At the zoo! I went back to Africa and saw the monkeys. Here is the view from my back deck. Its the mountains as well as Lake Union---beautiful.

Our Mariners tickets! whoop, whoop. we were so close. :)

Went to the mariners game for Easter, Candi received free tickets from her company so we took advantage of free seats behind home plate. The mariners lost but it was still quite the adventure. It was abass’s first game as well as my little cousin Willys. We got our picture with the Mariner Moose!

Things are going well, life is good, God is good. We’ve been keeping busy, now that summer is right around the corner I have been planting flowers, lots of them! Our new place is great. We have been feeling very blessed lately. Abass is still in school and I was just offered an awesome job, now i just need to get out there and start exercising! yikes! its still freezing out. I’ve posted pictures, hope you enjoy.

Afterward, we enjoyed McDonalds ice cream cones! :)

A new beginning!

Sorry it’s been so long since I last blogged. This blog is not over yet… although I thought about ending it and then starting a new one? What do you guys think? I am no longer in The Gambia… but marrying a Gambian, well… it’s almost as if we are still on a journey. Since coming back to the US, I have had an easy time adjusting back. At first it was a bit tough, I was worried I was going to be homesick for Africa, I was worried that I wasn’t going to adjust well back to the society, but since being back I have been so busy, there has barely been any time to think about how much I miss that place. As many of you already know I got two jobs within a week of being back. I started working a lot so I could save enough money for Abass—who was yet to arrive. He is here now! Yay! We have had an amazing journey of us figuring out “America” together. We moved out of my moms and now we have a place in Seattle. I am still working, Abass is going to nursing school and I am still trying to strive for that job that brings me fulfillment. – trusting that God will provide something great. We live in a great place and I am excited about the opportunities that the city is going to bring us, it’s so exciting and scary at the same time. I thought I would post some photos so you can all see what our house looks like so far….keep your eyes on this blog cause it isn’t going anywhere.

I am home!

The time has come... I finished my service and now I am back home. There are a lot of mixed emotions that come with that considering I spent almost 3 good years of my life there, The Gambia has a special place in my heart. I trust that God has a plan for my life though and I knew it was time to go when I left.

Being home is a new adventure in itself. I have experienced culture shock in my own country, little things including:
*I am still calling people to come and eat with me, (in The Gam one person never eats alone, there is always at least three people around a food bowl eating) while I do this no one understands... but then I just have to laugh at myself too.
*Whenever I see someone I asking them how their "home people" are and if there is "any trouble with them" -- well, I think these are good questions but they mostly stem off of Gambian greetings-- you always ask people this, even if they are strangers.
*I am suffering from really dry skin here... my body is not sure what to do with Washington's weather.
*I was shocked to see how CLEAN America is.... its so nice.
*I have wanted to walk everywhere I go around town but the weather is so COLD.
*My stomach is not very strong here... adjusting back to American food has been tough. I run to the toilet after ANYTHING I eat.
*And coming from a girl that had 8 speeding tickets (don't worry I am a good driver), now that I am back, even my mom driving at a high speed was scaring me. She had to drive 10 below just so I could feel safe. -- that's kind of funny.

But like I said, I am doing well. I am home now so I have just been applying to jobs and still trying to work out as well as spend time with family and friends. Its weird to see how much I have changed. As I was flying home last week I was sitting on the plan thinking to myself one good story that I would tell my family and friends about the Peace Corps, perhaps about teaching math to 8th graders or a story about my village. As I was thinking of a story I couldn't help but think about the story in my heart.... how The Gambia and its people changed the story of my heart. How they imprinted my life and changed my perspective on things. This is the story I will tell. The Peace Corps was a wonderful opportunity, I am so grateful and blessed to have become apart of that.

New Edition

I am happy to announce that Abass and I have added a new edition to our family. We are now proud owners of a chicken (still yet to be named). The chicken came into our lives after we discussed purchasing it from a friend.

Abass constructed a little house made out of random brick that was laying around near our part of the compound. Our chicken will have free range during the day time but the house is built so the street cats won't disturb her at night. We have no plans in eating our pet just yet.... we are hoping she will provide babies first so we can have more chickens.

GO PACKERS!!!!

My faithful blog followers all know by now that I love to give shout-outs to special people and things in my life. This is one of them.......

Sorry to my cousin Candi and all those "faithful" Seahawk fans.... but I want you all to know that I am SO EXCITED my team has made it to the Superbowl! I know we are going to crush the Chicago Bears--- there is no doubt in my mind. I became a huge Packers fan over 5 years ago, so I dont want any of you to think I have just jumped on the banwagon.... it all started when I met Mason Crosby in Texas at his home while I was selling books door-to-door. Then I started dating Aaron Rodgers and the rest has been history. I love the Packers win or lose. I am so excited they have made it this far.... I know they are going to take it all the way.

The Gambia Red Cross Society

As many of you know, now that my Peace Corps work is finished and I am still living in The Gambia, I have decided to spend my time volunteering with The Gambia Red Cross Society. I have been working here for over two weeks now and things are going great. I am gaining a lot of experience into my future work endeavors, plus it keeps me busy so things are good. I thought I would post a photo of me and my friend Lamin at our desk.... just to give you guys a little idea of what my office looks like. I am working on strategy plans for the society and also being able to assist in creating a resource center for the regional main office (I will make sure to post photos of that later). These positions give me a lot of internet access so while working, I have also been able to start applying for jobs online back home. I just applied for my first government job and felt like I jumped a mountain, took me a week to apply. I have now kicked off the beginning of my search for a government job in the States.... wish me luck.

Things in The Gambia are going well. Abass and I are doing great we are both healthy and strong. Married life is going good.... nothing new to report there.

I will try to keep my blog more updated now that I have internet access at my finger tips.

I hope you are all doing well.

Love Jessi

a little of this and that

Photo #1-me and my mom on llagor Island in Senegal.
Photo #2- me, my mom and Jillian in front of the Renaissance statue in Dakar.
Photo #3- Merry Christmas! eating our christmas dinner.
Photo #4-Abass feeding the monkeys peanuts.
Photo #5-Me feeding the monkeys
Photo#6- Me and Abass touching an Alligator.
Photo#7-Jillian, Abass and I out at the club in Senegambia.

Here is everything in between. I love having a camera now. I hope you all enjoy the photos… here is a little bit of being married and a little bit of my mom and Jillian’s trip to The Gambia. Overall, it was wonderful to have them. Abass and I spent new year’s in Dakar, Senegal, which was wonderful. … we saw Akon! Now we are back in The Gambia. Abass is working back at the market and I am still trying to find something that keeps me busy around here. Wish me luck. I am hoping to volunteer with the Red Cross just to keep busy. I am sure I will keep you all posted on my life. :) I hope you are all well.