Oh Salone…. You have no idea how weird it feels to know that Friday I will be getting on a plane and possibly never coming back here. I’ve never left a place thinking I might not return. Sierra Leone has been the most interesting, most frustrating place I have ever been. So how do I feel leaving? Strange and slightly confused. It feels like a long dream and I am sure, when I find myself sitting in the local Starbucks back home I will feel like the past 6 months never actually happened. But the thing is…you can’t possible leave an [View Full Entry]

---

---

I have to say, I really love it here! I can't believe I only have 6 weeks left of my journey here in Freetown and I already know it is going to be really difficult saying good-bye! Especially the people! I had a wonderful time this weekend at home in the city. Trying to recover from my last lung infection I stayed home Friday night, bought some greasy, questionable Chinese food and watched reruns of Will and Grace on my laptop! YES I did! After almost completing the entire 7th season, I sprayed on my bug repellent, climbed under my bug [View Full Entry]

---

---

Honestly….where does the time go?! (Get ready people…it’s a long one…:)) I have been back from holidays for over a week now and I am truly shocked at how fast things are going! After a wonderful holiday travelling around Morocco and Spain for three weeks (I know, I know….I can’t believe it myself), I am now home safe, broke (unlike before? ) and in Freetown once again. I have to admit that transitioning back from Spain and to Sierra Leone was quite challenging. In Spain, it took me a few days to get use to seeing lights everywhere, hot sh [View Full Entry]

---

---

I have never found writing a Blog so difficult. The up and down emotions that accompany this experience make it extremely challenging in trying to determine how I truly feel and what I honestly think. So many people have already asked me about what I have learned so far, and after a lot of thought I have come realize that I will not be able to answer that question properly for quite some time, perhaps not until long after I have returned home. Many of you may have noticed my sarcasm, critical sounding jokes and comments, as well as my [View Full Entry]

---

---

I was blessed this afternoon with a long run along the beach just as the sun started to set. It's hammerton wind season in Sierra Leone which means the desert winds blow in and blanket the sky with clouds. It feels a little like the summer in the Okanagan (British Columbia) during that really hot and dry summer when there were huge forest fires. The sun is blocked but the air stays thick and is filled with dry dust. Running on the beach has become my new favourite activity. It seems to be the only activity I can do without wanting [View Full Entry]

---

---

Just love this adventure I'm on..... Going back to Kabala for a few days was just exactly what I needed. Because our Executive Director is visiting from Canada, we got to experience some pretty amazing celebrations (pictures to follow) and sneak into some extremely interesting meetings with Directors, Principals, the Head Chief etc... Just incredible to watch how development is actually carried out in places like this. To see the difference that can be made from just a little NGO like CAUSE is really quite motivating. The cool air, the warmth of the village people and the quite pace [View Full Entry]

---

---

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 [View Full Entry]

---

---

What a week…. Sunday of last week, I spent the day with my new friends and their boat/jet ski on a private Island 30mins from Freetown. It’s called Tokai beach and as the pictures attempt to show, it is one of the most beautiful places on earth, I’m sure of it! The day was like a dream, fresh coconut from the palm trees, BBQ on the beach, Malibu and fresh pineapple juice, beautiful sun, sand, surrounded by new friends…heaven really. I had to take a deep breath and remind myself that it was indeed real! I couldn’t believe it. The extremes [View Full Entry]

---

---

So, we are very lucky to have a mini fridge in Freetown for our drinks....it broke yesterday....but DON'T worry...they sent for an electrican. He arrived this morning and after an hour he requested some tape....then 5 mins later...fixed. And he explains..."Ok, so, the fridge broke but now fixed." And so we ask, "what was wrong with it?" He responds, "the cord is bad but I put tape and now it will last you long time!" And he continues...."as long as the national power turns on and then...BOOM!"....hmmmm. "Great!" we say....then after we think about that for a bit...we ask, "what about [View Full Entry]

---

---

Without losing anyone’s attention, I promise to include only the MOST interesting! It’s worth reading, I promise…. Kabala is in the North and is the main area in Sierra Leone that CAUSE is working in. They are working in 3 schools, helping to provide uniforms, food, school supplies and covering various school fees. THE TRIP We arrived in Kabala after 10 hours, eventhough I was told it would be 5...in the hot sun and bumpy roads. It was truly beautiful though. The landscape is unreal and I kept having to reminding myself that I was driving in rural Sierra Leone a [View Full Entry]

---

---