Last night in Kombo
We went to visit a secondary school this morning and took a few shots for all of you to see. Everyone in my group went to the market for the last time before we are delivered to our training sites. My site is called Serre Sambo which is about 3 hours from Banjul! I stocked up on body soap, some more junk food, gatorade and some small gifts for my host family. All the bug spray I bought in the States are for American mosquitos, not The Gambian ones! I have a few bites on my legs but compared to other PCT’s, I’m good. I’m in good health here and I guess the only really thing I’m worried about for the next three months is no electricity, running water and trying to sleep in 80 plus degrees in the outback. Many have done this before so I think I will survive it just fine. I have tried to text some of you and for some reason, it will not deliver it to the States. I’ll try to find some free time to write letters and would be happy to receive some as well. Please remember to write my name and then PST. This is the really official last post here until training ends for the next 2.5 months. PEACE TO ALL
two more nights before PST!
Well, we are still in Kombo near Banjul (civialization), until Thursday morning. We will then we split into 5 different training groups based on which language we are learning….I am learning Wolof, which is a good sign because most Wolof’s are located in Banjul and the Komo area! Today, we visited the Banjul market, not too busy like I was expected. I bought a cell phone because the one I brought was a different band. Also you learn the simple things in life back in the States are a journey here, I crave for Diet Coke and our small group walked 4 blocks to finally find “Coke Light”. I had to drink and sip it like fine wine because I will not be able to get soft drinks while during training for 3 months. I will miss the cold showers, ceiling fan, electricity and the modern food markets! But its time to move on, live in the same compounds with the host family, learn the language, take amazing photographs and experience things that I will never imagine I suppose. To all, I will not have access to email and no electricity for the next 3 months. So, “no news is good news” really applies. If you would like to contact me by cell, please call me but don’t worry if you can’t get through, i’m in the southern central part of The Gambia. I have heard that you can actually walk across the border to Senegal, no worries though. This will be my last post until PST (Pre Service Training) is finished. This is the true challenge of the Peace Corps I feel. I am just happy to have a mosquito net and hopefully they can’t get in while sleeping 
I am thinking of you all and all your thoughts and prayers keep me strong here! Salam maleekum “Peace be with you”.
We went to the beach today for some R&R and walked past the one and only golf course in The Gambia, interersting, no one was playing! Just nice to not have a schedule for today. For the next three months, the PC has everything for us on a tight schedule to complete training and to get sworn in as an official PCV, and get the official ID card…no more PST. Oh dad, no side effects from the malaria pills, the second one will start wednesday and so on. Everytime I wake up, it still takes me a few seconds to know that i’m in Western Africa and this stuff is for real. What an experience and I still can’t believe this is for two years. Some of the other PCV’s are getting ready to go back to the States and we just arrived here……We are totally FOB!! (Fresh off boat) 
Tomorrow, I’ll be buying a sim card for sure, just want to have some kind of connection to the outside world before I start training in the country (Serre Samba). I’ll try to get back to the office here before we head out on Wednesday. Hope all is well and keep in touch!!!!
Saturday night 7/5/2008
Last night we went to the Asstistant director’s house for the 4th of July party and met other PCV’s and heard some interesting stories from them. Today was a very long day and introduction to the local language that we will be learning (Wolof). We had our personal interviews yesterday for placement after 3 months of training and it sounds like i’ll be based in Kombo (next to Banjul). I requested to be in a big city and they were very interested in me working for the media and also updating PC’s photographs for the office and other photo related projects….I hope that follows through but anything can change here in The Gambia! Its been pretty humid outside, taking two cold showers really help keep cool. We will be leaving to our designated training camps in the “up country) about 120 km’s from Banjul= no electricity, no internet etc. I will be able to post again before I leave….after that maybe “no news is good news” once training starts which will last 3 months. Then, we can finally say that we are truly PCV’s and not PCT’s. Tomorrow we have some personal time and some people will experience the beach. I hope everything is going smoothly with you all, I still haven’t bought a sim card for the phone but I will notify everyone the # and I will have it before PST starts next Wednesday.
PEACE!
In The Gambia
After almost 24 hours of travelling, we have finally made it to The Gambia and staying at GPI in Kombo area. I was lucky to have my own room, good to have the last name on the list (W). Enjoying the shower in my room with no hot water, you sure do not need hot water due to the humidity and heat outside! I’m at the Peace Corps office where I can store all my valuable personal items and have an AC computer room. We have one week here in Kombo near Banjul, then off to mid Gambia where PST will officially start for 3 months. That is when I will be staying with a host family and things really start to happen. Its very interesting to be here and every minute there is something to observe and experience and this is just the beginning. I hope to post pictures next time I can come back to the office. I will have a telephone number hopefully soon and let you know it. I hope all is well at home!!
Last night in the States….
Here is my mailing address in The Gambia:
Marcus Walton, PCV
C/O Peace Corps/ The Gambia
PO BOX 582
Banjul, The Gambia
West Africa
It will be nice to receive some letters once in awhile from you all. Staging and Orientation went very smoothly and met with 14 other education volunteers in the ICT, math and science fields. Its a great group of people and I know we will be able to support each other when it arises in the near future. I think everyone is somewhat nervous that we will be leaving our country and might not step back on foot here for the next two years. I’ll try to keep this updated as long as I have net access, its good to hear that we will be near or in Banjul, especially the ICT teachers. Hope all is well at home and all keep in touch!
