In Sierra Leone (finally!)

Awkward typing on a European-style keyboard--a couple of differently placed keys as well as the left shift key being much smaller--\i end up hitting the \ key instead of \capitalizing... :)

 

The flight from London to Lungi Freetown airport was uneventful; only 40 minutes late.

Baggage claim was a wonder to behold; still, a much easier process with two people on the team than with 12.

 

Trying to get tired so I can fall asleep--need to be ready to leave in 7 hours.  We have a 30 minute drive to the ferry, one hour loading process, 90 minute cruise across the harbor to Freetown, another 30-60 minutes to get off the ferry, then about 4 1/2 hours to get to the city of Bo (110 miles).

 

Will stop just after the ferry landing to deliver a laptop computer to one of our older youth who is now attending a computer technician trade course in Freetown.

 

Weather is partly cloudy, about 79 degrees and 94% humidity (no kidding) -- keep up with that at http://www.timeanddate.com/weather/sierra-leone/freetown

 

Time to get some sleep (\i hope)

 

Thanks for checking in!

 

BTW, connectivity from here on out is unknown.  If you don't hear from me, it means I cannot get to the internet.

Will be home, barring delays, on Saturday, 6 Feb.

 

Peace.

Stopover in London; on to Sierra Leone

A very nice day in London (though cold because we came dressed for West Africa!).  I've attached a picture of me shivering over a hot cocoa by the Thames.

 

Along with seeing the typical sites in the City, Ed and I visited the Methodist Meeting Hall and got a brief personal tour by the Manager and Archivist--what a lovely building and very significant history in its short 100 year history.

 

We also made our way to Wesley Chapel and got a brief look at John Wesley's home.

 

Great day--hope it set the stage for a great, but too-short follow-on leg to Freetown.

 

Depending on electricity and connectivity, I may not be able to send anything until I return on Saturday.

If they did get the internet connection working at the Child Rescue Centre, I'll contribute as often as possible!

Are we there yet? (spoiler: no!)

Travel Math:
Take one commercial aircraft plus 100 tired travelers,
add one faulty hydraulic pump and a 6-hour wait,
subtract all spiritual effervescence from 45 of said travellers, along with the air crew's crew rest,
Equals a long night and a taxi ride back home.

Restarting the adventure today, though it looks like "unfortunately" we will have a full day's layover in London (okay, I couldn't type that without smiling).

Interesting lessons about staying on top of options while avoiding being a pest for information--I observed a bit of un-civil behavior and am saddened that people can blind themselves with frustration so much so that they lash out at people working to make them comfortable while someone else works the problem (God bless the British Airways aircrew of Flight 264 at Washington Dulles (IAD) airport on 28 Jan 2010! Kudos for the ground crew at the gate who did NOT lose their calm and considerate demeanor, despite some of the passengers' best efforts).

Anyway, I think there are some lessons for life in the past 18 hours; I shall mull that over for awhile and see if I come up with some useful observations. In the mean time, on to London tonight and, Lord willing, to Freetown on Sunday.

What's in my backpack, what's on my mind

After four and half years of exposure to all that is promising in Sierra Leone (the smiles of healthy children, songs of worship in a language unknown to me, and the simple joy of living found more often, ironically, among the poor), as well as seeing so much that is debilitating to the spirit (the poverty, the lost and exploited opportunities, the callous treatment of people and the environment), I am more comfortable with the trip.

Even though I've had only four brief trips, barely a month and a half in-country, like so many others who have been touched by the people and place that is Salone, there is a part of me which is now familiar with the gentle sights and conversations, as well as being able to witness helplessly, without tears but still with deep sadness, the incredible challenges.

My backpack now reflects a sort of normalcy these trips have taken on: along with a Bible and the same Moleskine notebook I've used as a journal and scratchpad since my first trip in Oct 2005, I am also carrying "The First 90 Days" and a couple Harvard Business Review Classics, so I can work a transition plan for my new job.

What does this mean? With this, my fifth trip, and my daughter just back from Bo--her second trip in a year (which she took with my wife, her first trip), talking about this place is now an integral part of our life; looking out across the next few years, considering trips back to Bo feel as natural as anticipating vacation time, as normal to my family's dinner conversation as discussing school work or the neighbor's new puppy.

Is this becoming casual/run-of-the-mill okay? More later...

Photo-moment -- waiting in style

See you at Heathrow!

A journey of a thousand miles starts with a delayed departure...

Ever-exciting, ever-unpredictable this globe trotting:

 

Travel partner and I show early at the airport (check)

Make sure the spouses get out in time to avoid the Fairfax County Parkway rush hour, score points for being considerate (check)

Bags weighed in well below limit, but contain enough for a comfortable trip (check)

Check in and be told the flight will be at least 1 hour, "I hope" says the guy at the travel desk...

 

No worries--time to verify I can email into the Journey2Bo blog.