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Published: March 8th 2013
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Well hello readers (if I have any!)
How is it going?
My first week in Sierra Leone has come to an end and I am slowly finding my way around and getting used to the heat (if that is at all possible). Comparisons would be Barbados or Vietnam. But in Vietnam we were lucky enough to get air-conditioning in all the places I stayed. Air conditioning here is very rare. I am fighting for a fan in my bedroom – and we will see if I win that battle!
My accommodation – be you are all just on the edge of your seats waiting to hear so here goes. There are 6 of us in our little 5 bedroom house (we have a couple, Phil and Lizzie, volunteering on their honeymoon). We all have ensuite bathrooms (no – that does not mean it has a bath in it!) and a lovely kitchen and our communal living area is a lovely covered terrace looking out on the Street Child compound. Perfect! We even have 24/7 electricity and a western toilet. The electricity happened a couple of weeks before I arrived so I am very lucky to be one of the
first to experience 24/7 electricity without the noise of a generator.
In reality, our my room is basic, I have a bucket shower and have to go to the well to fill my buckets up. I then use the well water to flush my toilet. The kitchen is basic, no fridge so no buying in bulk. A few of us all cook together and we try and out do each other with new ideas on what we can do in two hobs, no oven, microwave etc. We have managed pasta, potato salad, garlic bread and I even attempted Potatas Bravas last night. We even cooked for 9 people on our basic facilities on Friday night. Drinking water is sold in bulk by the bag. Apparently 500ml bags but I don't believe what it says on the side - I am sure it is much less. Very bizarre drinking from a bag! I bought a special water filter with me so I am mostly drinking well water.
I have learnt a little more about the charity which is very interesting. Not all their fundraising is international – a lot of it is done here. There are around 10 mining camps
Australeone
Prince William's place throughout the country and about half of those camps have a shop where expats can spend their money. The shops overheads are paid for by the mining companies, and the staff are locals and the profits go into the charity. There is also a bar/restaurant here in Makeni called the Clubhouse. All the profits from the Clubhouse go back into the charity too. The Clubhouse is also my office and where I am now as I type this. Unfortunately no internet here, so hopefully in the next couple of days I will take a walk down to one of the few places in Makeni to get some internet for an hour or so before getting asked to move on.
I spent the weekend with Emma at the beach 'working' promoting the marathon to the expats and locals that go down to the beach at weekends. The beach was absolutely beautiful. White sands and not busy at all. The kind of place that all backpackers should experience for a non touristy destination. In 10 years time, we believe it will be overrun with tourists. It is a hidden gem.
For all of you who like their 24/7 electricity and running
water, perhaps you should wait a little while before coming too. But for 50,000 leone – about £8, Emma and I shared a tent at the beach – literally – on the beach at Prince Williams. Prince, as we call him, is a very kind local who manages 'AustraLeone' - a basic guesthouse on the beach. He owner is an Australian if you hadn't guessed. Prince helped us cross a river carrying our bags whilst Emma and I waded in after him on our way up the beach to the next one. Emma was very good, trying to kick away the fish from me so I could cross. Pigs on the beach seem to be a normal occurrence! Beach pigs we call them. I am sure they just belong to the local village, and quite sensibly come down to the sea for a bit of a cool down.
And that pretty much rounds up Week 1! A sneak preview into Week 2 is that I have been chatted up by a Policeman, telling me he won't let me leave the country! Funnily enough even though we have all got 6 month visas, the man at the airport on stamped
The Beach
where is the beach? our passports saying we can only stay one month. Luckily one of the girls noticed, otherwise we would all be in trouble so we all need to fix that one. Cheeky little devils!
This weekend we have the Marathon Launch Party in Makeni (we will have a couple in Freetown too) and a football tournament we are putting on to promote the marathon and raise some money.
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Sally
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Lovin' the Beach Pigs!
Wow TB a world away from New Lodge!! Brings back lots of backpacking and very happy memories - keep the blog coming it livens up a grey, cold, damp rainy Friday! What an adventure - enjoy every minute! :-) x