I went to bed late, but I still woke up at 7:30 on my own. By 8:00, I was showered, dressed, and munching on tapalapa with orange jam. It would have been tapalapa with peanut butter and orange jam, but we’re out of peanut butter. We’re also out of eggs. The house is supposed to be stocked on these things at all times, but we always seem to be running out. At least I drink the tap water, which means I don’t have to worry when we run out of bag water. I can’t believe that some of the students still won’t drink the tap water. The bag water tastes like plastic. Of course, the tap water tastes like pipes, but I’ll take my chances.

I was supposed to meet Baboucar at the garden at 9:00. Well, around 9:00. There are no exact times here. He was going to introduce me to more of the women and explain again why I was there. I had planned on walking, but Bill popped me into the car at 8:45 or so, so I got there early. I waited in front of the garden for about 45 minutes. No Baboucar. I worked up my courage and went in. I greeted a couple women on their way out. I looked for the women I worked with yesterday, but they weren’t there. I greeted a woman drawing water and attempted to explain what I was doing there. I’m pretty sure I failed miserably. All I managed to express after greeting her was, “My name is Jainabah Drammeh. I want to work… garden. (Awkward pause.) Student. University. Work garden.” I don’t know how to say “help,” so I couldn’t ask her if she wanted any. I tried to ask if I could watch her work by pointing at my eye and at her and making a few gestures. She nodded, but then just kept staring at me. Shoot.

I gave up and went away so she could finish her work. I waited in front of the garden for a little while longer, and then I walked home. I waited for about an hour in total, which is long enough even by Gambian standards.

I greeted some people on my walk, including a group of men who were pleased to find that I was learning Mandinka. One of them told me that he would teach me a new word every time he saw me.

“I ka ta mintoo?” means, “Where are you going?”
I told him, “home.”
He told me, “You are going ‘suokono.’ That is home.”

It’s funny that Happy Camp is suokono now. I still think the name is dumb, but I guess it’s not up to me.

I’m not as upset about the wasted day as I could be. Today is Friday, which is the Muslim holy day. The afternoon today basically doesn’t exist, as far as work is concerned, so I really only lost the morning. For the rest of the day, I plan to review my Mandinka, read about gardens, read about hate, do my laundry, and maybe head to the market. I discovered this morning that I have more money than I thought I did, which is a pleasant surprise. I haven’t bought any fabric in about three weeks, and this needs to change. I’m also interested in purchasing another batik.

Maybe we’ll go to the beach today. I want the ocean right now.