Routine

I always look forward to being in a place long enough to begin some sort of daily routine. There is something about having an idea about what tomorrow will bring that provides a certain amount of comfort and confidence.

When my phone alarm goes off at about 7:30am every morning, I open my eyes to the sights and sounds of Freetown at the beginning of a day. Usually a rooster is crowing, the baby next door is screaming for breakfast and the angry Lebanese neighbour is yelling at the top of his lungs in Arabic about God only knows what! The starting up of generators shakes the very foundation of the buildings surrounding it, somehow always reminding me of early Saturday mornings when my dad would decide to mow the front lawn outside my bedroom widow, creating a sense of helpless frustration. Stuck between wanting to fall back asleep and showering off the heat from sleeping 5 or so hours under a bug net in the muggy, heavy, relentless heat of this steamy country, I eventually give in to the day. After washing off, I experience the same disappointment as I do everyday when 2 minutes after getting out, I begin to sweat all over again. Giving up, I go and sit in the common room to share a cup of instant coffee, powdered milk and ant-filled cereal with Barb while complaining about all the random noises that kept us from an almost continuous sleep.

Work is getting more exciting and busier with every passing day. The convenience of having my office downstairs is often both a blessing and a curse. I don’t have to take public transport (which is my LEAST favourite part of this experience) but I always have to watch were I am and what I’m wearing (or not wearing more importantly). Barb and I work side-by-side and fire up our labtops at the same time every morning. We check our email, the news and then the tabloids (you know, to keep us grounded) and begin trying to accomplish what we have each set out to do for the day. This may vary…I’m currently reviewing and editing reports and analyses for programs completed by CAUSE Canada and CIDA (Canadian International Development Agency). Next week I hope to begin going through government materials in hopes of being able to create a proposal for a potential girl’s educational policy that may be implemented by the Ministry of Education in Sierra Leone in the New Year. It is all very exciting and somewhat intimidating (ok, VERY intimidating). Lunch starts at 1pm and goes till 3pm. It is quite a process getting to a “restaurant” and getting home again. Cabs are a total pain. They are run down, disgustingly dirty, noisy, and it isn’t uncommon to find another stranger or two sitting on your lap as the drivers fill their cars with up to 8 people. I stopped trying to find a seat belt a long time ago; I figured it might actually be safer without one. These drivers don’t care if they have 3 flat tires, blown shocks, limited brake use and no mirrors, they don’t stop using them. The roads just rip apart vehicles here eventually. DON’T EVER complain about bad roads in Calgary, trust me, you are the lucky ones. There are dogs, cats, children, wheelchairs, broken down cars, buses and trucks spread out everywhere and people still drive 70 km/hr!

The day ends around 5pm. We pack up and climb the stairs back to our rooms to return to the common room and try to build up enough motivation to do some type of physical activity. We either do a workout DVD (Jane Fonda or kick boxing) or go for a walk/run on the beach. I know the thought of walking on a beach sounds delightful and oh so romantic…and it is…only, keep in mind that I regularly come across dead animals, used needles, condoms, shoes, garbage, car parts, and dead sea life washed up on to the shore.

Dinner plans vary depending on whether or not we have been paid recently. Because of delayed money transfers and the lack of ATMs (they don’t exist, actually), dinner tonight will be a can of spagettiO’s, which I am SO EXCITED ABOUT! I’m actually serious! We do have a LOT of Chinese and Lebanese food here. I am learning to really enjoy a good bowl of rice and groundnut soup as well (think…boiled peanut butter).

Bed is at 11pm scrap because the power goes off. I usual lie their swatting at mosquitoes for a few hours and try to cool down enough to fall back asleep.

There you have it…with the exception of a few weekly outings to meetings with other NGOs and educational forums and program launching events, this is an example of typical day for me in Freetown, Sierra Leone.

After having read over it now…I realise this may sound like I’m complaining….and the truth is, I am a little, but mostly this is just the truth. I really actually look forward to everyday and feel very blessed to be here. The people I work with are amazing and the things I’m learning and experiencing are unbelievable. A few bad cab rides, no electricity and some cans of instant dinner is quite a small price to pay…..Just keep telling yourself that Ashley…there she goes again….Barbie does Africa! 

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