Friday 31 October 2008

Almost there

I just have a few things left to do before I leave for Sierra Leone on Monday, but I'm almost ready to go. As I'll be staying at the 5/10 I need to get a kettle so I can start each day in my usual way with a cup of camomile tea - otherwise I might be unbearable for the people there with me!

Last weekend I went to the team orientation day that Mission Direct hold for volunteers who go on short term mission trips. It was a good to be able to meet some of the people that will be coming out on the teams while I'm in Sierra Leone. It was also a chance to have a good chat with Brian, the other member of the MD in country staff team......Brian and I will be based in Freetown hosting the teams of volunteers. My passport was returned to me complete with a shiny new visa and I was also given my flight ticket - it's just about sunk in that I really am going!

I intend to fully make the most of the time I have in Sierra Leone - we only have three days in between hosting teams of volunteers so I won't have much time off, but there are a few people I'd like to look up and spend time with if I get the chance. I especially want to find Ramatu (the girl with epilepsy Maureen and I found lying in the street) - I've thought about Ramatu a lot since I came back to the UK, but so far I've been unable to get any news of her.

If you want to stay in touch with me while I'm away you can email me, I will make an effort to pick up my emails at least once a week. If you want my to call or text me drop me an email and I'll send my SL number to you (I've kept the same number as before). It'd be great to hear from friends while I'm away.

I'd better get to the shops and finish my last minute shopping!

Also posted at minklemar.com

Wednesday 22 October 2008

Preparations

With only 12 days to go until I travel to Freetown I have a lot to do!
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I went to Nomad travel clinic in Southampton last week to get Lariam anti-malarial medication for my trip, but there was bad news.......there is a shortage of Lariam in the UK and they could only supply me with 6. I had one left over from the last time I took it, but that still left me three short of the total I need. Luckily my friend Rach has a few spare she's going to let me have! All my vaccinations are up to date so fortunately I didn't have to have any jabs.
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Last week I posted off my passport and visa application, so that should come through in plently of time. Fortunately by CRB check is still in date so I don't need to apply for another this time.
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When I left Freetown in June I gave away most of the clothes I had with me, so I need to have a shopping trip to buy some suitable clothes. At least this time I have more idea about the kind of things I need.
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I bought a mozzie net at the weekend to take with me, as we'll be staying at the 5:10 and they don't have nets on the beds there. Bob bought me a larger panel for my solar charger so if we have times with no electricity at least I'll be able to charge my phone and my ipod.
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Today I've spoken to our cook in Sierra Leone Maria and arranged to meet up with her when I get there to arrange the menus for the teams. I also called Adama, our breakfast cook, I wasn't really expecting to get through to her as she's due to go to Isreal and I thought that maybe she'd already gone....so it was a lovely suprise when she answered the phone. She's not going away until January so has agreed to do breakfast for us while we are there. I'm really looking forward to seeing them both again.
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Before I go I still have to get first aid supplies, contact out driver, check the hotel bookings, get a dentist appointment, get my car serviced, get some t-shirts printed........oh! there is so much to do - I should log off and get on and do it!
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While I'm in Sierra Leone we'll be hosting 2 teams of volunteers. The first team from 7th to 18th Novemer has 13 volunteers, the second team from 21st November to 1st December has 5 volunteers. I arrive 4 days before the first team and travel home with the second team.
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What am I looking forward to most about going back? Meeting the teams of volunteers - I loved getting to know and spending time with all the volunteers, it is fantastic to see how Sierra Leone affects people - especially people visiting for the first time. I'm also looking forward to seeing all the kids that I spent so much time with earlier this year and seeing how they are all getting on. I'm looking forward to visiting all the MD projects and seeing all the people we work with again.
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As far as I know the main projects we'll be working on are the City of Rest for people with mental health or alcohol/drug addicationh problems, and the Hosetta Abdulai school for special needs children.
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Also posted at minklemar.com
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Saturday 11 October 2008

News from Sierra Leone

Abu has been ill so we arranged for him to be taken to hospital where he was diagnosed with malaria, typhoid and worms......he was also undernourished. The poor little thing was so poorly, but once he had medication he was soon on the mend. Harder to address was the issue of him not getting fed at home - his aunt agreed that if I provided a sack of rice she'd make sure he got an evening meal. I arranged for a sack of rice to be delivered to her, I just hope and pray that she keeps her side of the bargain.
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Abu is completely well now and he went back to school when the new term started on 22nd September. From what I hear it sounds like he's staying out of trouble!
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I can't put into words how much I'm looking forward to seeing him next month!!




Sadly on 7th September Bobson Musa passed away. Bobson lived at the United Polio Brothers Association in Kissy with his son Kinnie. Bobson was well known to the Mission Direct volunteers - he made bible cases and wall hangings which he sold to the volunteers and he liked to meet and spend time with the teams.
He was paralysed in a car accident in 2000. I met Bobson on my first visit to Sierra Leone in 2006 and got to know him and his son well during the 4 months I was there earlier this year.
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He'll be missed by the MD volunteers and his brothers at UPBA. Bobson has two other children David and Kadi who live with their mother.

Also posted on minklemar.com


Friday 10 October 2008

All Change!

My plans for returning to Sierra Leone later this year changed completely yesterday. Bob and I had been planning to join a Mission Direct team over Christmas then stay on for a while extra when the team went home to explore a bit on our own. Unfortunately due to the cost of the flights over the Christmas period MD have had to cancel the Christmas trip.

There are two short term trips planned for November so MD asked if I'd consider going out there for about a month as one of the in-country staff team. I talked it over with Bob and he said that I should go! This time next month I'll be in Freetown!!

It's just over three weeks until I go, so I have quite a lot to do before now and then - first of all I need ot get my visa application sent off and get some lariam.

I am disappointed that we won't be going at Christmas as I was so looking forward to Bob seeing the projects, meeting everyone and experiencing Sierra Leone first hand, but unfortunately that's the only time he can take time off work. We've decided that we'll go somewhere else over the holiday period......at the moment we're thinking of a walking holiday in Madeira.

Also posted at minklemar.com
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