Let’s start at the very beginning

The beginning of my journey did not start with ABC as Maria prescribed in the Sound of Music but rather ITC – In Country Training.  Last week was spent in the VSO Programme Office discussing the culture of Sierra Leone, health matters, VSO’s Sierra Leone Health Programme Area Plan (the reason I am here as my role is supporting the infrastructure of the Ministry of Health and Sanitation (MOHS)) and importantly for me a session on housing and roommates – I have lived alone for far too long for me to think that this will be easy.  When we had breaks here is the view we had across to Freetown.

On housing I do know where I will be living but my room will not be free until the week of 2nd of April.  I would love to be there before starting work so I could truly feel inhabitant of Freetown rather than passing through but hotel life will carry on for me for another week.  This is no bad thing with free wi-fi, 24 hour electricity, freely running water and air conditioning.  I shall, however, miss my fellow new volunteers who have headed off up country, North to Makeni and East to Bo. 

Another important part of the ICT was the introduction to Krio - the local language.   This is what I shall have to master for conversing with my neighbours, colleagues, taxi drivers and market stall holders.  My aptitude for languages is being stressed here as despite many English words being incorporated the sentence construction is simple but different.  Watch this space for updates on my progress.

After four days in Aberdeen we crossed the bridge into central Freetown with a city tour.  How to describe Freetown?  Chaotic, frenetic, hot, dusty, humid, noisy and bustling are a few adjectives that come to mind.  It is hot, hot, hot so I would say I am glowing all the time.  Life wouldn’t be the same without a layer of sweat on my forehead and top lip.

The compensation for all this are the beaches.  At the hotel we are near the Aberdeen end of Lumley Beach – a two mile stretch of white sand.  The water isn’t that great for swimming in but it is so relaxing to wander along the watching the runners and many games of football. 

Not a bad life all in all.