There are almost 7000 Peace Corps volunteers serving currently, in more than 60 countries around the world. To be a PCV you must be a US citizen, and at least 18 years old. Peace Corps was started in March 1961, when JFK was President, and over 220,000 people have served since the program began. A volunteer serves in one of 6… ....READ MORE | 4 Comments
My host family here in Farafenni consists of my mom Fatou Dibba, her daughter Fatou Manne, granddaughter Fatima, granddaughter Arohee, and grandson Mustapha. The terminology Peace Corps uses for our host families is more appropriate for a recent college graduate (the majority of PCVs), than a senior citizen like me. Fatou Dibba travels frequently to Kombo, where her husband, older children, and more grandchildren live. Fatou… ....READ MORE | 6 Comments
My Gambian family has hosted foreigners for about twenty years, first with the British VSO (Voluntary Service Overseas), and now Peace Corps for the last decade. They realize we need time to adapt to our new environment, and respect our wish for privacy, even though it is not the Gambian custom. This culture is very public, spending most of their time outside, cooking meals, doing laundry… ....READ MORE | 6 Comments
Winter is the best time to garden here, when the mornings are cool, the sun is less intense, and the temperature doesn’t reach 90 degrees until mid-afternoon. It’s so nice to wake up refreshed, put on a long sleeve shirt, and ride my bike to the school garden, for a pleasant morning of work. We are fortunate to have plenty of good well water, and a large storage… ....READ MORE | 3 Comments