I'm writing from Kenema, a one street town near the Liberian border in south east Sierra Leone. Currently I am helping with water and sanitation projects in the local rural/bush communities. Strictly speaking I am currently recovering from a barbie at the house that ended in drinking games.
The rainy season is nearly upon us and most evenings we witness raging thunder storms while sipping a few cold ones on the porch. There is now a lot of stagnant water lying around and a number of expats have succumbed to Malaria. The locals often get Malaria, but it does not effect them as badly and seem to be quite proud of the particularly potent local mosquitoes, their 'African Soldiers'.
Last weekend I played in an Aid Workers football XI against the British Army detachment at the national stadium in Freetown. We won 4-1 and went on to beat them at a few bar games that evening, before going onto Freetown's infamous nightclub Paddy's.
Last Wednesday Tony Blair made a one day visit to Sierra Leone, but didn't make the trip across the river estuary from the airport to Freetown. He is a great hero here and a lot of the Freetowners were a bit put out that he didn't make it to Freetown proper. I think Tony might have been a bit disappointed with how much progress has been made considering the amount of aid pouring into Sierra Leone, approximately 60% of the government's budget is made up of donor aid money.
Elections are scheduled for 11th August here and people are hoping to see some significant changes. In the communities the bush societies have been very active as political opponents cast bad juju on each other, traditionally the powerful 'medicines' have required human sacrifices.
Hoping for successful and peaceful elections,
Alex
The rainy season is nearly upon us and most evenings we witness raging thunder storms while sipping a few cold ones on the porch. There is now a lot of stagnant water lying around and a number of expats have succumbed to Malaria. The locals often get Malaria, but it does not effect them as badly and seem to be quite proud of the particularly potent local mosquitoes, their 'African Soldiers'.
Last weekend I played in an Aid Workers football XI against the British Army detachment at the national stadium in Freetown. We won 4-1 and went on to beat them at a few bar games that evening, before going onto Freetown's infamous nightclub Paddy's.
Last Wednesday Tony Blair made a one day visit to Sierra Leone, but didn't make the trip across the river estuary from the airport to Freetown. He is a great hero here and a lot of the Freetowners were a bit put out that he didn't make it to Freetown proper. I think Tony might have been a bit disappointed with how much progress has been made considering the amount of aid pouring into Sierra Leone, approximately 60% of the government's budget is made up of donor aid money.
Elections are scheduled for 11th August here and people are hoping to see some significant changes. In the communities the bush societies have been very active as political opponents cast bad juju on each other, traditionally the powerful 'medicines' have required human sacrifices.
Hoping for successful and peaceful elections,
Alex
5 comments:
Dearest Alex !
Very nice writing !! and great pics... It seems you are having fun there. I am glad to see that. Can t wait to get to india and be able to get a beer anywhere i want hehe I am going to Jordan and Israel next week, very excited about it. i ll post some pics when I came back. Lots of Love, use lots of mosquito repelent !! and take care of yourself, Marc & Connie
Nice to see u are finally doing some work as well as pissing about, good life experience u are getting down there young Alex. The potent malaria brings back some good memories and some bad ones for me, but yeah the more malaria u get in west Africa the more proud you that u have survived them all so can understand where the locals are coming from... So you are improving your football skills well we could do with some of them skills back here in Blighty!! when r u coming over to visit
Dearest Alexander!
We are very proud of you, keep the good work, you are the best. Please post more often your blogs or send us e-mails when in Freetown.
You have our unconditional support and our very warmest salutes and wellwishes.
Alex+Valarie
Hey Alex!
Still alive and kicking I see... fighting for the free world... good to hear from you again mate.
I'm now working in Muscat. Had an interesting time last week with a cyclone that swept past. No flying camels though.
Welcome to drop in for a few cold ones when you're around this part of the world... I might even have a couch for you to sleep on.
Hey Alex!
Good to see you are doing well and the blog is a very good idea to have some news.
Give us an update and more pictures ;-)
Pierre
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