Weather: 3 months or rain and 9 months of nothing but dryness and humidity

Food: Most dishes are made with rice, meat and some veggies; porridge or bread and tea for breakfast

Work: Spend most of my time at the school, but have also worked on training sessions for staff and other PCVs, along with secondary projects like the library and Gender and Development Activities

Extracurricular: I spend a lot of time reading and writing; if there is a dance, wedding or football game in the village I may attend; When in Kombo, I go to clubs, out to eat or relax and watch movies sent from home.

Dress: Considering that The Gambia is about 95% Muslim, dress in the village is pretty conservative: consisting of a long wrap skirt and a tank (usually) or pants that come past my knee and a t-shirt. In Kombo, I can and do wear many of the same styles I wore at home.

Education: The education system is improving and students seem to be taking a more active interest in their careers and future. In an effort to encourage more girls to attend schools, many NGOs are sponsoring them and promoting free education for girls. Children that live in the rural villages go to school whenever it is convenient for the family; a senior in high school may be 21 or 22 years old.

Marriage: Some marriages are still arranged by families in the rural villages. But now there seems to be more of a trend of girls choosing their own husbands freely. And yes, the men can have up to four wives and some have more than that (it's not as bad as it sounds; although I cannot foresee myself being in that situation, it works well with families here when one considers the amount of kids and chores to be distributed).

What I Miss the Most: My Mommy and (ironically) libraries

Favorite Gambian Dish: Benechin, a dish consisting of rice cooked with peppers and seasonings inside. It is usually served with fish.

Drinks: Many women make a juice from a tree called the baobob tree and/or sorrel leaves (wanjo or beesap

Entertainment: Many of the young and older boys play football. The girls may braid hair, sit around and chat, crochette or knit. Dancing is also done as a form of entertainment. In the evenings, young boys will sit around and brew attiyya (green tea).

Income generation: Women may sell fruits, vegetables and juice at the market. The men may have technical jobs or such jobs as tailoring, carpenter or shop owner. All income is shared within the family and even distributed to the extended family - which may sometimes be a great bulk of the village.

Wildlife: baboons, monkeys, hippos, crocodiles, plenty of frogs and lizards, an abundance of colorful birds and salamanders

Most Beautiful attraction(s): Children, men and women, the beach and the birds

Favorite Artist among many Gambian male youth: Tupac, Nas, Jay-Z, Bob Marley

Transport: "Bush taxis:" small minivans that travel throughout the country or small taxis that travel locally. Ferries are available for crossing the river.

Language: English is the primary language but Wolof, Mandika Fula and Frnech are spoken

Things that I (feel) I have become more aware of since being here:

-Musical lyrics
-Descriptions of people, places and things in the media
-The way I dress
-My choice of words
-The way I treat others, in terms of spending quality time, giving gifts, opposite sex relationships and being understanding of cultural/background differen
-The importance of patience
-THE IMPORTANCE OF FAITH AND/OR SOME TYPE OF BELIEF IN A HIGHER POWER