So four weeks later much has happened, new family, new name, and new life. Having spent a week at the head office (NDMA) where not much was happening due to the abundance of volunteers and staff I offered my services for field work. This was met with praise and I was immediately given a rotor where I would go from regional office to regional office spending 4 days at each, ensuring that I could still participate in my mandinka lessons.
My first region was KMC (Kanifing Municipal Council), although this covers a small area it looks after many people and is often badly affected by the flash floods. The team here is much smaller than at the head office as is the office but I like it, there is still air conditioning and internet access although the power situation is more temperamental. Although the surrounding area is lovely and quaint; the journey from Westfield to the office is eventful, constantly getting bombarded by taxi drivers wanting to take me to Banjul “I give you very good price”, “Well in that case then sure I will go, oh wait no I won’t”; they really need to work on their selling technique. The easiest reply is simply I am going to KMC and they leave you alone, some don’t even say goodbye. The field work is interesting I refrain from using the word fun because many people’s lives and possessions have been ruined. I saw homes which were lucky to be standing and could collapse any moment on their occupants who are living outside of them, and many homes had simply collapsed or showed the remains of stagnant water which had been left standing waiting to be evaporated as there is nowhere for the water to go. Other problems include the mass dumping of waste within 10 meters of people’s homes, and within the sewage system meaning that pollution is a major problem both in blocking water ways entering the river, and the thick toxic smells which lie there rotting in the local’s mouths. As part of the field visits I got to communicate with the local people and get there point of view and ideas about what is happening and what should be done to prevent further damage. This was very insightful, as many of the ideas were actually useful and could potentially help, although to implement the ideas would take some careful thinking so as not to waste precious time and money. Overall the people seemed happy with what help they were receiving and the life style was vastly different to what I experience living in Senegambia, it looked smelt and painted the perfect picture of a stereotypical idea of African village life. This experience allowed me to write my own report on the situation based on what impact last years help has had on this years floods and what further help is required; I added some of my own personal ideas which may or may not be taken on board due to costs, although some of them I believe are very cost effective and would be hugely beneficial if they were to be implemented.
My second regional experience was at Banjul the sleepy capital city, summed up by the fact that on my first day nothing happened; I simply sat in the office (a small apartment on the 2nd floor of a block of flats) and met the solitary other staff member who was chilled and we just relaxed. The excitement started when Sisawo called me to say that he had set me up with a football team “Soul Samba FC” and I was to meet them later on that day, I also found out that 3 other volunteers who I had met once briefly at a meeting for the Ghana experience who had unfortunately been forced to move due to “safety” although it sounded like their hosting organization was a sham and maybe the main cause for why they came over. Either way myself and Leah were delighted to get some company and add to our experience, “new friends”.
So later that day I went with Sisawo and Ansu to the football field as it is known in Africa, I would refer to it as a massive sandpit, where I met with the players and the other coach conveniently nicknamed Alex. There was about 40 players as the squad had yet to be chosen, before I met the team we watched from under a massive tree; we had a little kick about ourselves, I played barefoot as my sandals were useless this brought great pleasure and laughter to those watching, although I think Sisawo needs to work on his touch “Te He”. After the training I had to introduce myself to the group which was quite daunting as they were all at least 18; however it was ok because as soon as I started talking they all looked and listened as if I was some sort of professional coach, which made me relax and almost laugh being as I have no experience in teaching or coaching anything never mind an adult football team. After my introduction I also received a round of applause which made me chuckle again as I didn’t feel like I deserved any of this added respect, all I imagined is that they would appreciate my effort of trying to help but they seemed to appreciate my effort more than I had expected. Afterwards the captain came and introduced himself and welcomed me to the team which was lovely and really helped me settle in.
The volunteers from Ghana arrived in the very early hours of the morning so we didn’t really sleep, merely snoozed until they arrived. When they came it was late and I was tired but the welcome was exciting and they all seemed really nice. Once the excitement calmed down we went to bed Leah and the 2 new girls (Hatty and Dell), and myself and matt in another room. It felt strange going to work the next day but I did it anyway. It was good; I was taken on a tour of Banjul to see the 8 canals which had been built as part of the DRR (disaster risk reduction), they worked really well and when combined with the pumping system any lying water took no more than 30 minutes to be moved into the canals and flow towards the sea. The drainage system could also be seen as the covers were being taken off; this was so that they could be cleaned of any waste and allow the water to flow properly though them. It’s a shame that so much time and money is spent cleaning, covering and uncovering the drains simply because there is no waste disposal plan so it ends up in the drainage. Although now there is a no littering law in place to help minimize this, I have been told that this is working but still more needs to be done. The problem was so bad that crocodiles used to live on the banks of the main canal within 5 meters of compounds, some locals got so intimidated that they slaughtered one of the crocodiles. Crocodiles are rarely spotted there these days.
After Banjul I went back to the head office as Ash and Raphael from Everything Is Possible came over for mid-term training. This meant that work was quiet although it allowed me to concentrate on my football team, devising myself a fitness routine and some basic football games to improve the team. I was in control of the whole team training; they seemed to love what I had planned for them even though the un-relentless heat made training hard and energy wilt with every second. They were so impressed that the actual coach asked me to type it up for him to help him acquire his coaching award even though I told him I wasn’t a coach. Also some of the players seem to think that I am actually a fitness coach from Stoke City who has been sent to help, “CHUCKLES!” I am glad that I have been given the chance to coach as it is very rewarding and some of the players who I walk back towards Senegambia with have told me that they have felt the benefits of not being stiff or soar after, and are in fact doing some of the fitness tasks in their own time which is good.
Now that there is a large group of us volunteers we feel more comfortable going out in the evenings which is good because it means we can relax without getting bored and can get to know each other better. Everyone is really cool which is good because it makes it easy to feel relaxed and act yourself, going to the bars and listening to some local reggae whilst watching some of the bumsters dance with their broads. HA! It’s good to have different personalities within the group some people talk a lot and are very opinionated others sit back and take it all in simply enjoying the company. Hearing the stories and inside jokes from Ghana is entertaining even if you do feel like some of the jokes have gone straight over your head.
The big event of the last few weeks was “The Naming Ceremony”. For this we went to Banjul with Anty Niyma to pick up some African attire, I got a sky blue half Kaftan with MC Hammer pants covered in a “funky” star design. On the day of the ceremony we were picked up by Sisawo and taken to Tujereng where we went for the end of Ramadan celebration; here we were greeted by what seemed like everyone in the village, I got to practice my mandinka on the locals although my pronunciation may be lacking somewhat. It was lovely that all the children had remembered my name “ALEEEICE” as they call me, “TE HE”. After the greet came the slaughter of the lamb, I chose to go watch as I thought it was good to see the whole cultural experience and I believe that if you can’t kill what you’re going to eat then you shouldn’t eat it. It was quite surreal the colour of the blood was brighter than I thought it would be and as it squirted violently out it made a hissing noise like leaking gas. The only horrible bit was when it was hung afterwards as it was still alive kicking out and twitching, it didn’t make me sad but it made me think that surely there must be a way to kill it outright so that it doesn’t struggle or sustain needless pain.
A marquee was setup where we sat on green plastic garden chairs. Whilst everything was being prepared we entertained the kids teaching them novelty habits such as popping your cheek with your finger and making fart noises with your arm pits, I was guilty for the later and to my enjoyment it was the girls who took to it more than the boys. I hope they don’t get in trouble for it when we leave. As I sat there surrounded by children the drumming band started and the local women began to dance, it was quite a sight they take it very seriously, it was like some war competition. They got us all to join in which was fun because everyone looked silly together; we were all jiggling around stamping our feet and laughing. At one point a circle was formed and everyone had to do their own dance in the middle, this was great everyone did something different we all looked “awesome”. Daniel are language teacher pulled some of his own shapes including what appeared to be the chicken dance; the crowd loved him, there was even a song about him. After dancing we ate, the lamb was tender and tasted good although some bits were a bit fatty but it would have been rude to complain so I just ate around the fat.
Next we got changed into our African attire and came back to under the marquee for the naming. We sat in a line whilst they pretended to shave our heads with a razor, then our names were announced one by one “Dawda Touray” everyone clapped and cheered. Then we were presented with some white powder on our forehead similar to Ash Wednesday for Christians, and a Kola nut; however I learnt my lesson from last time and didn’t eat that nasty bitter bugger. We were named after Anty Niyma’s family so are now a Big African Family ourselves “Extended Family”. Unfortunately the rain came pouring down so we took shelter in the house and no more dancing could take place. Later, having had many pictures and playing with the kids we ate. You guessed it Lamb and rice “HA!” I got a lamb cutlet which was beautifully tender and melted in my mouth it was good. “YUM!” As the night drew in we said our goodbyes and headed back home having had a very special and enjoyable day. I loved every minute of it.
So I shall finish there leaving you with the knowledge that Soul Samba have their first match at the big Serrakunda stadium on Friday 30th September.
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