Mango's and Laughing Cow

I have been attempting to write a coherent blog post for the past half an hour and I’m failing spectacularly. The last five weeks have fried my brain – quite literally, it is 39 degrees today. I have decided instead to leave you with a list of some of the funny things that have happened to me….

We arrived safely in Freetown after a short detour to Liberia. We were unable to land in Salone due to fog so took an unscheduled trip to neighboring Liberia and played some Banana Grams (sorry Byng, the speciously banana shaped present was just too tempting).    

This morning I counted 22 children in the living room of my host home. I’m unsure how they got there or who they belong to. (We don’t actually know who lives in our house; it seems to change on a daily basis.)

I have eaten a very large amount of rice and Laughing Cow Cheese - apparently a breakfast staple here. I had two mango's for my lunch today.

The main form of transport in Makeni is okada - A 16 year old boy with a motor bike who for 2000 Leon (about 40p) will take you anywhere in the town. They are so much fun! On our first day in Makeni my massive rucksack and I jumped on an okada with a pillow, mosquito net, large metal water filter, several bags of luggage and bedding. Some very funny photos to follow…

I’ve had numerous marriage proposals. I have created a fictional husband and child in the UK to ward of overly keen okada drivers.

I am working for a local NGO called MADAM. I spend most of my time teaching computer lessons and making all my work colleagues Facebook. I have also introduced my lovely national counter part Alusine to ‘The Google’.

Tonight I am going clubbing SL style. We are going to Memes – a bottling factory by day and party hot spot of Makeni by night.

Basically Sierra Leone is amazing! I hope to be more coherent in my next post. Sorry if I haven't been touch. Texts and calls are very expensive and getting hold of the net is a challenge. This is the first time I’ve manage to find some semi decent internet. It is a slightly bizarre experience, there are currently about six people watching me write this.

Hope you are all well,

Lots of Love

Bea or Balay Ramatu Janneh - my new Sierra Leone name!

To the airport!

I’ve decided not to use my first post to bore you with you with details of my travel arrangements, flights and whether or not I shall be sitting aisle or window. Instead, I’m going to tell you a little about Sierra Leone or, as it is affectionately called by locals, ‘Sweet Salone’.

Sierra Leone is located on the west coast of Africa; it is a small country roughly the size of Ireland. Within its boundaries you will find beautiful beaches, mountains, rainforests and savannah grasslands. Salone has been inhabited by man for over 2500 years. In the mid-15^th century it was named Serra de Leão (meaning Lion Mountain) by a Portuguese explorer and the name stuck!  

It has a complex and colourful history, shaped by colonialism, slavery and the resource-rich soil. Most of you will know Sierra Leone for its brutal civil war during the 90s. The media was flooded with images of child soldiers and amputees. It’s estimated that around 50,0000 people died during the conflict and over half of the population was displaced. But Sierra Leone is now on the road to recovery.  Since the end of the war in 2002 it has made huge progress in development terms, progress which is often overlooked by western eyes. At the end of 2012 it had its first free election.

The officially language of Sierra Leone is English (independence from Britain was gained in 1961), but more commonly spoken is Krio. Krio evolved in Freetown during the abolition of slavery. It’s a combination of several indigenous African languages and English. I have compiled a list of essential Krio phrases for you, which I picked up from a popular travel guide.

Essential Krio:

§      How are you?  - How di bodi?

§       I’m fine - Di bodi fine

§      Can’t complain - Ah tel god tehnki (literally, I tell God thank you)

§      I bought this ring for you - Ah bai dis ring foh yu

§     The food is tasty – Di chop swit

§      Shut your mouth – Seht yu mot (Do not be alarmed, I’ve been told that this doesn’t carry the same aggression as it does in the UK, though I would recommend using it with caution!)

On the cultural front, the Salone music scene is thriving! In 2001 it was estimated that over 90% of music was foreign but today about 70% of music played is home grown. Music is political, and is used to fight injustices and corruption in society. And so, as I set off for the airport, I’ve decided to leave you with some sweet sounds of Sierra Leone.

Love Bea   

P.s

It’s 23 degrees in Freetown today!

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8LDqU2IyWVU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NUfviY-Qrxs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xKmO6_S-YdY

The Sierra Leone Refugee All Stars are a band formed in a Guinea refugee camp during the civil war. Emmerson is probably Sierra Leone’s most loved artist. His song ‘Yesterday Betteh Pas Tiday’ sparked huge political debate. Star Zero is a prominent female singer. Her song ‘Girl Pikin Wahala’ (meaning girl child troubles) talks about the barriers facing the women. Katy Perry and Taylor Swift definitely need to check her out.