We have left Soma for the summer. Kate has gone home for a month and I am in Brikama at Gambia College which is the teacher training college. I am helping out with Early Childhood Development lectures for 8 weeks and had my first week of lectures this week. The students are unqualfied nursery teachers from all over the Gambia who come to do the ECD certificate during the summer and then go back to their schools. Yesterday I had 6 hours of lectures and its quite hard work in the heat. Especially since you are prancing about singing songs and playing games and you don't have many breaks to drink water so its exhausting but very enjoyable. The students are very friendly and welcoming. Trying to remember all their names is quite difficult though.

Some of the vso's - Amy, Emily and Emma left for home this week. There was a leaving party at Courtney's house which was really good fun. It was a wigs and hairdo party but kate and I failed miserably at the fancy dress I'm afraid. Gambian cocktails - Wonjo and vodka and baobab and brandy and of course plenty of julbrew, more singing and drumming of course. Emma helped me to discover the black and white and sepia option on my camera so I went a bit mad with it. Photos to follow.

The photos at the top are In the compound in Brikama where Rach and Emma had a tye dye lesson from Genaba. I just watched the process and took the photos.

I did have quite an amusing experience in Brikama in my first week. It rains a lot in Brikama and when it does rain the streets are under water. I was making my way home from the college to the compound and my sense of direction failed me. I ended up wading down the street being directed by an old Gambian lady, (who spotted the hapless toubab), as to which part of the river was the best to wade through. Some people sitting at a nearby bitiko and the guys from the garage all decided to get involved, pointing out the way to go and shouting to me. Then while wading my way down another street was spotted by some children who proceeded to make stepping stones across the street for me. It caused quite a stir. They all seemed to think it was quite amusing! xxx L