Life in Lamin Village
We are fully immersed. While you can read all about life in a Gambian village and the unique experiences that accompany it, nothing compares to living alongside the people you are serving. We are sleeping, eating, greeting, walking, playing, singing, dancing, teaching, listening to, and speaking with the people of Starfish International every moment of every day.
Even in the short time that I have been at Starfish, I know that I’ve already learned so much. When I’ve had a particularly challenging day or moment, I try to remind myself “I’m learning!” I’m learning more about the Gambian and American cultures, my perspectives, and the lives of the Starfish students and mentors.
These last two weeks have been a wild, emotional ride. The Gambian collectivist culture could not be more different from the American individualist culture. In the first week, this intense culture shock made it challenging for me to adjust, but I finally feel like I’ve settled into a routine. Things that were initially difficult for me to navigate have become easier, and I’m finding different ways to be myself while also embracing the Gambian culture and the Starfish community.
The Gambian collectivist culture manifests itself in so many different ways. Two of those include greeting and eating.
People are so willing to greet and connect. For example, we’ll be sitting on the porch outside of the library which faces the entry gate before class. People are reading and chatting, just relaxing. Whenever someone enters, the new person will proceed towards the porch and greet every single person. This may include a hug, handhold, or high-five. They will individually greet each person with a smile and ask how they are doing. It doesn’t matter if you’ve never met or are having a bad day, people are so willing to connect. I think of myself as a friendly person, but this type of greeting is something that I really only reserve for my close friends and family in the US. Initially, it felt odd to greet strangers in a manner that seemed so personal to me. Greeting people is a skill and as I spend more time here, I’m getting better at honoring this cultural custom.
Eating is another highly communal activity. For me, communal eating involved “family style” dishes that were passed around the table and then dished out onto your plate. This is not so in The Gambia. In the Gambia, they will prepare a few large serving bowls which people circle around and share. Depending on the type of dish, they will either use a small piece of bread or their hands to grab their food. Many of the dishes we eat are rice-based, and there is a very particular technique for forming the rice in your hand in order to minimize spillage.
I learned two different ways; one that involves squeezing the rice in your fist a few times which makes it easier scoop into your month and another in which you press the rice against the side of the bowl and then use your thumb to push it into your mouth. The mentors and students masterfully mold their food without spilling a single grain of rice. Unfortunately, the volunteers are not nearly as dexterous as the mentors. When we tried eating with our hands for the first time, I was proud that I only managed to spill a little bit while other volunteers had piles of rice in front of them. Luckily for the volunteers, Starfish allows us to use silverware and plates for nearly all of the meals (likely to ensure that most of the food ends up in our mouths and not on the tables).
Thus far, this experience has been a challenge. I’ve been tested in ways that I hadn’t imagined or prepared for. I’ve learned more about myself and I can feel myself growing. Each day prompts new questions to grapple with and I feel grateful to have the time and space to explore these ideas. As my Dad reminded me, “Great adventures are seldom easy.” I am hopeful for what the next three weeks have in store for me!
Finally — I am so thankful for the other Starfish International Global Fellows. Kirsten and Lindsay, I am so grateful to have you beside me as we navigate this fellowship together. I could not imagine two more encouraging, supportive, and understanding partners. I am so glad that we get to grow together!
