We (mummy, daddy, me and my little sister Elise) moved to the Gambia at the start of August. The Gambia is a very small country in the west of Africa. It has a long river (with crocodiles) and lots of lovely beaches.
We are living in a big compound with houses, fields, a playground, a hospital and all the offices where mummy and daddy work. The best thing about where we live is the bakery round the corner which makes delicious baguettes and the owner lets me go behind the counter to choose my baguette and croissants. We also have great neighbours: three boys (aged 8, 5, and 3). The boys all go to the same school as me and have been helping me to settle in. I love playing in their garden which has an amazing tree house and a tyre swing. There is another playground opposite my house, but there are lots of biting mosquitoes there so my mum does not like me playing there for too long.
The best thing about the Gambia is that it is very hot so we go to the swimming pool a lot. There are lots of different swimming pools to go to, most belong to hotels. I prefer the swimming pools to the beaches as the water is deeper helping you to cool down more quickly.
I also like going to the markets where I have bought some African dresses. I love all the different patterns and colours. I did find the market in Banjul (the capital of the Gambia) a bit scary, though, as there were lots of people and strange smells (mainly from the smoked fish) and insects.
Here is a list of what things are the same as living in England and what things are different:
The same:
It rains a lot (every day)
I go swimming a lot
We get a lot of our food from a supermarket (though fish and fruit from the local markets and bread from the local bakery)
We are friends with our next door neighbour and go round to play.
Different:
There are lots of ants and termites
There is a family of monkeys where we live (in the same compound)
When it rains it always rains really hard
When it is not raining it is really hot and sunny (which is most of the time)
The names of the classes at school (as I go to an American school).
Amelie - I really liked your descriptions of what's different and what's the same as it really gives me a good idea about what you're experiencing. I also think you're a very good writer. Please can you write again and tell us more about the strange names for your classes at school?
ReplyDeleteSophie is learning to write too. So far she can write the letters: n, m, o, f, l, i and she is a master of the back-to-front s. There are 10 chocolate buttons waiting for her in the fridge when she can do her 's' the right way around.
Lots of love, Faye xxx