Hello from Sierra Leone

Hello Everyone!

I hope you're all having wonderful summers, wherever you are! I'm currently in Kenema, Sierra Leone, for the summer taking a class and working with a NGO on a needs assessment. I've been here about a week and it has been an interesting learning experience already!

This week has been full of traveling, lectures, walking, and observing. I left the US last Thursday, flying first to Brussels then on to Freetown (the capitol of Sierra Leone in the northwestern part of the country). We arrived at the airport in the evening and took a hovercraft across the large body of water separating Lungi airport and Freetown. There's not enough flat land on the Freetown side of the water to build an airport but there is also no convenient way to get across the water (not sure if it's a river or bay - maybe delta is a more appropriate word?). There used to be a helicopter but, due to political reasons (no money to grease the propellers?), it's not running. There's a hovercraft and ferry. We opted for the hovercraft. We finally got across the water (we being several students and professors because there are only 2 flights a day, every other day, that come into Freetown) and made it to the hotel (which had a/c - oh, how I miss a/c!). The next day we had lectures but the exciting part of the day came when a few friends and I went to a football game (not American football). It was the first game playing on the field for several years because of some weird regulations (?). The game was between SL and Nigeria and, although Nigeria won by one, the game was still a lot of fun.

The next day we traveled to Kenema, where I'm staying until August. Kenema is in the southwestern part of the country. The road wasn't too bad for most of the trip but it wasn't the best ride ever. But we made it! We're staying at the Catholic Pastoral Center, which is a huge complex of rooms, football fields, plantations, schools and more. I really haven't yet figured out where the center begins. It's about a half hour walk to the hospital and into town and I think the people along the route are getting used to all of the strange white females walking by their house daily. The kids call us "p mwois" which is Mende for white person (basically). We can call them "mende-mwois" (meaning a Mende person) but mainly we just wave and smile. I'm also learning some Mende and Krio. Mende is an African language and Krio is English, French, and African languages. To say 'how are you' in Krio you say 'how de body?' It's a little complicated to try to learn two languages, but all the people seem to appreciate the effort!

The rest of the week has been very full. Lectures, rotations, and hospital visits have pretty much filled up my days and it's a little hard to get around after dark. We've heard conflicting responses to safety after dark, so we're all trying to play on the safe side, considering how much attention we draw any way. So, many nights we sit around the Pastoral Center playing cards. Usually, it works out for the best though because I've been going to bed very early and not sleeping very well. Although I think I may miss my mosquito net when I return (strange sort of protective feeling), there are lots of unusual noises and there is almost always a thunderstorm at night. I am getting better sleep though now that I've adjusted a bit.

Sierra Leone has thus far been a huge learning experience. Walking around the hospital, talking to nurses/doctors/public health specialists, and meeting people around Kenema has been very interesting. People are extremely friendly and helpful. The Sierra Leonean students who are taking classes with us have also been especially helpful, showing us around the town and market, and making sure we know where to find things. They are immensely helpful resources and are fast becoming friends.

I think that's all of my updates for now. I hope everything is going well in the US, Russia, China, and wherever else you may be. Please write back - I love getting updates! Also, I have no idea what's going on in the world, so world event updates would be greatly appreciated.

Happy Sunday and Happy Father's Day!

Katie