Abdulie Jallow - Seno Bajonki

Greetings all!!  With a new village (Seno Bajonki) comes a new host family whose surname has now become my own.  So, for the duration of my Peace Corps Service my name is now Abdulie Jallow.  My host family consists of my host father Cherno, my host mothers Howa and Isata, and my younger siblings Malik (age 7), Isata (age 5), Biran (age 4), Abu (age 2), and Lamin (age 1 1/2).  Seno Bajonki is surrounded by a vast amount of trees and fields for farming.  School will begin at the end of September, so most of my day is spent meeting people through out the community and spending time with my host family.  Photos will be soon follow of the village, my host family, and my compound.  I wish you all the best as fall is around the corner back in the U.S.

Officially a Peace Corps Volunteer

Hey everyone!!  Today was an exciting day as my Peace Corps cohort swore in today as Peace Corps Volunteers.  Pictures from the ceremony will be soon to follow.  On Saturday I will be headed to Seno Bajonki where I will live for the next two years.  I am excited for the opportunity to build relationships within the community, and God willing partner with the people of Seno to create sustainable initiatives driven by the local community.  I cannot thank you enough for all of your support!

The End of Training Draws Near

The last few weeks have certainly been an adventure.  Between model school, our field trip to the Gambian Teachers' College in Jan Jan Bureh, my successful recovery from dysentery (check that off the bucket list), and my three day site visit to Seno Bajonki (where I will live during my two years of service) I have had a full schedule.  This upcoming week I will have my final language test, which I am confident I will pass at the intermediate high level, as well as the marathon march through the bush before I leave next Sunday for Kombo  in preparation for my swear-in on August 12th as an official Peace Corps Volunteer.  The pictures below are of some of my family members of whom I have been living with during training.  Happily I will not be moving far (only 4 kilometers), so I will be able to see them through out my service.  Wishing you all the best wherever you are reading this.