Stranger in a Strange Land

(Written Oct 19)

“Welcome to The Gambia, how are you? How is America? What is your name? What is your African name?” This is the series of questions we receive as a greeting often during the first days here in our new home. Lori and I have been living in the MEHDA (Mennonite Education Horticulture Development Associations) center guest house to help ease us into the culture one step at a time. It has been a challenge to acclimate to the humidity here. The temperature ranges in the 80’s but the humidity is enough to make me nauseous when doing much physical work. But it is hard to complain when I look around and see that I am living in a Tropical Paradise with Palm trees and various birds.

We received many smiles and laughs as we drove from the airport back to our village. It was certainly a site to see: a small VW Golf with 3 big suitcases hanging out the back with the trunk tied down, 2 bags stacked by one window, 2 American girls sitting with bags on their laps at the other window, an older American man in the front seat with a large bag on his lap and a Rastafarian Gambian driver. I’m sure Gambia had no idea what they were getting when they asked for us!

As we walk the streets the children yell “Tubob, Tubob” wanting to get the white person’s attention. We learned that the name comes from when the british would pay a tip of two ‘bobs’; so now all white people are known as Tubobs. The whole community is very welcoming and I am excited to start learning the language so I can communicate instead of stare and shrug. We will also choose our African names soon and that will also help with being accepted as part of the village. Each compound is a different “family” that have the same Surname (last name). A few people have tried to claim us as their own and convince us to take their name. We will move to a house in one of the compounds nearby when it is ready for us.