REALLY quick update.  I'm doing well.  I'm trying very hard on Mandinka.  One day I'll be able to understand what is going on.  I can't wait for that day.  The Gambia is good.  Today I am in Soma- a bigger town going to the market and got to stop in an internet cafe.  Merry Christmas to everyone!

setting out

In the morning, we set out for training villages!!  A training village is a village that has pretty much been trained to host a few of us learning PCTs at a time.  We get dropped in our  villages tomorrow afternoon.  There will be 4-6 PCTs in each village and we each get a host family.  In this village we have language classes for several hours a day and homework language and culture activities every day.  I'm pretty much going to be immersed in Mandinka, so I feel like I will learn fast.  Today, we had out first practical application activity.  We went to the market and got a chance to try out language we'd learned and get some stuff.  I got some fabric.  Enough for 2 skirts and some curtains.  I practiced my Mandinka with a guy from a fabric shop.  He said that I was "good for only being here one week."
I can't believe that tomorrow I move into a village!  That means that my internet communication ability is going to go way down.  It is very likely that I won't get back to a computer until the new year.  My cell should still work though.
As far as things happening between now and the new year: we are having a big Thanksgiving dinner on Thanksgiving.  And there will absolutely be mashed potatoes.  And on Christmas our whole training class will be together so it won't be depressing.  Christmas eve we have a 26K hike through a national park.  By new years I should be a mid-intermediate Mandinka speaker!
I know that moving to a village will be stressful, but I am very excited.
Language lesson of the day:  (phonetically spelled for you)
N toe moo Lindsay la tea.-   My name is Lindsay.
Everything is going great.  I'm feeling good and having a good time.
So.... "fo nyata" (till later)!

Language lesson for you

Ok, people.  One day, I promise I will actually think about what to write about before I get in front of a computer.  That isn't today- sorry.  I'm not very focused.  We've been having classes a lot lately.  Your first phrase to learn is "Salaam alakum."  That's how you greet everyone in TG no matter what language they speak.  Then it gets much tricker depending on what language the other person speaks.  I find out waht language I am learning soon.  Maybe tomorrow!  I can't wait to find out what I can concentrate on from now on.  I had my interview today to get a better idea on what my placement will be.  That decides my language (which is why I find out tomorrow).  
Random things for people to know.  I probably don't need as many book as I thought.  The library is really good so I am not as desperate as I expected.  To send packages a padded envelope might be the best thing or a flat rate international box.
Everything is going really well.  I'm doing great and am excited to be here.

Made It!!!

I made it into Banjul yesterday.  We spent a long time on the way- it took 28 hours from the time we got to the airport in Newark till the time we got off of the plane in Banjul.  It is so exciting to be here!  Last night we all went from the airport to the house we're staying in and had some pizza.  So I know you can definately get pizza in The Gambia.  It was really good and I got a good night of sleep.  Today we had our first classes.  We had a trip to the nurse where I got 2 shots and had a medical interview. The nurse was really nice.    We toured the office here, opened bank accounts, and got cell phones.  To the parents, I think I have devised the best system for us to call eachother, but my phone isn't activated quite yet.  Maybe before you read this I will send you a message with my number, but I won't do that until my phone is active so it will be between now and a couple of days from now.  It turns out that the phone was free and the minutes between all of us PC people are taken care of in some deal, so we are going to be able to keep track of eachother pretty easily. 
So far it has been hot but not unbearably so.  We got to have out language class outside today.  That was nice.  It is going to be difficult to learn a new language but I am really excited about it.  At the beginning of next week we interview for our positions and it looks like I am going to know my position earlier than I thought.  Can't wait :)  The city isn't too busy.  There are always people walking around and there have been goats roaming along the side of the road, so it's a bit different from 'ol Jackson, TN.
I know this post is a little scattered, but I am safe, I am well and I am having a good time.
Oh, and thanks for the comment(s) on the last post.  I love to see them.

Halfway there

I'm in Philadelphia at my staging event now.  The trip to Philly went well.  I even got a little sleep on the plane.  I went to lunch in the city with a girl from our group, then we started in on business.  I've gotten to meet a lot of fellow volunteers. There are 35 of us heading out together to The Gambia.  We had several hours of seminars covering things we'll need to know and what to expect in the next couple of days.  I got to have a good dinner at a Cuban restaurant a group of us walked to, plus some good hang-out time with other new PCTs.  I think we've got a good group of people and I'm excited for us all to get started on training!  I don't know when I'll get to update next, but I'll get something on here as soon as I can letting you know how it's going.  Love, one of the world's newest Peace Corps Trainees, Lindsay.

Ready or Not, Here I Come

Logistically I am not ready- not packed, still waiting for a few things I ordered on the internet, generally dragging my feet on the whole process, but what kind of procrastinator would I be if I was already packed and ready a week ahead of time?  Ready or not, though, I cannot wait to get this show on the road!  Right now, I think I could just load a backpack and hop on a plane.  Mostly I am just tired of thinking about everything that needs to be done!  One week left to go.

I should be in The Gambia on November 5.  My contact info will be:

Lindsay Roe, PCT
Peace Corps The Gambia
PO Box 582
Banjul, The Gambia
West Africa

Any letters will be very appreciated and very exciting!