparing the food because they were going to bring it all to Serrekunda to grill it when the concert started.
Sister Catherine and the others members of the choir left with the bus to go early for the concert and we only went later in the evening. Event like this in the Gambia only begin at around 9:00 in the evening. I was shocked to hear that it was so late! Usually something like that in Canada would start at 7:00pm and be done by maybe 10pm. But here, they start late and end early in the morning (around 6:00am). Sr. odile and I were the only ones who went from the house – well a few of the girls joined us too. But Fatima and Betty were singing in the choir. We arrived in Serrekunda late (around 10:00pm) and they weren’t even close to starting. I’m sure it didn’t start until close to 11:00pm. That is Gambian time for you. When the choir first came in they make an entrance from the back of the hall and when I saw them I just began to smile. They were all dressed in African looking costumes. The men wore a dress made of woven African cloth over one shoulder with paint on their faces and the women wore a skirt with a top (the same material) with one set of beads over their one shoulder and another set over the other. It looked like a big X from the front. The women had painted faces and none of the men or women wore shoes. The came in singing a beautiful African song stepping to the music. I definitely felt like I was in Africa. The concert was awesome and I was smiling the entire time because it was another time when I realized that I’m in Africa and there is no where else I would be sitting with these people listening to their music like this. They had an intermission where the “Balantas” danced their traditional dances. I’m not sure if I have explained this yet but in Africa the people are divided into tribes and even though the country is developing you still see the differences in each culture. The people mix and are mostly accepting of others tribes so most times unless you know the characteristics of each tribe you wouldn’t know who is from what tribe when you walked down the road. Each tribe has their own set of traditions and customs (just like the Native American’s would in Canada or the US) and one thing that distinctly separates each tribe is the way the they dance. The Balantas are known for their creative dancing and I witnessed a little bit of it on Friday night. For the intermission there were two men dressed in African style Balantas dress, which was a wrap that went to about their knees made of woven fabric and white tank top looking shirt. They had beads wrapped on their bodies as well as fur that wrapped around their ankles and then they had these interesting looking head pieces. If I can even try to explain it, it reminds me of something off of the Flinstones. Haha…I’m not sure exactly how to explain it but it had sticks or bones or something coming out of it. There were two young girls who danced as well and they wore something very similar to the men although they didn’t have the fur on their ankles. And instead of the head piece, they each had their hair plaited and there were seashells tied along each plait. I guess it’s a tradition to plait your hair and then tie things like seashells or candies, etc. in your hair. The way that they danced is almost unexplainable because you really have to be here to witness it. It’s not even dancing (well what we would call dancing), it’s more like stepping with BIG body movements. I know for a fact that the Kareninka’s (Sr. Catherine’s tribe) dance by making HUGE steps with their feet and legs really really fast. Would you think that would be dancing? No…I didn’t either, but somehow they make it look really cool. If I did it, Boy….would I get laughed at. The intermission was sure a sight to see and I wish that we would’ve stayed longer because apparently after the entire concert the Balantas danced again but it was even better since the men got on each others shoulders and danced. I wish I would’ve had the opportunity to see it, maybe next time. One thing I was really surprised at and I was actually quite confused with at first was that because the concert was a Benefit for the church they had a basket up at the front of the stage where you could go up and give money as a donation. I didn’t realize it at first but I always saw people getting up and dancing to the front of the hall but I couldn’t see them throw money into a basket so I was wondering what they were all doing. I was just hoping that it wasn’t that people were going up to dance row by row because I would’ve hightailed it out of there right quick. I enjoy dancing, but I’m sure my “American” style of dancing would’ve had it’s own show besides the concert. People already stare at me for having white skin never mind how I would dance. But to my relief, Sister Odile informed me that people could go up and give whenever they wanted and they didn’t have to dance, it’s just that people like to dance here. So for every song I saw some of the same people go up many times to give a donation. The choir dedicated a song to the sisters, since Sr. Catherine is the head of the choir and they are very involved in the church, so Sr. Odile even went up and when she got out of the row…she started dancing and everyone started clapping! I was laughing and laughing! She’s a good dancer! Everyone here is, since they basically learn to dance on their mother’s backs while they’re very young. It was really good to see.
Both Sr and I were very tired and by around 12:30 the concert finished and we were ready to head home and go to bed. All of the others stayed for the dance that was happening afterward. I would’ve liked to have seen it all but I think I would’ve spent most of the night in a corner sleeping since I was so tired. I guess they dance up until the week hours of the morning. We got up for mass at 7:30 yesterday morning and just as we were all walking out of the church from finishing mass the bus pulled up. All you could hear was drums and singing. I think the bus rocked the whole way home from the people bouncing in it. They piled off the bus still dancing and singing. I just smiled watching all the excitement. They didn’t look tired at all, but I’m sure when they got home they all went straight to bed. I on the other hand, walked home and then washed clothes for the week. As much as I appreciate the lesson I’m learning in washing clothes…I don’t really look forward to it. The girls still all snicker, and they sure don’t try to hide it. Yesterday I started washing my clothes and just as Edwina sat down to help me I said, “nope…you get out of here. You always laugh at me and I would rather wash my clothes in peace than have you help and laugh at me.” I was laughing as I said it and she was laughing too, but I wouldn’t let her get near my buckets. Edwina has been the one to help me wash since I’ve gotten here and every time….EVERY time she laughs the entire time and says, “ah…boy…this girl cannot wash.” I knew she wanted to help but I was going to teach her a lesson. So she sat on a bench a little ways away looking at how I was washing and she knew not to say a word or even hint at a laugh, otherwise I would’ve chased after her. Haha…it was really funny and as some of the girls were witnessing this they were all laughing. I washed my clothes in peace this week….
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