People don't come to Sierra Leone for vacation. Except for my parents. On their arrival, we pushed and shoved our way through a crowd of taxi drivers fighting (literally) for our business outside the airport. By the time we reached the motel, it was 2 AM; we had waited three hours for the ferry to Freetown and traversed ultra-bumpy roads, my dad stepped into a hole in the sidewalk, and a man in nothing but a Speedo welcomed us to our room which had no towels and a missing bed. Ah, welcome to my life.In 10 days of African adventure, my parents zipped around on the back of motorbikes (including once with luggage on the world's worst road), took ice-cold bucket baths, ate street meat of unknown origin, slept under mosquito nets on broken beds, climbed a 15-foot ladder to watch chimpanzees from a treehouse in the forest, nearly got swept out to sea by a strong current, drove through the middle of a political rally, got hassled at police checkpoints, and danced in church. They deserve a trophy. Sierra Leone: If you can make it here, you can make it anywhere.
The kids of Makeni were thrilled with the white strangers. These are my little neighbors, sporting their patriotic visors and soccer ball courtesy of Mom and Dad.
Some kid stole my watch the other day at the river. Add it to my long list of lost luxuries: Mets hat (stolen while camping), watch (stolen while swimming), $50 (stolen while dancing), laptop (struck by lightning), boxers (stretched by laundry boy), flashlights (too many to remember), college t-shirt (forgotten at friend's house), cooking gas (now unavailable in town), water pump (broken), generator (always broken), towel (vanished in laundry), cell phone (soaked in river), and phone chargers (zapped by unstable power).
There was a huge drug seizure at the airport last weekend. A United Nations friend of ours was evacuated from Port Loko (near the airport) because he is the only white man in town and local residents suspected him of involvement. Sometimes I feel like I'm living in the Wild West...
8 comments:
What a vacation; though it does sound more exciting that cleaning out the storage room at The Edge.
wish there was a way of getting the cool towels your tio and primos use for backpacking; very small and they really work. Stay positive and let's hope you don't lose more of your possessions. Anxious to talk to your padres.
Man! Your parents are troopers, but you win the prize! It really puts things into perspective about how good we have it here in America!
Amazing! and great writing!
Keep writing. You have a good way of conveying the story.
Wow, Grant, after seeing the pictures and hearing the stories, I'm more impressed than ever. I'm glad you all didn't get sweep away by the current...sounded pretty scary!! And riding those motor bikes!!!! The pictures of the kids were precious. Keep the pictures and writing coming. I always look forward to a new post.
Sarah
Your mom came over yesterday and told us a little about their trip. They have definitely found a place in their hearts for Africa--I think they should come see us in Zambia next! I loved reading your blog and finding out about your adventures. We'd love to have you at Namwianga when we get back in September.
Linda
I was laughing out loud reading this.
God bless them. :) !
I would have loved to come with them. I'm going to call and give them some grief for not even inviting me. How am I ever supposed to get my baby? Gosh.
Hey, Grant. Denise Maserang here. I clicked on your blog from a link on the Gregersens'. Such amazing adventures you (and your parents) are having. May God bless all your efforts.
hi grant - i'm a public health student at columbia interning with helen keller international in freetown. i'm actually traveling to makeni today and will be there until saturday. perhaps we can get together. my number is 23233269913. i've enjoyed reading your blog.
emily
Post a Comment