Peace Corps Volunteers Matt and Syl in the Gambia: It is nice to be nice



"I did not have the panicky feeling of being in a strange place and knowing that we stuck out like a sore thumb."

Peace Corps Volunteers Matt and Syl in the Gambia: It is nice to be nice

Monday, August 15, 2005
12:58:00 PM EDT Yes, Delete Entry
It is nice to be nice

Well, yesterday was such a good day that I felt I had to share it with you. Matt and I were invited to his friend's home for lunch in a village about 40 minutes away from where we live. We had no idea what to expect as we started off in a taxi expecting to meet our friend at one of the main intersections called Westfield. After a telephone call to our cell phone and hearing him talk to our driver extensivly in Wolof, it became clear that we were in for a longer ride.

We headed into a busy section of town. The road was a two way street with a concrete divider in the middle. People however, did not want to be inconvenienced by driving until they could cross over onto the correct lane of traffic and amazingly enough often drive the wrong direction on the one way roads. There are also people on bikes and mopeds bopping along. We were deposited along one of the streets along a busy sidewalk. No one seemed too bothered by us.

I can tell that I have been here for a few weeks because I did not have the panicky feeling of being in a strange place and knowing that we stuck out like a sore thumb. In any case, our friend appeared on his moe-ped (sp?) and instructed us to follow his 9 year old child and friends to the house. we were greeted warmly by his wife Binta who works for the Gambian woman's nutrition program. She prepared a feast for us of rice, some stew with meat eggplant and other veggies, and an appetizer of this green leafy veggie kind of like spinach but tangier.

When this story was posted in August 2005, this was on the front page of PCOL:



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Military Option sparks concerns The U.S. military, struggling to fill its voluntary ranks, is allowing recruits to meet part of their military obligations by serving in the Peace Corps. Read why there is rising opposition to the program among RPCVs. Director Vasquez says the agency has a long history of accepting qualified applicants who are in inactive military status. John Coyne says "Not only no, but hell no!" Latest: RPCV Chris Matthews to discuss the issue on Hardball tonight.

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Special Events for RPCVs RPCV's "Taking the Early Bus" at Cal State until Aug 15 "Artists and Patrons in Traditional African Cultures" in NY thru Sept 30 See RPCV Musical "Doing Good" in CA through Sept RPCV Film Festival in DC in October

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July 17, 2005: This Week's Top Stories C. Payne Lucas writes "Can we win the war on HIV/Aids?" 11 July Director Vasquez hints at expansion in Bangladesh 17 July Why didn't I spend my life helping others? 17 July John Beasley returns to the islands of Micronesia 17 July Jennifer Field to study glacier melting 17 July Tucker McCravy works with Serendib in Sri Lanka 17 July David Vick writes "Waging civilized warfare" 16 July Tom Petri says Nelson helped to promote civility 16 July Peace Corps Director Visits Volunteers in Mongolia 15 July John Bridgeland writes "An example for Boomers" 15 July Robert Blackwill says India and US have a great future 15 July Peace Corps debuts new internet recruitment tool 14 July Eight New Country Directors Appointed 13 July Shelton Johnson Honored for Buffalo Soldier program 13 July Bill Lorenz leads trek for Sudanese refugees 12 July Emilie Pryor says Peace Corps ignores Lariam problems 12 July DDN is Award Finalist for reporting on PC Safety 11 July Randy Lewis to hire 200 people with cognitive disabilities 10 July Maryland needs people like Tom Lewis 10 July Dan DeWayne puts on music festival 10 July

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