A Peace Corps Experience

My first two months in country were spent in a Mandinka village. The compound my host family lived in was small in comparison to others, some trainees had up to 18 people living in their compound. Mine had only 6 permanently living there, all women and girls. Kata, my host mother, husband had passed away several years ago. Her four sons were living elsewhere, although one… ....READ MORE | 8 Comments

 

My Gambian name is Saajoo Sonko – I really like my Mandinka name. I have the same name as one of the siblings in my host family, which makes me her “toomaa”. It is customary and a honor, to be given the same name as an older sibling (although the chronological time frame is a bit off with my senior citizen status). The Gambian tradition is… ....READ MORE | 7 Comments