At the Intersection of Cookies and Jenga

Hello everyone!!  I hope that as you are reading this all is well for you.  Time here in The Gambia seems to move faster and faster as the months go on.  I am greatly enjoying my work at the Seno Bajonki Lower Basic School.  The head teacher and the rest of the staff have been welcoming since day one, of which I am so thankful to have experienced.  We are beginning a joint school-community initiative in what inshallah will lead to the building of the Seno Bajonki Community Library and Learning Center (CLLC).  Current discussions have led to a variety of uses for the CLLC including housing the school library (with access to community members as well), meetings and programs for currently existing community groups (Village Development Committee, School Management Committee, and Mothers' Club), and as a space for local skilled labor workers (masons, carpenters, electricians, roofers) to teach informal courses to interested community members in learning a new craft.  Over the last couple of months as visitors within the community and fellow Peace Corps Volunteers have visited I have enjoyed providing them with refreshments (mainly cookies, milk and/or tea).  The finished cookie boxes accumulated have led to a makeshift Jenga set which will continue to grow as the months go on.  The first game played yesterday is depicted below in which my dear friend Sembaya was victorious.  I am nearing completion of my three-month challenge which will end on November 14th, of which my goals of visiting each compound of Seno Bajonki and staying within the Lower River Region have been either successfully completed (goal #1) or on track for successful completion (goal #2).  Next weekend I will be celebrating Halloween with fellow PCVs Jacy and Dan with a tasty treat of caramel coated roasted corn.  My next post I will make sure to post sooner than the gap between this and my previous post.  I hope you enjoy the pictures.  Stay amazing!!