About the Gambia (Courtesy of Wikipedia)

The Republic of The Gambia, commonly known as The Gambia, or Gambia, is a country in Western Africa. The Gambia is the smallest country on mainland Africa, bordered to the north, east, and south by Senegal, with a small coast on the Atlantic Ocean in the west.

Its borders roughly correspond to the path of the Gambia River, the nation's namesake, which flows through the country's centre and empties into the Atlantic Ocean. Its size is almost 10,500 km² with an estimated population of 1,700,000.

On 18 February 1965, The Gambia was granted independence from the United Kingdom and joined The Commonwealth. Banjul is The Gambia's capital, but the largest conurbation is Serekunda.

The Gambia shares historical roots with many other west African nations in the slave trade, which was key to the maintenance of a colony on the Gambia river, first by the Portuguese and later by the British. Since gaining independence in 1965, the Gambia has enjoyed relative stability, with the exception of a brief period of military rule in 1994.

An agriculturally rich country, its economy is dominated by farming, fishing, and tourism. About a third of the population live below the international poverty line of US$1.25 a day

Monday, February 28, 2011

From the left, Stephanie, Baboucarr, Scott, and Emily, plus some kids who always seem to pop up everywhere.  We were dressed in traditional ceremony dress for our Naming Day celebration.

This is most of my gang of small boys in the village.  My brother Sarjo has the soccer ball and standing above him in the grey tan shirt is my other brother Ousman.  Small boys get into trouble unless you send them to do things like fetch water or go buy Attaya (green tea) from the bitik.


This is a small part of the Bakoteh Municipal Refuse site.  There are methane fires burning throughout the dump.  People say that it is a big improvement over how the place used to look.  Teaching myself how to litter has been an interesting process.  The village has grown around the dump, and even up to the fences, for some people earn a living by sifting through the trash and selling the valuable parts, others live by feeding the dump workers.  Be thankful that pictures don't transfer smells ; )






On a 25 km hike a few days ago we passed a village with amazing stencil and painting artwork, but I forget the village name.  This is only some of the artwork, it was really impressive.  Right now, I really dig Baobab trees.
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2 comments:

  1. LiseFebruary 28, 2011 at 6:39 PM

    HOORAY POST!!! And hooray for living through "running stomach". Oof. That artwork is so cool.

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  2. UnknownMarch 6, 2011 at 7:30 PM

    We're enjoying looking into the window you've created into your new world of the Gambia!
    Anything you find fit to print, we'll happily read, and btw, the writing is good!

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