It’s official..... I am now a Peace Corps Volunteer. We had our swearing-in ceremony at the US Ambassador’s super posh pad. It was nice. Lots of other volunteers came to watch, and the whole thing was taped by a Gambian TV station. I had the honors of writing and giving a speech on behalf of our training group, with the help of Katie. She added the necessary thank you’s and did the translation in Mandinka.
Here it is, in its entirety.
KATIE: Folo, folo, m be Minister meŋ marata londoo bundaala kontoŋ na, m be Minister nomaŋkoolu fanaŋ kontoŋ na, me be Minister meŋ marata londi dumaŋ nko niŋ londi santoŋ nko la kontoŋ na, m be GTTI niŋ MDI ňatonkolu kontoŋ na. Americala Ambassador Barry Wells, alfaa buuňyariŋolu, Peace Corps dookuulalu, Peace Corps famboolalu, niŋ Peace Corps karandiŋolu, ali samaa. Ali bisimilahi jaŋ.
STEVO: Firstly, to the Minister of Education, Permanent Secretaries, Ministries of Basic, Secondary and Higher Education, Director General of GTTI and MDI, The US Ambassador his Excellency Barry Wells, Peace Corps Gambia Country Director Mike McConnell, Peace Corps staff including education APCD Linda Murgatroy, Peace Corps volunteer and fellow trainees, welcome. Thank you for being here.
KATIE: Mandinkoolu ko “yiri kuntoo si mee baa kono ňaa o ňaa a te kee noo la bamboo ti.”
Ntolu yiri kuntu taŋ niŋ saba le bota America toŋkoŋ naanoo be to, kaboo Alabama kataa California kataa Hawaii, ntolu le naata ňiŋ baŋkundiŋ diimaato, The Gambia. Ntolu moo kiliŋ o kiliŋ, denta feŋolu mennu la – woluu le mu, wakiilo, niŋ hakiilimaya, le ye ntolu be ke kiliŋ ti. ŋa niŋ kuolu mennu karaŋ America niŋ Gambia woolu le ye m parendi ka dokuwoke Gambia jaŋ.
STEVO: The Mandinkas say "How ever long a log stays in the pond, it will never become a crocodile."
Here we are, thirteen logs, from nearly every corner of the U.S, from Alabama to California to Hawaii, funneled into the small, the proud, the wonderful, The Gambia. Each of us, individuals; yet by the virtues we share - patience, determination, and a sense humor, we are one. And it is through these virtues, the skills we possess, and our training that we are ready to serve the The Gambian people.
KATIE: Ntolu jamma maŋ batundiro loŋ fo kabiriŋ ŋa Peace Corps safee ka ke famboolalu ti. Kabiriŋ nna safiroolu pareta moo doolu ye I batuu fo karisey jaŋ niŋ I be naala Gambia Jaŋ. Moodolu ye I batuu sanji fula niŋ taala jaŋ niŋ I be naala Gambia jaŋ. ŋa a loŋ ne ko m be taala Africa, bari maŋ a loŋ ko m be naala Gambia jaŋ. Kari jama kibarri koŋ ko ye muta katu maŋ a loŋ m be talaa minto le, m be kaŋ juma le karaŋna, maŋ a loŋ fanaŋ fo m be kuraŋo niŋ interneto soto la le fanaŋ, maŋ a loŋ fanaŋ domoroo be kela ňaadii le, a niŋ feŋ kotaŋolu. Nna ňinikaroolu jama jabiroo kakee menti wolemu maŋ a loŋ, nna dimbayalu, nna terrimalu, nna dimbayalu terrolu, docitarolu, ňiŋ doctarolu, insurance kundaalu, banki dokulalu a niŋ barkeeperlu. Woňaŋ woňaŋ ntolu kontineta nna kisikisiroo la kanna Gambia jaŋ. Ňiŋ kuwolu le ye attina faliŋdiro sifaa o sifaa domandiŋo walla naafariŋo be betiyaata.
STEVO: Most of us never knew the meaning of patience until experiencing the Peace Corps application process. Upon commencement of our applications, some waited as "few" as eight months to finally arrive in The Gambia. Others waited nearly two and a half years. For the majority of the process, we only knew we were going to "Sub-Saharan Africa", not "The Gambia". For months, we were starved for more information about where we would be going, what language we would be speaking, whether we would have electricity or internet, and what the food would be like, among other things. Our resolves were further tested each time we answered "I don't know yet" to another question from family, friends, coworkers, and other acquaintances. But now see through this fog of uncertainty. It is this newfound bounty of patience that will remind us throughout our service that any change, no matter how small or slow, is worthwhile.
KATIE: Ntolu be wakiliriŋ. Kana jaŋ miro munuŋ mira koleŋ ba le ti moo o moo ye ntolu kono. Ntolu moo o moo jita collego lu to America wo ye ntolu parendi ka falindiroo ke. Ntolu be keta kiliŋ ne ti ka bonaŋ America ka nna dimabayalu nna kafuňoolu niŋ dokuňolu bee tu America kanaa ke faŋbolalu ti Gambia. Taride kujama le sotota nuŋ ňiŋ kuolu to bari woňaŋ woňaŋ ntolu be jaŋ. ŋa n faŋ forisee ka manoo ke dasamoo, kontoŋo niŋ simaŋo ti wo ye atara ntolu lafita cheeseburger walla veggieburger le la. Ntolu tamata kataa karasoto mbuletaa Gele-Gelelu la maŋ a loŋ nuŋ fo ntaŋ kata walla maŋ tanka. ŋa Peace Corps karandiŋ ya baŋ dokujama le kono watoo dolu n ka lafi sinoola bari mbuka sinoo no katu dokuwoo siiyata nuŋ jauwke. Bari wolee ye attinna bii m be kela famboolalu ti niŋ banko kaŋ.
STEVO: We are determined. Making the decision to come here is perhaps the most monumental decision that any of us has made in our life. Each and everyone one of us is armed with a college degree and a passion for positive change. We are united in our decision to defer the American career path for two years in favor of volunteer service, leaving behind everything and everyone we know for this opportunity. There have been many chances to stumble along this journey, yet we are all still here, intact. We've forced ourselves to eat rice for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, when sometimes, all we want is a cheeseburger (or veggieburger). We've worked up the courage to step aboard a Gele-Gele, wondering whether our lives were in danger. We've completed our Peace Corps Training Directed Activities and Blank Session Forms, when many of us would have rather taken a nap. But, it is this unique opportunity we have starting today, as volunteers, that has kept us focused.
KATIE: Karaŋdiŋo te taranola Gambia niŋ a manke saysayoo ti. Folo folo ntolu ye a mira ko kudoolu koleyata nuŋ bari sayiŋ woolu be le soneyata Peace Corps la kuwo kammala. Sutoo doolu koleyata katu ntolu ka tara kamoo kunto, watoodo n ka bala kuraŋ kawakuwolu soto, malaria booroo la ňaama, tiloo fanaŋ ka moolu batandi fo la baŋola Florida nkolu ňaa bota nna, a niŋ luntaŋolu maŋ lafi ka meŋ jiyaa menu bukoo tombolu a niŋ suusuulaalu. Niŋ taliŋolu be keta ntolu ye faŋ warra baa le ti; a niŋ n ka a sata ňooye ňaa meŋ n ka sutuya ňoola wolee ňsamba. Sanji fula naala be koleyala bake, bari ntolu niŋ jelo niŋ muuyoo be a waliŋ kaŋ.
STEVO: A trainee cannot survive without a sense of humor. Situations that may once have seemed scary or intimidating can now be dismissed as simply being a part of The Peace Corps experience: Long, sweaty nights spent hanging over the pit latrine, mysterious skin infections, prophylaxis-induced fantasies, sunburns that would make a Florida beach envious, and uninvited guests of the feral sort in our huts; each harrowing tale has become a badge of honor; each experience shared among us has brought us closer together. The next two years will, no doubt, be filled with an abundance of trying times, best served with a smile and a laugh.
KATIE: Ntolu yaa kata ňaa o ňaa nte loo noola jaŋ niŋ maŋ demaroo soto moolu bulu. Peace Corps dokulalu ali maŋ ňoŋ soto. Ali la mira kendo ka Gambia yiriwandi wo le ye attina ntolu be haňiriŋ dokuwola. Ntolu kontanita ka tara woo mira kendo kono. Nna kontodiri kendo be Mike McConnell, Linda Murgatroy, Gibril Sumbundo, Rodney Stubina, Patti Gregory, Gisele Gnavi, Mohammadou Bah, Sarjo Dumbaya, Bakary Kamara, Babocar Sala, Haddy Sowe, Adam Njie, Alpha Jallow, Anne Larson, Chris Chapman, Travis Reese a niŋ Peace Corps dryfolu. Peace Corps la karaŋdiri kafoo meŋ be Gambia le betiyata duňiya karaŋdiri kafoolu be ti. Ali Abaraka jawke!! Nna kanumoolu mennu be America, alaa baraka kaatu niŋ ntolu jaakalita ali ka n sabarindi le. Ntolu ňaa maŋ maa alila kanoo kaŋma. Nna Gambia terrikendolu fanaŋ ye maakoy ka sabati jaŋ a niŋ ka nna dokuwo keenoo. M bee kafuuriŋo ňookaŋ n sii nna sanji taŋ naani niŋ fula dokukendo samba ňaato.
STEVO: In spite of the virtues that we possess, we could not possibly be standing here without the tremendous support we have received. To all of the Peace Corps staff, you are truly talented and special. It is your vision and commitment to bettering the lives of Gambians that makes a volunteer's service here a success. We are happy just to be a part of that vision. A special thanks to Mike McConnell, Linda Murgatroy, Gibril Sumbundo, Rodney Stubina, Patti Gregory, Gisele Gnavi, Mohammadou Bah, Sarjo Dumbaya, Bakary Kamara, Babocar Sala, Haddy Sowe, Adam Njie, Alpha Jallow, Anne Larson, Chris Chapman, Travis Reese, and all the Peace Corps drivers - the Peace Corps Gambia training team is undoubtedly the greatest in the world. To our loved ones in America, you are there when we need a familiar voice. We are only sane because of your love. To our fellow Gambians, we couldn't imagine a more genuinely welcoming and friendly place to serve. With our combined determination, we will continue the beautiful partnership we have held for the last forty two years.
KATIE: Ntolu moo o moo be parereeriŋ koleya kuolu mennu be sotola ňaato dokuwokono. ŋa a mira niŋ ntolu seyta America dokukendo niŋ be taala ňaato waati o waati anduŋ n niŋ nna lundoo be seyla America fanaŋ. Peace Corps famboola kotolu bee sonta ko Peace Corps londoo buka moo nene ila baluwo kono mumeeke. N sonta fanaŋ ko Gambia nkolu fanaŋ be Naatota baa le soto la Peace Corps nkolu buluu waati o waati. Niŋ taata America ŋa mira ntolu la taroo jaŋ be nafaa jamma le soto la ňiŋ baŋkundiŋ diimaato, The Gambia.
KATIE: Each of us will draw upon our patience, determination, and sense of humor to face the challenges that lie ahead. When the day arrives for us to return home, we are convinced that these virtues will not simply dissolve. As any returned volunteer will attest, the Peace Corps experience is one that will have a lasting effect on the rest of our lives, and the lives of our host country partners - the small, the proud, the wonderful, The Gambia.
Here's some clips from the ceremony:
Moments before swear in.....
Bits and Pieces of the speech.
Receiving our certificates....
The Wurukong Training Village: Kadii, Junkung, Our trainer Adam, Auntie Nyima, Tombong
The entire training group......Boopam!
