Cleaning Out

Fatou has a peanut (groundnut) field. Only right now it’s just bush. This series of events shows just how much I have left to learn and understand about living in The Gambia and working in the culture.
1. At the beginning of June I go with Fatou and others to look at the field she’s been given to plant groundnuts on. It’s big, and right on the side of the road, just outside the village. It’s already cleared and I’m excited for the possibilities. Maybe we can intercrop and plant cashews along the borders…
2. The next week that field is out. Apparently, it has a problem with erosion… and the soil is not good. So… what exactly am I here for? This seems right up my alley… No? Ok. I’ll just go along for this ride as long as it takes me.
3. The new field is in the bush. It is, in fact, bush. As in covered in tree-things and bushes and brush. Someone burned it earlier in the year, so all the trees are covered in soot. And it’s our job to clear it. By hand, obvi. Ok. Break out the machete and gloves and get to work. Just ignore the fact that you’re clearing more land for agriculture, creating a place that in two to four years will be as barren as the original field is now. Just push that thought right out of your mind.
4. The family works together to clear the land. I actually enjoy the work. I’m sweating because I’m using muscles, not just being hot. But I still, I can’t stop thinking… what am I here for? What do they think I’m here for?
5. On our way back from the field I ask Chinese ‘What do you think I’m here for?’ let’s just get this out in the open… I’m not very tactful anyway, why start now?
6. He says (paraphrasing) ‘I think you’re here to do mango grafting. And you said you know about bush fire. And maybe gardening.” Ok. Sweet. I think there have been some, uh, communication challenges. I have clearly failed to let him know what I can help with. I guess he’s not a mind reader.
7. With this new revelation in mind I tried to explain what I can help with; that it’s not limited to mango grafting (which I know almost nothing about, but that’s neither here nor there) and gardening. And that I haven’t said anything before, because I didn’t want to stroll in and start bossing everyone around and insulting their way of life without understanding it. In short, I’ve been waiting for people to ask me for assistance. BUT, Chinese hasn’t asked for help because he didn’t exactly know what I know, because agriculture is such a broad subject, and because in his culture people don’t really ask for help (Based on my observations this is only partially true, people are not shy about asking for ‘financial help.’) So he’s not culturally supposed to ask for help, and I’m not supposed to be culturally insensitive by assuming that I know a better way to do everything.
8. Based on our conversation, I’m going to try to be more aware of areas that I can help, and informing people (maybe even tactfully) that I may be able to assist. And Chinese says he’ll ask for help more often in the future. This could be a great compromise, and I think I understand a little more about where Gambians are coming from.
We finished clearing the field, and have talked about intercropping in the small field behind the compound. I suggested beans, corn and squash. Chinese was also open to the idea of planting cashews in a border around the same field. I think we’re making progress, slowly slowly.