***This is a scheduled post***
Tuesday 17th February 2015
Got up at normal time and had
breakfast, then ran through our song for the assembly. We're singing
Count on Me (Bruno Mars), but we've changed the lyrics to make it
relevant to Gambia and our time in Farafenni. Then we went to the
school, where we spent the first part of the morning sat in lessons.
First, GS, MW and I went to what we thought was English, but turned
out to be Maths. So instead, MW and I went to IRK (Islamic Studies),
where there was English after.
The IRK teacher was great- very
openminded, and told us lots about his views- for example, that Islam
and Christianity can easily coexist and that the understanding of all
religions is needed for friendship. He also told us that, though he
is Muslim, he owns a Bible and has read some of it- his only
complaint is that the font's too small!!
Afterwards, the English teacher didn't
turn up, so MW and I went back to the office. We joined BA and AA to
go to Art, which we sat in for a while. Then we bumped into Maths,
and all of us sat to chat for a while. MW and BA went off, but I
stayed to chat to AA and Maths, which was nice.
After break was the leaving assembly.
We sang our song, and the Gambians sang to us.
We also had to 'Name
our Friends', who came up to hug us and say goodbye. I named Haddy,
Fatou and Mustafa (not Morro's nephew- a different Mustafa!). I also
said 'and everyone'- for everyone is a friend in Farafenni. It was
really emotional, and there were lots of tears.
Maths named Morro,
and they hugged, and for some reason that set me off crying- so AM
and MR hugged me, and that just made me cry even more as I realised
how much of a (albeit dysfunctional!!) family we've become.
Other highlights of 'Name Your Friends'
were GS calling up his librarian (um, totally of his own volition and
not due our pressures at all whatsoever!!); BP and BA not
calling up DeMarco (their friend- BP was in love with him but he
wrote BA a love letter); everyone deciding that Sass should call us
up so we all got up and hugged her; us making AM call us all up; and
MR naming Morro and Yahya because he forgot names.
After, there was a
presentation. Some people got presents, and we all got necklaces.
Mine has an elephant on it- currently unnamed! There were also some
speeches, which were sad, and we gave out medals for the Sports Day.
We went back to the
AMRC, stopping at the shop on the way. I bought coconut, which I've
been craving for a few days. Also got milk, which has become a bit of
a personal staple! Once we got back, I did some clothes washing, then
had lunch. After that I had a shower, and spent ages packing up and
tidying. We've been very messy! Would probably explain why AH and I
are always losing things!!
On the way back to
the school we went past the hospital to drop off more donation stuff-
we all made our luggage a lot lighter by donating anything and
everything possible. Then we went to the school for the Culture Show.
I sat in-between WS and Maths, which was good. Chatted to Maths about
music, and WS about life.
Then Maths swapped with MR, so got to chat to him too :)
Culture Show was
cool- we saw the marriage rituals for the Mandinka/Fula/Wolof tribes.
There was also the circumcision man, which was pretty scary. At one
point, he was behind loads of people, so they all ran towards us but
we couldn't see why they were running- that was scary enough! Then we
had to dance with circumcision man, which was terrifying. There were also plenty of cute kids- I taught one how to take pictures on my phone, which she loved. She had the cutest smile!!
And more hugs from baby Binta, who we saw at the evening visit last night.
After the Culture
Show (which had a play featuring MG, G and GS!), we got pretty much
mobbed by students wanting to say goodbye. We had a last shop stop to
stock up on stuff for tomorrow's journey, and things to take home. I
am taking lots of powdered squash!
Home and dinner.
Then, to celebrate Shrove Tuesday, we made pancakes- lots of fun!!
Bed.