The local languages spoken here are Wolof, Pulaar, Mandinka, Jola and Sarahule. However, the official language of the country is English. Although it is not an official language, you may also hear people speaking French, as it is the official language of Senegal, which is the country that borders the Gambia. Often, if you are in the capital area, you can speak English with people, but if you are located in the rural areas of the country, most people do not speak English. For example, in my village of about 3,500 residents, I only know about five people who I can speak English with. The local language spoken in an area depends on the specific region or village where people reside. One village might speak a language that another village 10 minutes away does not understand. For my Peace Corps service, I live with a host family in a rural area, so I study Wolof. I also understand a little Pulaar because my host family speaks both.
In The Gambia, the currency is called the dalasi (GMD). One U.S. dollar is equivalent to about 73 dalasi. Unlike America, the Gambia primarily relies on paper money. In the capital, you will find a few restaurants or businesses that take card payments, but most places use dalasi.
