Blogs from Liberia, Africa - page 2

“Life is a challenge.” It’s been three days since I first set foot in West Africa, but, as with most trips to the field, it’s taken me a while to fully grasp where I am. Today, I find myself in the outskirts of Monrovia, Liberia’s capital, just outside one of Merlin’s health clinic, staring at the license plate on the back of a motorcycle parked next to the rehabilitated facility. “Life is a challenge” it reads unassumingly. I don’t think there is a single human being with a remote understanding of modern history who will refute this truism, especially as it applies to the continent of Africa. Life has been, is (and I’m afraid) will continue to be) a challenge. But, as is the case with many marginalized, destitute parts of this often times-forgotten continent, one ... read more

Never in my widest dreams did I ever see anything like this happening, as they say you never know whats around the corner. As you all know, I have paid for my ticket, taken my vaccinations, got my visa, I am all set to go. What could possible go wrong??? Well! My mum who has been a great source of inspiration and motivation throughtout has suffered a set back with her health which will prevent us from travelling at the moment. Hopefully, if all goes well, we should be back on track in 6 months or so. I will therefore take the positive approach and view this as a temporary set back and look forward to travelling with my mum soon on our journey to Africa. Stay strong mum. I am sure you will all share ... read more

Not long to go , I had my yellow fever vaccination on the 28 of October 2010. Without this vaccination I would not be able to get a visa. It must have taken me a good 3 hours to find the Liberia embassy. It's located in warren street London, but let's just say I took a very long route round. Got there eventually tho , everything went really well. My biggest concern now is travelling with the nets and keeping them safe. My worse nightmare would be if they were to be taken off me at the airport. I have 80 mosquito nets, unfortunaly i can only carry 40 with me ,further arrangements will be made for the other 40 nets. Hopefully the airport will not charge me too much to transport them. I am really ... read more

Our final day in Liberia was as much as we could hope for. We spent the morning at the Orphanage and used the craft supplies we bought with a large group of kids. Spending over two hours with a bulk supply of large sheets of yellow paper ended in a room covered in yellow paper chains, kids in crowns, and small scraps everywhere.... The teachers merely shrugged and said don't worry about it when we asked how we should begin to clean up the mess. It was a good end to our visits there. After leaving we headed to the Sisters of Mother Theresa and spent the afternoon with the smaller kids. We'd only been there the day before but they greeted us with hugs and smiles. We left to tears and hugs and poopy diapers. ... read more

The Majority of the Liberian Community extended their weekend in honor Independance Day and so most offices and businesses were closed. We were unable to volunteer ( though Joyce did get to visit the Monrovian Prison with the Minister of Justice) so instead a small group of us did some sightseeing. We began by driving to Providence Island, the place Freed American Slaves first touched ground on the Mayflower (not to be confused with the Pilgrim's Mayflower). Small and quaint, the place reminded me of something in the middle of the Delaware River inn Philadelphia. We took a few snapshots and then continued. After the island we went to the Africa Hotel. Originally an incredibly opulent hotel on the coast, the Africa Hotel was gradually destroyed during the war, windows blown out, rooms ravaged, and systematically ... read more