Hello Francis,

I'm back from my Assistant Teachership in the Gambia.

I spent a wonderful time there.

The part of the compound I lived in was very comfortable and with a mango tree in front of it. The neighbours were very friendly and helpful.

The children wanted to know everything about my country so I got lots of opportunities to improve my English even beside school lessons.

The school is guided by the very capable headmistress Mrs. Chow. She and the staff are friends who I will never forget. I never found them shouting or angry, they were always happy, ready to laugh and very friendly and encouraging.

First I had to get accostumed to their different accent but this was quickly done. They invited me to eat with them so I got a lot of experience of African style of life.

The pupils there were easy to guide. They have strong rules and are threatened to be beaten if not obeying. But I never saw a teacher ever beat a child.

The children also welcomed me very heartily.

The classes were big that frightened me first, but at the beginning only.

The teachers in the Gambia work without all the means we have in Europe, only with the blackboard and the chalk. It's astonishing how well this works. I have to say definitely I learned a lot.

Improving English while speaking all the time, I lost my first shyness and really enjoyed it .

I think because English is not the mother tongue in the Gambia I got a real experience in teaching English the same way I would like to do it afterwards in my class.

I recommend doing Assistant Teachership in the Gambia to everybody who is ready for a great African experience. (They would like to have other Swiss teachers visit them but they would prefer them in the Gambian winter time. Summer time is a bit hectic because all the reports that have to be written.)

Unfortunately time passed very fast and I was really sad to leave them already.

Now Francis I have to send you a big big thank you for the brillant GTS organisation. Nothing could have been better!!!

The accomodation was clean and safe and the meals your chef Serif prepared at the restaurant are just excellent.

Thank you for all this!!

Sincerely yours Ursula

And from GTS many thanks to Ursula for her trust in us, we are delighted that all went so well. Thanks really must go to Kabs who meet with Mrs Chow to set this up the teaching and to Linda Kerr, who helped Kabs set up Manjai for Ursula's visit and finally to Susan Benkowski, a UK member from Germany who was at the school with her camera and sent us some shots of the farewell presentations and ceremony.