The Gambia - The GOOD, The BAD, The UGLY

Reflecting on my time here... these are my opinions based on observations and experiences. Photos are just a beatiful mix of Gambia.

THE GOOD

• Sharing food and materials with others.




• Children growing up in a large, extended famiily full of love and support.




• Children having the freedom to actively explore their surroundings, seek adventure and wander round their village knowing they are safe.




• Children playing an important role in the functioning of the family. eg chores.




• Stress free attitude - it will happen when it happens.




• Welcoming family, friends and visitors and feeding/housing them for weeks on end with no fuss.




• Being calm and relaxed when things go wrong eg. broken down bush taxi. No point in complaining if things are beyond your control.




• Greeting people as equals on taxis, gelis, work, on the street regardless of gender, religion, ethnicity or status.




• Honesty between peopl and acceptance of critical feedback.




• Effective and cheap transport system.




• Being able to buy all sorts of items through the window while waiting for a bush taxi to leave. eg. water, bananas, torches, underwear, toothpaste, DVD's, hard bolied eggs, cooked sweet potato.




• Islmamic culture of people praying togther each day, including school children and teachers.




• Half day Fridays due to Friday being a holy day and men go to te mosque.




• Looking out for each other and willingness to pitch in.




• Subsistant farming - eating what you grow.


• Strong focus on family and not things.




• Beautiful sunsets over the water.




• Clear night sky with stars, moon and quiet surroundings.

THE BAD

Lack of planning and organisation.

Females expected to farm, cook, clean and raise children.

Skyrocketing prices of rice, resulting in families living day to day.

Inability for Gambia to manufacture raw materials due to standards, equipment and international monopoly of goods.

Bumsters annoying and hassling white coloured people.

Low income for workers and the inability to explore the world and get ahead, despite having a good job.

Limited job opportunities and further education.

Men sitting around and watching their wife/wives busy doing domestic chores.

Hot weather inland.

Poor roads and infrastructure.

Crazy bush tazi drivers on terrible roads.

Continual shouting of toubab by children anywhere in The Gambia.

Lack of water pumps in villages.

Electricity supply stopped in some regions due to political differences.

Road blocked for hours as the President travels through with motorcade.

THE UGLY

Female Genital Mutilation and the support of it from mothers.

Young mariage and pregnancy.

Old Western women travelling here to abuse their power of wealth and hook up with a young Gambian man.

Inability to speak your own mind publically.

Government control of media.