Going Home (Written in Senegal on Jan 28, 2010)

I find it hard to believe that tomorrow I fly home. I will spend a
couple of days in Princeton to see my sister and then it is back to
LA. I finished my Peace Corps service earlier this month and I have
spent the past couple of weeks traveling in West Africa.

Yesterday I arrived back from Sierra Leone where I visited with a friend. Freetown is a fun and exciting city. Built at the base of mountains it overlooks the ocean. The country is still recovering from the war, but there are signs of hope. The streets were packed with people selling everything from whiskey to bread to stuffed animals to watermellons, and the amazing part was that people sold most of it from buckets on their heads. The country has beautiful beaches with white sands, palm trees, and mountains rising in the background. We went up country to the provinces to go climbing. The kid who guided us gave us a great insight into their culture. He said that when a leader of a secret society dies, he is buried without his head. His skull is used as a cup for later chiefs. It was a packed week and I wish I had more time to explore the country.

I also went to Mali with another friend for 10 days. Of all the places in West Africa I wanted to visit, dogon country in Mali was number 1. The dogons built their villages in the cliffs like the cliff dewlings in the American southwest. We spent four days hiking between the villages. The people built impressive mud houses, and I enjoyed the climbing. The Gambia is completely flat and a change of scenery was great.

My trip to Mali was a goodbye for me of the Gambia. It reminded me
about the ups and downs. At the beginning of the trip nothing could
upset me. I had just finished my peace corps service and a bribe from
the border police, or our guide being arrested, or two days straight
of traveling to the capital city of Mali did not bother me. Walking
around the market in the capital reminded me of what I am going to
miss. I am going to miss the chaos and confusion and knowing how to
navigate it. I am going to miss the street food like fried plantains,
bean sandwiches, and meat on a stick. I am going to miss the kindness of strangers like when a lady in the market gave me a free sandwich just for sitting with her or the man who invited us to stay in his friend's compound when we got stuck in a town.

After a few days of hiking, I bought a Fula wedding blanket. Later I
realized; the man had ripped me off. It pissed me off for a couple of
days because it brought back all the frustration of being targeted
because people see my white skin like people wanting to guide us, or
asking me constantly for stuff. After a couple of these instances, I
thought I was tired of being here. However, on my way back to the Gambia, I realized the good and the bad from my trip, is africa. I cannot have the joys without the frustrations. I guess that is what makes this place unique. I am definitely going to miss Africa a lot especially the people. Part of me wants to stay longer, but I am ready to go home.

-Alex

P.S. Thanks to everyone who donated to the Tree Nursery Competition Grant. It was fully funded. We went on trek and they will be awarding prizes soon. Thanks again and this would not have been possible without your help.