How internet here works

Solving the mystery of how I have internet at my house...

Here, the easiest way to get internet at home is through one of the cell phone companies.  You register with them and get a receiver that looks like this

 This plugs into the USB drive and picks up a cell signal, giving you the internet. The signal isn't all you need.  You still have to pay for it.  To do that, you have to buy credit.  For this, I use the same system that I use for my phones. You buy a card at any neighborhood shop or from people selling them on the street.  They come in different denominations (this one is 100 dalasis- a little under $4. One of the bigger cards you can get.)
There is a portion that you have to scratch off like a lottery ticket to get to your code.  Then you text this code to the mobile provider.





In a couple of seconds, you should get a text back telling you the amount of credit in your account. Then you're free to roam the internet until you've used up all of the memory that the credit entitles you to. Then you're done with internet until you buy more credit.

Back home

I've been back in Gambia for a few weeks now. It’s been great being back. I've really enjoyed being back in my own house. I don't even know why I'm so glad to be back in my smelly, soggy part of the city, but somehow or another I don’t know anywhere else I’d rather be. I’m going to try and be better about writing about this place.

Today’s story- Toubab I lafita denaano? (Foreigner, do you want this baby?)

A few days ago, I was walking home from work and I could hear some kids talking about me from a little ways off.  There were a few kids about 10-12 years old and one of the girls had a baby tied on her back, probably a younger sibling she was supposed to watch.  One of the boys was saying “here comes a toubab.  Ask it to buy this baby.” Then it became a song- “the toubab’s going to buy this baby.” Then I got to the group of kids and I was presented with the baby.  They were going to give it to me at a great price of 1 dalasi (less than a nickel), but I turned them down.  I’m just not equipped for a baby, but I told them maybe later.

Today, I was walking towards the road near my house and I met a totally different group of kids.  These were a little younger and didn’t have the baby they were referring to out on display, but they also asked if I wanted a baby several times.  Weird new trend.