Day Seven - Friday 23rd January

Time to go home.

I packed, bid farewell to my housemates and was presented with three tapes of reggae music by Soloman. I hugged his young brother of 10 who had shyly befriended me during the week and felt a lump in my throat.

I thanked Adam for allowing me to stay and was pleased to learn he felt I had adapted incredibly quickly to the Gambian way. This pleased me for I too felt, all in all, I coped well despite each and every meal staying inside me for less than 20 minutes!

Francis of GTS very kindly drove me to the airport, spent time talking to me in the restaurant after checking in my luggage and then saw me safely to customs before saying goodbye.

He is without doubt a special man and I feel privileged to have been welcomed into his organisation. I shall do all I can realistically do to assist their aims, both when I am in the Gambia and from England.

The flight home was on time and superb.

I ate well, and then slept for most of the way.

My darling greeted me on arrival and we spent the night at the Hilton where I didn't stop talking about my experiences for 5 hours non-stop.

I finally soaked in a wonderful bubble bath where Bryn had scrubbed my filthy feet before placing a glass of whiskey in my hand and leaving me to soak.

When he next came into the bathroom I was sound asleep with the upside down whisky glass still in my hand!

The luxury afforded by the Hilton seemed somewhat obscene to me at first. I had to stop thinking what the cost could have bought in Gambia and how many people it would have fed.

I then stopped that nonsense - I live in the West - the differences are endemic and to compare achieves nothing of merit but stimulates feelings of unnecessary guilt.

I shall return to The Gambia to support teach in the GTS Bakoteh School in November if not before. From then on whilst I continue to work I shall go twice a year for two weeks each time.

I could not manage more and Bryn would not wish me to.

One never knows what is around the corner and I cannot plan further than this and would be unwise to do so.

I just know that my life has changed and a Gambian influence will remain with me for the rest of my life - and I thank God for it.

Julie Limbrick. January 2004.

5 Top