Mangoes and Heat-Rash

Posted by Carson

2 months and counting!! Every day and every week gets a little more challenging as the end of our service approaches. I know I'll miss almost everything here, but I'm so anxious to start the next chapter of our lives. I'm tired of the same old trials and tribulations that we've dealt with from the beginning. I'll miss it when I don't have it, but I can't wait to walk out of our house or apartment without being the center of attention. Of course, I also can't wait for all the amenities, media, colder weather, food and all that, but mostly I just want to be normal and ordinary. No more 6 year olds following me around like the paparazzi, shouting my name over and over as I go to the water pump. Yeah, I'll miss it too.

In the mean time...

It's that time of the year. Every day is hotter than the last as we ramp up to the rainy season. Volunteers farther up-country have it worse, but it's still unbearable in Kerewan. Just like last year, our candles melt in the shade. I've gradually cut out any work during the mid-afternoon, opting instead to lay around the compound sweating. We're in Kombo/Banjul for the weekend and it's still beautiful here. There's an ocean breeze and the nights are actually a little chilly! Sunday we'll be back in Kerewan and I'll be miserable for all but the first and last two hours of the day.

On the plus side, mangoes and cashew fruit are in season... with a vengeance. I eat six a day, consequences be damned! So delicious. And there're different sizes and types too! My favorite is the third largest, about the same as a supermarket mango back home, but tree ripened and picked by the local boys. Everyone sits around between classes or work and just eats mangoes right off the tree. I'm so glad we get one last fruit season before we leave!

Our plans for "reentry" are coming together. Rach and I are going to Ireland for 5 days on the way home for some decompression. Volunteers who've been there describe it as the antithesis of the Gambia. I think we'll rent a sports car and drive to a B&B. It's basically just a layover on our already paid for flight home, so it'll be a really cheap trip for us. Then we get ready to move to Washington D.C. in the fall. Rachel's following some great leads for research jobs and I'll be at Georgetown Law (we made our final choice!).