Day 4

Jan. 6, 2008

Today I learned what it means to be a true business person…in The Gambia. The entire day was full of meeting with many different people, as previously promised.

First we met with the company that will be installing the solar panels at the hospital. They’re called GamSolar. From what I can understand, the system is going to be fantastic. State of the art equipment with a commitment to maintenance and upkeep that will insure the longevity of the panels. In the next day or two, we will begin phase one of the project, which is comprised of a solar-powered water pump. If all goes according to plan, the hospital could have running water as early as tomorrow!

Then we went to visit several schools in the Banjul area to forge a penpal program between several Delaware and Pennsylvania schools with some Gambian counterparts. The first school we went to, the Apple Tree School, had the most calming man as its headmaster. I'm honestly not sure I've felt more at ease upon first meeting a person in my entire life. Something about him just totally screamed "Be at ease, my friends, for I am God." Maybe he was God, or maybe he wasn't, but either way, I'm glad for some inexplicable reason to have met him.

After GamSolar, we met with the Permanent Secretary of the Department of State for Health. It’s quite a long-winded title, but the guy is very important in the government. In any event, we walked into his office and made our typical introductions ("Hi, I’m Jess. The friend.") We all sat down and Kathryn began to give her schpiel. Soon, Kathryn’s mom began to chime in with an occasional addition or two. I sat and looked at the Christmas cards on his coffee table. It was funny, he had one with penguins on it that said “Let it snow! Let it snow! Let it snow!” but I digress. Out of no where, the Permanent Secretary looked at ME and said “Do you want to say anything?” Quick! Get yourself out of the imaginary Gambian winter wonderland! I’m pretty sure my eyes bugged out of my head, as I was NOT expecting this. Luckily, I hadn’t completely zoned out of the conversation and I added “Well, yes. Just this morning we visited several schools…blah…blah…blah” and proceeded to ramble about the educational sector of Power Up Gambia. I’m not really sure what I said, because I was still in shock that he cold called me like that. Nevertheless, it was a successful meeting as he was very impressed with the project and wants to help in any way that he can.

By the time we finished all of our meetings, it was 4 PM. Lunch time, finally. So we ate at an outdoor café in Banjul. We visited an internet café for about 20 minutes because the temperature inside that room must have been 120 degrees. Celsius.

We went out to dinner that night at a restaurant owned by a man who was of Lebanese descent, but born and raised in The Gambia. Yet he spent 13 years as a top stylist at Elizabeth Arden in New York. He’s quite a fellow…and the food was excellent.

Today was our last full day in Banjul! Tomorrow we go to Bwiam where the hospital is located. The doctors and videographer from Delaware are also coming in tomorrow so we will pick them up from the airport and then embark on the 90-120 minute drive.

I look forward to starting this new chapter in this book about…well…The Gambia.

with african love,

jz