Faces of The Gambia

What I'm going to try and do is show you some or my favourite photos of people that I've taken and give you a bit of background info... Just puts the photos in context. People here are so lively.Their personalities are as colourful as their dresses and sometimes a photo doesn't tell the story fully.

This is my smallest Gambian sister. She is 11 months old and is so cute! She loves cuddles with me and laughs alot when I put her on my shoulders. 

Okay. So this cheeky chappy. Her name is Lauren and she is the definition of crazy. She is nearly three years old and lives in the house I'm staying in. She loves to be picked up and likes high fives. She is also the biggest daddy girl I have ever met. 

This is a woman who I met at the fish market during my second month here. She saw me and wanted me to sit with her. We tried to talk but my Mandinka is horrifc and her English wasn't good but she had a infectious smile. She loved it when I showed her some pictures I had on my camera, especially photos of my brother and sister. 

This wonderful lady i met at the womans garden project. She was so lovely despite having to keep on working hard. She also showed us how they draw water from the well...its hard! 

This is my favourite photo ive taken in The Gambia. Full of colour and this girls smile is beautiful. This was taken at the naming cermony at the village. Amazing day and experience. The Gambian smiles never fail to blow me away. 

Met this woman at a naming cermony I attended. She loved the camera and couldn't stop laughing. Loved her big Gambian smile. She loved my Gambian dress and told me I had good taste which was lovely of her.  

This is a kid I met on the beach. I gave her a pancake ball and she became my best friend. She held my hand and got a piggy back rides. Was insanely cute. Wanted to take her home with me! 

Met this woman at a village I visited this week. She showed me around the village and was really lovely. Her name was Kaddy (just like my Gambian mother at the house). I love the women here. They treat visitors like daughters and it make you included with their culture which is great. They love getting you to try things like help prepare meals or get water from the pump. 

Now this is Fatou. She is one of the children from my class. She is adorable. She really struggles in school but is unbelievably grateful for any extra help she recieves. She is one child that I really hope I have made an impact on. 

Finally here is a picture of a puppy... He was cute so had to snap a wee pic :) 

Less than 10 days in The Gambia now !! 

The art of gratefulness.

Recently I've been thinking about how much I have to be grateful for. This past year has presented me with so many opportunities. 

Admittedly I had to be bed bound and very ill to have the time to think about this subject properly. {Feeling better now though after momentarily feeling like death put in a oven.}

Firstly out here in the Gambia I have so many things to admire in my day-to-day life. I love watching the strong women working. Carrying buckets on there heads and babies secured on their back with a scarf. {Too cuttteeee.}

It's great seeing the men at the road side selling the coconuts I adore. I get excited by the busy markets and especially the fish market. The fish market is full of life and colour. The boats are beautifully painted. The kids play and help the adults. Also, i love the doughy balls they sell there. A brilliant snack. {Delicious! I have far too many when I visit...}

I love the kids making toys out of absolutly nothing. Most kids at my school play games with socks and shoes. Some of the older girls sing and make music with old tins. It's really beautiful to watch. The power of play doesn't have a price tag. 

I am proud to be a teacher here. The kids are inspiring in ways I cannot even begin to put into words.

I'm overhelmed by the fact I'm in a home that makes me feel like I belong. I enjoy eating as a family from one big bowl while cross legged on the floor. Learning how to cook african dishes, helping in the garden and looking after the kids. It's fantastic and I am so happy to be here. {Kaddy really is my Gambian mummy}

This past year has been really good. I feel closer to my family than I ever have. Especially my mum, sister, gran sandra and granpa don. I realise how lucky i am to have so many people who love me and look out for me. 

(Please ignore my face in the above photo)

I have a diagnosis for my special hand which was brilliant. {Cheers NHS it took you a year but you finally got there.}

I am grateful for my education. {Like im going to uni in September...crazy!}

I love my friends who stick by me even when I am in a different continent. 

I'm so excited for what the future has to hold. I don't know what is going to happen but no matter what I am going to be forever grateful. 

I want live life to the fullest. No regrets. If I have learned one thing from being in The Gambia is the how important it is to smile. 

Ps, sorry for lack of blogs recently. Been busy and then ill.