Our radio shows went well by Gambian standards. We broadcast 8 shows on different radio stations to promote the national volunteer teacher programme. The level of professionalism of the radio stations was varying. There were quite a few sticky moments. Mr Mboge's phone went off on air several times and one time he forgot we were on air and started negotiating changes to our talk show times. On one occasion the host incorrectly read one of the questions we had given her. Instead of asking, 'How does the National Volunteer Teacher Programme buttress the Ministry's policy on the recruitment of teachers?' she asked 'How does the NVT programme breastfeed the Ministry.' It was definitely an interesting experience though.

We've put adverts in the local newspapers which have really done the trick. Young graduates are coming to our offices everyday to pick up application forms. They are finally realising that it's better to volunteer for one year, get some experience, help improve education and receive a volunteer allowance, than sit on their bums and do nothing due to a lack of jobs in The Gambia.

I created a very basic flyer using publisher and we took them to some higher education institutions to promote the programme. You should have seen the reaction to my flyers from my colleagues- - 'You have done this yourself? I can see you are an expert. They are beautiful!' I was very pleased.

I've been upcountry again to drop off a few new volunteers at schools- maths and science graduates- as we didn't want to make them wait until the start of the new school year in case they found other opportunities in the meantime and we lost them. It was so hot! 44 degrees in the mid afternoon. In fact it was still 31 degrees at 3am! It is so hot, dry and dusty. You get red dust up your nose, in your ears and down your throat. The countryside is parched. The cows are skinny. The breeze is boiling. I like it though. I like the fact that I now know my way around and know people all over the country. I'm looking forward to going on trek again in early June. We've already phoned the guy who works in the pharmacy and the guy who runs the ferry in Basse to tell them we're coming and we'll meet them down the pub.

Awareness of our project is really growing and the people in the Ministry seem to be proud of what we are achieving. The Permanent Secretary wrote us a letter of commendation and told Mr Mboge that our reports are the best in the Ministry. One of the more senior staff members in our office calls me the 'Secretary General of the International NVT Programme'. He told me that everyone is proud of me and what I have done for them and that they will never forget it. I'm not looking for compliments but it's nice to know that I have had a positive impact.

On a more personal note, things are going well in the new house. I have invited people round several times for dinner, drinks and drumming which I have never been able to do before having never had my own house or any drums. I cooked domoda for everybody and even my Gambian friends complimented me on it. We are suffering daily attacks from mangos though. The mangos are ripening and falling from the trees. They hit the roof and make such a noise that I wake up at night thinking I'm being burgled again. I worry about the little kitten who has made our compound her home. If she takes one hit to the head she's a goner. However, I'm secretly hoping the cockerel gets it.

In terms of my hobbies, bodyboarding has gone out of the window. There aren't any good waves anymore. In fact I have hardly been down the beach at all. I went for a walk on Friday and was surprised at how quiet it is now tourist season is over. On Sunday we went fishing in Tanji which was a good afternoon out. We weren't very successful but Lamin caught a little cassava fish and Joe caught a ray. Maybe fishing is the new bodyboarding.

I went to a beach party in April to celebrate the birth of our friends' daughter. Esme was born to Jane (from England) and Dodou (from The Gambia). Jane travelled to England to give birth as the facilities in The Gambia aren't great. They are married but Dodou has not met his daughter in person yet because the British authorities would not grant him a visa in order to travel to England to be there for the birth. Jane wasn't at the party but we all had a great time with music, dancing and a tasty BBQ.

I went on my first ever trip to the Independence Stadium which is really close to where I live. We saw Everton Blender- a Jamaican reggae artist. It cost us D100 to get in which is about £2 in England. It was bloody brilliant. But I was expecting a packed out stadium and in fact, Blender sang on a small stage in the middle of the huge stadium to an audience of a couple of hundred people. He didn't even come on stage till 2:15am. Even the warm up acts didn't start till after 12am.

We've been to Abuko Nature Reserve to see the wildlife. We didn't get there till 10am so we missed the best of the birdlife. I think they were all sleeping when we arrived as it was hot. One little monkey grabbed my hand when I was trying to take a photo of him and one of the baboons didn't like me teasing him and ran forward and whacked me on the foot. The hyenas scared me . We arrived just after feeding time, just in time to see their faces covered in blood. I was afraid they would climb over the wooden gate and bite my head off as I could easily reach the top of it with my hand.

Abdou's mum came round my house for a cup of tea but we couldn't really communicate as she only speaks a little English and I can only say one word in Jola. She said I am beautiful and kind, so at least she can say the essentials. Abdou's aunt gave birth to a baby boy and I attended the naming ceremony last week but Abdou left me pretty much as soon as we arrived so that he could hang out with the guys. I sat with the young women who looked wary of me and couldn't communicate with me either. At least the awkward silence was broken by little Isatou wailing every time she looked at me. I was relieved when the food bowls were brought out as it took the attention away from me for a while. Abdou's sister Ramatoulie has a small baby called Sulayman who took a shine to me. I was playing with him on my knee until Ana pointed to my lap and I noticed that Sulayman, who had no nappy on, had wet himself on my lap. I got up to go to the toilet to try and clean myself up when the older women - Abdou's aunts and grandmothers - noticed me and looked at me in a surprised and slightly disgusted way. Unfortunately I could do little to defend myself as I can't say "Honestly I didn't wet myself, the baby did it" in Jola. I think I made a good first impression.

Now I find myself 8 months into my 12 month placement and I have to start thinking of what's going to happen next. One thing is for sure I'm not ready to come back to the UK. I'm looking for opportunities in Africa or Asia. I've even reapplied to VSO. One thing I'll tell you is that it is possible to live off the VSO allowance. With my volunteer allowance and the £40 a generous benefactor is donating to me every month (you know who you are), I can afford to support both myself and Abdou, who is suffering from a serious shortage of work now tourist season is over. It's not easy though. For one thing I can't afford wine and I am finding this difficult to deal with. Oh the sacrifices we volunteers have to make!