TIA

6-3-11

This is Africa

After a very long flight, I am finally in Africa. All the days of traveling, blended into one, extremely long day. It is now Friday. 

Last night was our groups first night in Sierra Leone. Arriving in the Lungi Airport was an experience all of its own. There was one baggage claim, and about 150 people surrounding all sides. With each volunteer having 2 checked bags, things got crazy. Fast. 

After collecting the luggage, we piled onto 3 busses and drove to the ferry. While loading onto the ferry, the back of our van scrapped the metal and cement- heavy luggage. On the ferry, we were able to walk around, got our first malaria pill and a snack consisting if two bananas, two hard boiled eggs, a coconut cookie pack, a small saran wrapped ball of peanuts and bottled water. 

When we arrived in Freetown it was dark. Vendors off the side of the road were using candles or LED lights to illuminate loafs of bread, rolls, mangos, knick-knacks and trinkets. The honking was non-stop as cabs and vans passed by, each at least with 10 passengers. The cars were lit with inside black-lights or strobes. There is no way I would drive in this country- I can see why ‘transportation accidents’ was a major issue with the Peace Corps. The motorcycles had 3-4 people and zoomed in and out of traffic like it was no big deal. We passed so many people, all who would stare at us, some would wave and some would shout ‘apollo’ or something, translating to white person. 

Once to the hostel, Tammie and I had to carry our 100+ lb. bags to the third floor. With the heat and humidity, I was about to pass out. Our room, 317, has a heavy metal door, a balcony overlooking a giant cemetery, back windows looking at soccer stadium ( which a night host the Christian Crusade), two double sized mattress’ placed on single sized bed frames, a broken air conditioner, mosquito nets over each bed (Tammie’s has holes) and a bathroom that has a bobby pin for the toilet flush and a pipe for a shower. We had a great time last night. Lots of laughing at ourselves.

After our one light flickered out (the electricity goes out at least once a day I guess), we laid under our mosquito nets with dead bugs clinging to the outsides of them and sweat. I laughed when I looked over at Tammie, who was being eaten by her mattress, just the same as me. Since the mattress’ are too big for the bed frames, our body weight caused the extended sides to fold upward, making us even hotter. 

We fell asleep to what reminded me of the ‘rainforest’ setting on relaxation clocks, multiplied by 10. Frogs, crickets, birds and who knows what else chirped and crooned all night. 

This morning Tammie was able to kill about 6 cockroaches that appeared sometime in the night and we were sung to by a group of small children on the way to training...”apollo, apollo, apollo hey” over and over. 

Everything is going great! My current address is...

Kenna Peterson

Peace Corps Volunteer

Freetown, Sierra Leone

PO Box 905

This might change in about 3 months. And if anyone is sending anything package like, we were told for you to write “GOD is watching,” bible verses and other things that might deter any stealing. Also, don’t send anything expensive.