In the training village!

So I've made it 3 weeks! This will probably be the only time I am able to acess internet during training (which lasts until the beginning of september when I will move to my site). There is so much I want to tell you all and only about 15 minutes to do it so here it goes.
I'm staying with a host family in a village near the coast called Madianna. It's been incredibly exciting so far. The people here are friendly, loud, colorful, curious, pushy, inviting, and so welcoming. One of the hardest things for me so far is the fact that I am ALWAYS the center of attention no matter what in my village. PEople always want to know what I am doing and where I am going and those that know me well know that I absolutely hate attention. BUT it looks like it is something I will have to learn to deal with...and Im sure I will.
I am living in a mud hut with two rooms and rats in the ceiling ( I pretend they are kittens at night to give me enough peace of mind to sleep). There is no electricity or running water in pretty much the entire village but it hasnt been too hard to get used to. My bathroom is a 6 ft hole in the ground and I take a bath out of a bucket under the African stars every night. Its pretty great.
I go to language class every day of the week. My language teachers name is Babucar and he looks just like Dave Chapelle and is hilarious. LEarning this language has been another challenge for me so far but its coming slowly. Having no one in my compound that speaks english is a huge motivation to learn the language as well.
The village had a naming ceremony for us the morning after we arrived. My host father is a tailor and he made me a traditional Gambian outfit to wear and keep for the ceremony. Our families choose our names before the ceremony and told the iman beforehand, we had to kneel with a blanket over our heads while he scraped out forehead with a razor to symbolize shaving our heads and announced our names. Mine is Salimatu (Sali) Dibba. Taking a Mandinkan name was strongly recommended so that we could integrate into the village a little easier (although we stand out more than anyone else in the country).
They announced our actual work sites today and mine will be in Brikama, the second largets city in The Gambia. Im so excited to get there! I will be working at an upper basic school (middle school)and working with them to build a better math and science program for their students. I'm near the beach and will have access to internet so I will make sure to update you all when I get there at the beginning of Sept.
I miss you all so much, sorry this is so cluttered but i just wanted to tell you a little bit about what I have been up to. If you call me I have lots of hilarious stories!! 011-220-7880514. Call me anytime and I will def answer unless i am in language class! Fo Naato (until later)!!