Following a very intensive preparation week at the UN WFP Headquarters in Rome and at TNT in Den Bosch and Liege I finally arrived to The Gambia, yesterday morning at 6am with a neckbraking Spanair flight from Madrid. It's day two now for me in the Gambia and the third attempt for me to write this blog, after finding no wifi in Madrid-Barajas and experiencing temporary breakdown in the supply of electicity here in Bakau whilst I was writing this very blog in a local internet cafe yesterday evening. First impressions? Innumerable and absolutely out of range of this blog. The very landing in Banjul-Yundum was an impression in itself. The sun didn't rise yet during landing and whilst getting out of the aircraft I was hit by an incredible wall of heat and humidity. Wearing light jeans my legs started sweating in no time. Still, it was a good feeling to make the first step on African mainland. Yesterday, my day was full of things to be arranged, from getting to know the local UN staff to looking for accomodation, getting the first Gambian sim-card and the attempt to negotiate down a balloned price for sunglasses from a local 'dealer'. Now, got the glasses and sim card but finding accomdation will be more difficult than expected. Local UN staff is helping out a lot and in about an hour or so I will make myself on the way for new offers.
People here are incredible. Incredible politeness, laid back, easy-going. Seems as if they would have nothing to worry about, although the truth might be quite different seeing the hardship around. Visited the coastline yesterday and got to see fishermen coming back with their daily catch. An immense crowd surrounded them. Musculous boys running into the water with huge buckets to pick up the catch and sell it to the women working them out on the coastline and smoking them. In general, the guys here are quite tall and women are very beautiful and walk with a hardly to describe graceful and elegant style. Extremely polite. In general everybody takes great care about their appearance. The eye can not but stay open with all the colourful and shiny dresses many people wear.
Got caught yesterday by the first monsoon-type rain whilst at the coast. Didn't seem to disturb the local people. Many sought for cover, many more didn't bother, boys jumping around, swimming, playing and packing in express style the last fish from the boats. Together with my colleague found cover at the coastal rescue station. To my surprise, the room was full of people praying. With friendly faces, our 'intrusion' didn't see to bother them. Instead they welcomed us. It was friday and the Gambia is a predominantly muslim country. We still have Ramadan and this shapes the daily routine of most of the people here. Got to know a Gambian who is apparantly married to a German girl and is now fervently learning German in the local Goethe Institut pending his emigration. Very friendly guy, some 1,95 m tall basketball fan. Got connected to the local basketball community. Will try to get in touch with some clubs and see if I can play/coach. Easy-going. Will go to the catholic service tomorrow in a local church. Very curious about that. Looking forward towards a time full of emotions and impressions. Stay tuned.