An Unexpected Visitor

Yesterday was a good day. I saw David Beckham! You know, the British soccer star married to Posh Spice -- arguably the world's most famous man (outside the US). He visited in his role as UNICEF Goodwill ambassador. A fellow VSO helped organize his visit to a local hospital, but the whole thing was a covert operation so she couldn't tell any of us about it. Otherwise the entire population of Sierra Leone would have flocked to Makeni. Rumors were flying around town in the afternoon, so I decided to see for myself. A coworker and I caught the last five minutes of his appearance, just long enough to snap a few photos and brag to friends. Still can't figure out how I lived in New York City for a year and a half without seeing one big star, but I come to freakin' Makeni, Sierra Leone and get this close to David Beckham. Crazy.

Click here to read more about Beckham's visit.

We climbed one of the local hills (sort of Enchanted Rock-like), which was nice but not easy. This is James, me, ABJ and the requisite random boy with slingshot, strikin' a pose. We asked that boy what he wanted to be when he grew up. He said, "I want to go to America." We asked what he would do there. "Wash toilets." Sigh.

Finally, Pikin News was much better this week...virtually hiccup-free. The topic was the Child Rights Act which Sierra Leone passed in 2007. But we did have to settle for a replacement studio guest because our first choice was the UNICEF officer and, well -- Beckham was in town.