Third World Professional

Every single day I wake up at 6am, curse the morning for coming so early, take about another fifteen minutes to actually get up from my bed, head straight into the bathroom to take my routine shower. Depends on the mood that I usually wake up in, I normally curse NAWEC if I discover that there is no electricity again, curse myself for coming back home, and hop unwillingly into the shower, I hate mornings, anyone that knows me knows that I am not a morning person, I am a bitch in the morning with a capital B. It takes me another hour to find the right outfit for work (although I have my work clothes in one closet), makeup, hair, perfume and finally gather my laptop, books and car keys. This is my morning routine everyday. It takes me about two hours just to get ready for work and another thirty minutes to get to work, which includes my daily morning insults to the reckless drivers on the road.

Everyday I come to work with a brilliant attitude. I come to work to be productive and give it my all, I put so much effort in my appearance and do not complain about the sometimes poor working conditions but sometimes, I find it so hard to keep up my brilliant mood all day. In the public sector a working day comprises of meetings, letters, workshops etc. As a young  professional working in The Gambia, I find it very hard to be always upbeat, I constantly remind myself that I am back to contribute to the development of The Gambia, the salary is not worth it nor are the benefits but there is always something in me that keeps me going. A long time ago, whilst I use to intern for this non-profit organization in DC, I was confronted with the sufferings and pains of poor African nations. I was exposed to the literature of war, famine and orphans. The stories of orphans that I read daily made a mark in my heart, for years I choose to ignore the sufferings of African citizens especially people in developing countries like the Gambia, I had lived a fabulous life in Gambia prior to leaving for the US, and even though I knew people were poor in The Gambia and were suffering daily to provide for their families, I was oblivious to these realities. I lived a content life in Gambia and lacked for nothing, when I got to the US, I continued to live that content life, I never suffered to put food in my mouth nor struggled to survive, so I never appreciated the pains people faced. But reading the literature and facing the harsh realities of Africa's poverty in college was all the wakeup call I needed . I majored in economics and decided to dedicate my professional life in public service.

Coming back home, months after graduation and becoming part of the solution to poverty reduction in The Gambia has been the most fulfilling job I have ever held. Sitting in meetings whilst we discuss strategies and intervention areas for poverty reduction swells my heart up with pride, working for the people and working with the people does nothing but make me proud. If I have slaved hundreds of hours in the library and walked in the snow just to pass a class or get to class, I am glad I did. Opting to come back home rather than stay in the US and get a job was a good thing I did, it would have been just a job, here I have a career that I totally adore in the civil service, a low paid professional, giving back to my country that has given me so much more. What wouldn't I give for lattes at starbucks, lunch at a fabulous restaurant, shopping at the mall, movies friday night..Nothing absolutely nothing, I love my life as a Fabulous Third World Professional.