Sometimes these things literally fall out of the sky and land on you and believe me - it'll make you jump!!
 |
| I used my mobile to give an idea of size! |
Friday 29 July 2011
Big beetles!
I mentioned in another post about some of the interesting insects that appear during rainy season so when I saw one of the big beetles (albeit dead) I was anxious to take a picture so people could see just how big they are!
Sometimes these things literally fall out of the sky and land on you and believe me - it'll make you jump!!
Sometimes these things literally fall out of the sky and land on you and believe me - it'll make you jump!!
Toilet Trained
The other day I went out to my latrine in the morning to find a pile of poo in the corner. Yes - a pile of poo! It was animal droppings of some sort but a whole pile of them altogether, very strange indeed.
I'm no expert in animal droppings but after close examination (not too close) and a discussion with my neighbour, I think the poo belongs to a lizard. However neither of us have any ideas why there would be so much of it and why it would all be concentrated in one place.
So the poo was in the corner of the latrine and as my back yard area is more like a nature reserve with every species of rodent, lizard and insects attempting to set up home there, I have come up with a theory about the pile of poo - I think that a lizard was backed into the corner by another animal (maybe a bigger lizard, rat or even cat - yes I’ve had cats in my back yard area) and then literally shit himself with fear! Hence the pile of poo!
Obviously this is only a theory and unless I catch the perpetrator in the act I will never actually know however I was impressed that the animal that left the droppings had the decency to do them in the latrine area!
And a story like this would only be half a story without pictures...
I'm no expert in animal droppings but after close examination (not too close) and a discussion with my neighbour, I think the poo belongs to a lizard. However neither of us have any ideas why there would be so much of it and why it would all be concentrated in one place.
So the poo was in the corner of the latrine and as my back yard area is more like a nature reserve with every species of rodent, lizard and insects attempting to set up home there, I have come up with a theory about the pile of poo - I think that a lizard was backed into the corner by another animal (maybe a bigger lizard, rat or even cat - yes I’ve had cats in my back yard area) and then literally shit himself with fear! Hence the pile of poo!
Obviously this is only a theory and unless I catch the perpetrator in the act I will never actually know however I was impressed that the animal that left the droppings had the decency to do them in the latrine area!
And a story like this would only be half a story without pictures...
 |
| The pile of poo (droppings) |
 |
| The poo in the corner of the latrine area (just to give you a bit of size perspective)! |
Beauty Pageant
Though my official role here in The Gambia is that of 'Primary Cluster Teacher Trainer', I often find that some of the work that I am asked to do falls very loosely (if at all) under that title.
Recently I was asked to organise a 'Miss 22nd July Scholarship and Beauty Pageant' at the regional office where I am based. Apparently this is an annual event and each region (of which there are 6) do 'heats' and then send the contestants that came first and second place to the final competition in Banjul. The event is sponsored by the President and the winning girl is awarded a scholarship. The competition is a way of promoting girls education.
There has been much discussion among people here about the merits of such a pageant however I do not wish to comment on that. I was merely carrying out what appears to be a 'VSO responsibility' in The Gambia, and was able to organise a successful event in a very short space of time.
As a one of the judges I was unable to compete which is a real pity because I even wore African dress for the occasion!!
Recently I was asked to organise a 'Miss 22nd July Scholarship and Beauty Pageant' at the regional office where I am based. Apparently this is an annual event and each region (of which there are 6) do 'heats' and then send the contestants that came first and second place to the final competition in Banjul. The event is sponsored by the President and the winning girl is awarded a scholarship. The competition is a way of promoting girls education.
There has been much discussion among people here about the merits of such a pageant however I do not wish to comment on that. I was merely carrying out what appears to be a 'VSO responsibility' in The Gambia, and was able to organise a successful event in a very short space of time.
As a one of the judges I was unable to compete which is a real pity because I even wore African dress for the occasion!!
 |
| Me all dressed up and ready to take my place at the judges' table |
 |
| It's a very serious business this beauty pageant thing! |
 |
| Obviously when Nathan heard that there would be lots of beautiful young women gathered in one place he decided to come over and see what was going on! |
Sunday 10 July 2011
A few pictures
 |
| This is Surdas (pronounced Sue-daze). One of Nfamara's nephews. I just think that he is SO cute that's why I have put the picture on my blog!! He's about 2 years old and a little tinker!! |
 |
| I saw this little 'notice' in a Head Teacher's office at one of the schools I was visiting. It obviously hasn't been spotted by anyone more senior yet otherwise it would have been removed but I think it's hilarious and dare I say - close to the truth?!! |
 |
| These children are also relatives of Nfamara (nephews). Here they are playing on my bike just outside Nfamara's compound (Sonko Kunda) |
Try to wear covered shoes at night
So rainy season has sort of started! It's rained about three times now (since the 15th) but mainly in the evening/night and it hasn't been particularly heavy.
After the first substantial night time rain, the following morning the fields were full of men and boys planting the groundnuts (peanuts – the big cash crop here). From now until the end of rainy season the men (and boys) will be out at the farms and in the fields looking after the groundnuts and the women (and girls) will be attending to the rice crop (as well as cooking, cleaning, washing, ironing, maintaining the gardens, looking after the children etc).
Though the rains can make life here more difficult in that everything gets really dirty and rubbish dumps overflow and sand tracks/roads become rivers etc, the rains also bring a relief from the heat. Just before it rains the heat verges on unbearable then there will be a breeze followed by a wind and then rain.
With the rains also come a whole range of interesting and exotic looking insects. You have hundreds of different types of flying insects (all swarming for the light), also bright red spiders, yellow and green ants, transparent beetles and also huge beetles the size of tennis balls!
However this year I have discovered something new, apparently the beginning of rainy season always brings out the black scorpions! There are brown/yellow coloured scorpions which are here all year round and though I’m told their sting is painful it’s not fatal – the black scorpion however is a different story!
If you are bitten by a black scorpion you have to go to the Health Centre immediately and receive a series of injections to counteract its sting. Failure to do so could be fatal!!
So I asked some locals what would be the best way to prevent contact with the black scorpions but I was told that they are everywhere at this time of year. They hide in dark places such as in your shoes, under your bed etc. The advice I was given was use a torchlight when you are doing anything in the dark and try to wear covered shoes at night!
As these creatures hide in dark places I was anxious that I might be stung by one without necessarily realising it so when I asked, ‘will know if I’ve been stung?’ the answer was a definite YES!!!
After the first substantial night time rain, the following morning the fields were full of men and boys planting the groundnuts (peanuts – the big cash crop here). From now until the end of rainy season the men (and boys) will be out at the farms and in the fields looking after the groundnuts and the women (and girls) will be attending to the rice crop (as well as cooking, cleaning, washing, ironing, maintaining the gardens, looking after the children etc).
Though the rains can make life here more difficult in that everything gets really dirty and rubbish dumps overflow and sand tracks/roads become rivers etc, the rains also bring a relief from the heat. Just before it rains the heat verges on unbearable then there will be a breeze followed by a wind and then rain.
With the rains also come a whole range of interesting and exotic looking insects. You have hundreds of different types of flying insects (all swarming for the light), also bright red spiders, yellow and green ants, transparent beetles and also huge beetles the size of tennis balls!
However this year I have discovered something new, apparently the beginning of rainy season always brings out the black scorpions! There are brown/yellow coloured scorpions which are here all year round and though I’m told their sting is painful it’s not fatal – the black scorpion however is a different story!
If you are bitten by a black scorpion you have to go to the Health Centre immediately and receive a series of injections to counteract its sting. Failure to do so could be fatal!!
So I asked some locals what would be the best way to prevent contact with the black scorpions but I was told that they are everywhere at this time of year. They hide in dark places such as in your shoes, under your bed etc. The advice I was given was use a torchlight when you are doing anything in the dark and try to wear covered shoes at night!
As these creatures hide in dark places I was anxious that I might be stung by one without necessarily realising it so when I asked, ‘will know if I’ve been stung?’ the answer was a definite YES!!!
 |
| A (dead) black scorpion at 'Riders' compound. Apparently you kill them by beating them with a stick? |
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)