I have been in contact with several people who were PCVs in The Gambia during the early 1970’s. This first installment was written by Paul Stefanson. It is very enlightening to learn about his experiences in the early days of PCTG. Enjoy his photos and story.
This is a true story about experiences that changed my life. After Graduate School, there weren’t many jobs available… ....READ MORE | 2 Comments
Participating in the Roots Tribe Yoga (RTY) program was something I knew I wanted to do when I applied to be a PCV. I was pleased to be selected to join the five days of Ambassador Training with Gambian teachers, and be a counselor for the twenty students who came to the camp. I have had a personal yoga practice for over forty years, and… ....READ MORE
I apologize for not posting in awhile, but I was having a hard time feeling motivated recently. It is common for a volunteer, after being in country for about a year, to wonder: “What have I accomplished during my first year.” I arrived in The Gambia on October 11, 2017, eager to begin my Peace Corps adventure, and then one year later I was at a low point… ....READ MORE | 4 Comments
I stayed in Rome for three nights and I’m glad I had the extra day to take it all in. I had a nice fourth floor room with a kitchen, and a balcony to gaze out over the city. It was very close to the Vatican, and I splurged on a early morning ticket to the Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel. This was a… ....READ MORE | 2 Comments
Beautiful Florence, I wish I had spent more time there, two days was way too short. I definitely will return to be able to explore the streets, restaurants, museums, and just soak up the ambiance of this incredible place. My next Italian trip could be spent just in Tuscany visiting Pisa, Lucca, Siena, Cortona, San Gimignano, Montepulciano, Pienza and leisuring enjoying the Tuscan countryside. Who wants to join… ....READ MORE | 1 Comment
My first stop in Italy was Naples, and my introduction to traveling solo in Europe. After spending time with world travelers Dave & Arwen in Greece, I felt I was as ready to take on the world – one continent at a time. My Italian itinerary was very ambitious, and in retrospect it would have been nice to have more leisure time. Three cities in eight days was… ....READ MORE | 2 Comments
It was amazing to begin my vacation on the island of Santorini, because I have dreamed about visiting Greece for years. After three relative short flights, with long layovers in Casablanca and Rome, I arrived before dawn into the soft cool air of the Mediterranean. I had the first day to myself to explore the island in a little red Fiat, before my friends from Oregon… ....READ MORE | 5 Comments
Tobaski or Eid-al-Adha is a Muslim holiday commemorating Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his own son, Ismail, in the name of Allah. Before Abraham could sacrifice his son, God provided a ram for sacrifice instead. Tobaski coincides with the end of the annual Hajj (pilgrimage) to Mecca, one of the five pillars of Islam. Eid-al-Adha or Tobaski is the second of two Islamic holidays celebrated worldwide each year. The other… ....READ MORE | 7 Comments
The 2018 rainy season began on June 27 with a massive dust storm followed by torrential rains. There had been occasional light sprinkles since early June, but the photo above reflects the incredible power of the first major storm of the year. Harry took the photo from his village in the Central River Region, where he had a clear view of the approaching storm. The photo below was… ....READ MORE | 2 Comments
Mamud Ndow contacted me through my blog – he wanted to learn about the gardening techniques I have written about. At 31 he is a very enterprising young man, finding ways to make a living promoting agriculture products. He sells fresh juice during the tourist season on the beach in front of the hotels near Kombo. He is also working on starting an umbrella organization, so… ....READ MORE | 6 Comments