A mother-daughter duo in my village makes beautiful batik fabric. I have never been able to find their styles in other places and even each print is unique. Instead of just buying the fabric (which I do plenty), I thought it would be fun to learn how to make it on my own.
When a fourth grader told me “The Gambia is a big country,” I knew I had to do something. Since I can’t take Gambians around the world, I decided to bring the world to Gambians! Using a Peace Corps manual, we created a giant world map in our library.
Cuchesak is sorrel made from leaves, oil and okra. It is typically served on white benechin, but my Jola family eats it on just about…
I desperately needed a pedicure. I mean desperately! I should have taken a “before” picture, but it truly was too embarrassing. My feet have taken a beating since coming to The Gambia because I am always in sandals, or worse, barefoot. Now that the dry season has come, the calluses on my heels hit an all new-level of gross. But, silly me, didn’t bring a pumice stone! So, Gambian pedicures it was for one girl weekend in my friend Mish’s village.
When I started a pen pals program between my elementary school in The Gambia and various classes in the States, I honestly had no idea what I was getting myself into. I thought a letter exchange could be a simple first project for me to start. What I forgot, however, is that nothing is simple in West Africa.
