You were expecting what?

4 May 12

I try not to have too many expectations, in general, but especially in PC.  Occasionally thought my mind will go into auto-pilot or defense mode to fill in the gaps with something it knows.  So when I heard about a meeting and a borehole and a school, I foolishly pictured meeting up in a classroom about the borehole.  Silly Sam.

From my current position under the kind shade of this, what I think is a Mango tree without any mangos, for the reasons that they’ve either all been harvested or this tree is a master of disguise and trickery, after wicking cotton for the last hour or so amongst a crowd of women where song and dance intermittently break up the sitting, where I’ve even graced them with my “skills” to break the ice of being a newcomer here, I find it foolish and amateur to have expected anything other than the above painted picture for The Gambia.

I was beginning to lose hope in the meeting or accept that the song and dance was the meeting when some very nice trucks pulled in.  There really was a meeting, and it was about the borehole, and it was kind of near the school.

Japan has been working with a number of villages to provide them with solar powered water pumps.  My village has been using theirs for a number of months now but had the official ribbon cutting ceremony today.  It was an all-day event where lunch was served and my ears were beginning to ring by sitting too near to the metal bowls being drummed by the women for dancing (Wolof’s LOVE to dance!). 

The Gambian men that have been working with the Japanese spoke a lot of words in Wolof about how the water should be used and shouldn’t be used.  I hoped to goodness they were going to put on a skit to emphasize their points because one) Gambians love skits, and two) I’m not sure they take in much other than skits.  And they did a skit!  But even so, after re-emphasizing that this potable water is for drinking and washing and cooking only, I didn’t hear any alternatives for where to get the water for other things like the horses and laundry etc.  Without telling us where to get that water (I suppose the open wells) I’m even likely to not listen as the taps are much closer and easier to get to.  But I’ll try to be a good example, as best I can.

Towards the end of this meeting (on day two in the village I might add) I started to be ushered to the front, after struggling and hesitating I’m finally in the middle where I’m expected to explain who I am and why I’m there.  Thank Gawd there was someone there that could translate for me!  Otherwise I would have sounded like a four year old.  It was actually a great opportunity and venue to meet lots of people and introduce myself to make the important connections etc.

They try to emphasize this from the get go, but it really is important, to carry an attitude of an open mind and just really and truly be willing to go with the flow.  The Wolof’s and I really are truly a great fit, thus far.  I’m very excited for my future home and future projects, whatever they decide to be.