Oceans! They exist.

Shockingly, sadly, I’ve discovered ninth grade boys are more poorly informed about geography than Ado, who thought I could go to America and back in a weekend. One afternoon when school was letting out and I was locking up the computer lab, some ninth grade boys walkd by and greeted me.

Student: Good afternoon, Miss Jallow.

Me: Good afternoon. How are you?

Student: Fine. Did you go to Kombo?

Me: No, just to Basse.

Student: But I think when school closes you will bike to America?

Me: No, I cannot do that, it is impossible.

Student: No?

Me: Between Gambia and America is a large ocean, a lot of water. You cannot bike across it.

Student: Heh?!

Me, pointing to an imaginary map on the outside wall of the classroom we’re standing beside: Here is The Gambia. Here is America. In between is all water. You must take an airplane. Or a boat.

Student: But I think you can go to America anytime you want?

Me: No, the pass is expensive.

Student: I think it is not.

Me: Maybe…25,000 dalasis.

Student: But I think you are rich!

Me: No! I do not have a lot of money.

Student: But all white people are rich.

Me: That is not true. In America there are people who are very poor who do not even have food.

Student: But you are rich.

Me: No, I am not. Before I came here I had just finished university. I did not work a lot. I do not have a lot of money.

Student: No, you are rich.