For the last 2 nights at the dinner table some of us have been doing the "what's that best and worst part of your day", like a good and wholesome family. Only thing is, I noticed I find my days are all starting to blend into one another and it's hard to find anything jumping out as good or bad. Which was my obvious sign to go sit and think about things. I don't want my experience here in Sierra Leone to become just another job where you go day by day, do whats expected and go home. I know I really love being here, but I also want to make the best memories possible.

So, I've got a few highlights from last week. Top of the list, at a tie, is 2 events that both involve new little friend. The first is a little guy of about 4 name Caesar. He might not look Roman, but he ruled the clinic for a short while on 2 recent visits. Cute as can be with a big white smile and way too much energy. He was touching and pointing to everything he could and asking "what this?". Typical of boys and their toys, the A/C's remote control on the wall (in his opinion a phone), a broken calculator on my table and of course my camera got the most attention. He played the game of Name the color for a few minutes, constantly choosing wrong between the three options of red, blue and yellow and then resolved to " no sabi" (Krio for I don't know it) as the answer to all further questions. Dressing up with the stethoscope and sitting/ turning on the doctors chair also seemed a favourite. Granny seemed at least a bit impressed when I showed her the picture and said he'll be a doctor one day ( that is, if he can learn his colours and ABC's).

My second BIG event was a visit to a local orphanage. Housing 15 kiddies under 8 years. Most between 3 and 5 some waiting for international adoption, some just in foster care. What fun we had. All but the smallest 3 dressed in yellow and blue uniforms attending the nursery school on the compound, just about 20m from there house. The moment we popped our heads in, all eyes were on us. Their "auntie teacher" still tried to continue with a lesson on the 10 commandments, but it was soon clear we had to leave if there was any chance of them learning anything. After their lessons we were entertained with more nursery school songs than I've heard in the last 25+years. Jumping, dancing, shaking, but never really taking there eyes off the white women. I'm really looking forward to seeing them again, hopefully for some fun on the beach.

And of course, no highlights of a week will be complete without the visit to the beach. Although I've only been to 3 beaches here, River no 2 is certainly my favourite. As the name would imply, a beach at a river mouth, however the no2 part is still a bit of a mystery to me since we pass many streams on the way there. This Saturday the usually bumpy trip there was made a bit more excited by a dirty fuel filter, but lucky for us, Abu, our local mechanic was with us - guess what's the solution - I the filter's dirty , just take it out. Well it worked and we made it there and back, had a great time.

First attempt, from Freetwon

So, at last I take the big plunge.
First Facebook and now a blog, really getting out there!
Obviously I'm still new to the whole blogging-thing, but some people have been nagging for more news, so here it goes.


Blog name is travel adventures, although my travels will pretty much be restricted to the small West African country of Sierra Leone for the next 5 months. I should probably have started the blog earlier, since my year in Northern Saskatchewan (Ile a la Crosse, for those with Google Earth - look it up), was quite a big adventure and I do spend a lot of time thinking back to my time there.
















For those who don't know about Sierra Leone -

• It's where "Blood Diamond" (Leonardo DeCaprio movie) takes place
• 11 year civil war that killer about 50 000 people ended in 2002
• Notoriously well known for Child soldiers and rebels hacking off people's limbs (read about a chils soldier in the book " Long way gone "- it's for sale in Starbucks for those lucky enough to have that option!)
• One of the poorest countries in the world (averadge income about 12 US cent a day)
• Highest child mortality rate in the world ( one in 4 kids die before their 5th birthday!)
• 8deg north of the equator, so nice and warm
• Rainy season lasts for 4 months and in rainy season -IT RAINS
• Friendly people
• Great beaches

Freetown has that feel of many Africa cities -
more trade happening on the street than in shops (anything from bread, books, toothpaste, luggage, car parts, fish and cassava leaves), overfull taxi's with "God Bless" slogans, brightly colored cellphone ads, BIG election posters and so much more.

If you eye catches the sun just right or you look from just the right spot (from the hill near Mamba Point or even from our house), you might for a moment not see the dilapidated houses, stray dogs and garbage lined, potholed streets and just enjoy the constant laughter of kids playing or the cheering at the roadside soccer match.


So, it's from here that I'll be blogging along...