So far I’ve only been travelling around Europe and the United States, where I spent one summer working as a camp counsellor in a camp for children with physical and developmental disabilities. It was then that I learnt a life lesson on sympathy, pity and courage. The African world was always unfamiliar and far away. Now, that I have spent one month living and working in The Gambia, it has opened up to me in all its beauty, openness and kindness. What surprised and impressed me the most was the fact that these people share everything – the little that they have. I think this is worth every respect. Europe should turn its face to Africa more often and learn a couple of lessons from people whose smiles never fade from their faces. My new Gambian friends have often wondered how come here we pass each other by, not even looking, let alone smile at each other, every person carefully looking after what’s theirs, not willing to share? I shrug my shoulders and make a wish – I wish every person would have the opportunity to spend some time among the people of The Gambia and start valuing what they have and what surrounds them, instead of always striving for more, more and more.
Petra Novak