Tomorrow begins the first three months of actual Peace Corps Volunteer service. I swore-in yesterday at the Ambassador's house and we even got to be on local tv! Great food and crashing waves on the shore just yards away from where we took the oath to serve our country.
I am looking forward to being in my village now. I think it will be a rewarding pursuit and I can't wait to get to know my new host family and fellow community members. Also, I am itching to get to work building some compost, working some bees, and starting a garden plot.
I hope that you all have a wonderful Christmas/Hanukah and a very good New Year. I will be celebrating Tobaski in two weeks with my village.
I bought a mobile phone so if anyone is interested in calling to Africa... Dial 220.746.1122. We can compare December weather.
Hope that all is well.
Haa yesso. Jarama.
Matt
Minh-Tam and Me in Fuladu
Swarm in Kolli Kunda
Blocks and Bull, Foni Jarrol
Palm and hut, Fajara
Boys in Foni Jarrol
Artist's rendition of a lagoon near Gunjur
Beekeeper, Lower Niumi
On the Bintang Bolong, Foni Jarrol
The Jabang Family and Me, Sifoe
Minh-Tam's Bad Hair Day
Tapping for Palm Wine, Sanyang
Advice to Toubobs, Dakar, Senegal
In Kiang, bushfire behind me
Roasting Groundnuts
Queen Rearing
Clowns in Foni Jarrol, The Gambia
Sarjo and Aminata in Foni Bondali, The Gambia
Jeff, Kat, Tyler, and Amber at the Green Mamba
Hawa and Adama
Friends oceanside, The Gambia
At the Abuko Nature Preserve, The Gambia Western Division
The Atlantic from Fajara, The Gambia
They don't call them killer bees for nothing
Girl with balloon in Kiang District, The Gambia
Baobab tree in Kiang District, The Gambia
My host father Baa Sanna Jallow making rope from baobab bark
Steps in Arch 22, Banjul, The Gambia
Small boy, big snake in Western Region, The Gambia
Bakary pouring attaya, Kiang Region The Gambia
Happy times, Kiang Region The Gambia
My house, Foni Jarrol The Gambia
About Me
- Matthew Traucht
- I was born and raised in farm-country Ohio but didn't really acquire my green thumb until I moved to New Mexico in 1998 and started gardening. I graduated from high school in 1991 and attended classes at Kent State where I studied philosophy. I took a few years off to pursue other interests and then majored in cultural anthropology at the University of New Mexico. I started a small organic farm and sold produce at growers markets and called my business "A Growing Sense." In September 2007 I moved to The Gambia where I am an Agroforestry Volunteer with the United States Peace Corps.
