Thinking about going to The Gambia?!

Situated on the Atlantic coast in westernmost Africa and surrounded on three sides by Senegal, Gambia is twice the size of Delaware. The Gambia River flows for 200 miles through Gambia on its way to the Atlantic. The country, the smallest on the continent, averages only 20 miles in width. Despite its small size, The Gambia is a  diverse multi-cultural society with many ethnic groups. These races/ ethnicities  make up these percentages; African 99% (Mandinka 42%, Fula 18%, Wolof 16%, Jola 10%, Serahuli 9%, other 4%), non-African 1%. Indeed it is not uncommon to find people being able to speak 3 to 4 local languages. But their languages, in The Gambia are , English (official), Mandinka, Wolof, Fula, other indigenous languages. It is perfect for studying abroad because their language is mostly English, so it would be easy to communicate! You are probably thinking now what to wear when you get there. The dress code for Gambia is very important so you should at least take some tips below regarding acceptable types of clothing particularly when out in public. Take along lightweight woolen jumpers or a jacket for the cool evenings during the months of November to March. Although dress in the beach hotels is very informal, ladies should avoid wearing bikinis or going out topless outside the grounds of the hotels or beaches. A modest dress code is advised in all public places and you should preferably at least wear a sarong or other wrap that comes down to your knees and cover your top half at least up to the elbows though there is no need to cover you head. In the hotels' resorts and beaches you can wear a bikini as this is acceptable but not out and about in public. Gambia is predominantly a Muslim country. In this country you will be enjoying some delicious foods. Food is a very important part of their culture just like ours. Traditional Gambian dishes Joll of Rice, Benachin cooked in homes are mostly rice, the staple food, with a covering of various spicy sauces as on the right. However, steamed millet, couscous, cassava is also eaten.

The defining ingredients for these various dishes are either peanut butter paste (Domoda), ladies fingers (Okra), palm oil (chew deu terr) or edible leaves such as spinach or cassava leaves. Very popular among poor families is Mbahal which is rice mixed with grated peanuts, dried fish such as bonga. Many of these dishes are also common to Senegalese cooking as both countries have common cultural ties. Many cultures have differences, but in every culture communication is the same. Communications include; Telephones - main lines in use: 48,800; mobile cellular: 1.478 million (2010). Even with technology always expanding, and evolving, there are still cultures striving to integrate it in to society.  Lastly, every culture struggles with social issues because they can consume a society into a hidden world of violence and corruption. The major social problems are poverty, disease, and lack of economic development. The Gambia is one of the world's poorest nations and relies heavily on foreign aid. Even though Gambia is a third world country, it doesn’t mean the whole country is poor; there are some parts that are higher class.