Saturday was an exciting day – meeting Vicki at the airport
and going to the VSO Christmas Party at Helen’s compound. In the morning Nicola
and I shopped at Bakau for some of the party essentials (fresh prawns and red
wine), and I called in to Bas the tailor to pick up a new dress and wrapper for
myself, and a skirt and wrapper that I had had made for Vicki.
I had picked the material the week before from Serrakunda
market – I ventured there by myself and was very pleased to get all the
material I wanted for 35 dalasi a metre. When we first arrived in The Gambia
Ellie, another volunteer, advised us that material was usually between 50-75
dalasi a metre and that if you managed to pay 35 dalasi you were truly Gambian,
so I felt quite proud of my bartering skills!
Once at Helen’s house we marinated chicken, skewered the
prawns, and drank George’s homemade baileys which I had been longing to drink
after he gave me a taste of some a few weeks ago. Before I knew it the taxi was
ready to take me to the airport, and I arrived just in time to see Vicki’s
plane touch down - I was so excited to see her I thought I would pop!
Vicki and I drove back to my place, exchanged gifts and
quickly got ready for the party. It was great for Vicki to be able to meet
everyone straight away, and all the usual suspects were there.
Everyone brought different dishes and we had some really
delicious food. After eating we did secret santa and decorated the VSO
Christmas tree.
I don’t know who was more excitable at the party… us dancing
around ‘Gangnam style’ in santa hats or the children in Helen’s compound. We
engineered for them to get the gifts that they loved in the secret santa, and
they seemed to really enjoy the party (I think the gallons of fizzy drink they
had helped pump up their excitement levels!)
 |
| A moment of calm! |
No comments:
Post a Comment