Seeing the Country Side and saying goodbye

  This week one of our dear roommates (my bunkmate) Christel departed us since her time has finished here on Africa Mercy. She returned home on Sunday the 24th. The week prior to her leaving we crammed as much as we could. On one of the days we left right after a day shift at 4pm and headed once again to Madina Market. Since this was my second time going up country i was feeling confident in our ability to pull everything together. It was easy to find a public taxi up to Madina, we sat in the caged in Van for 2 hours as we made our way out of Conakry and towards the mountain. Once arriving in Coyah we started on foot towards a hotel that was on the outskirts of town.

Along the way a lovely driver offered us a ride. Through broken french we figured it was safe, there was a Red Cross on the vehicle so he must be good right? funny logic. We arrived at Parc Milley Mamadou and checked into our Bungalows. Along on the trip was myself, Nadine, Jillian and Christel. We enjoyed Bruchetts (steak skewers) for dinner in a garden area with candles and the stars above us. From dinner our friend who we met that day (the man who picked us us) asked if we would join him and his friend sitting down my the creak. They were lovely men who were Doctors here in Guinea. Their job has them traveling 5 days a week visiting the prisons and working with the doctors stationed at each one. Through no English, little french and lots of hand gestures we all chatted for an hour or so about Mercy Ships and Guinea and maternal health. It was very interesting and we hope to arrange for the men to come on board for a tour of our hospital in the near future.

After retiring to our rooms Nadine and myself had a chase with the frog who lived in our toilet, with the use of brooms, sticks, a bedside table and a shoe he was safely outside and we were inside. falling asleep under our mosquito nets, wearing minimal clothing reminded us of some of the reasons we appreciate the Ship. In the morning we awoke to a swarm of wasps building a nest at our window and a door that would not open. after 5 min and tossing the key under the door Christel released us from our room. Its a good thing there was no emergency during the night!



The previous night the Doctors told us about a trail head that was 1km up the road. We set out after our breakfast of Fig Newtons along the road. After 45 min-1 hour we still saw no trail and turned around. It was a pretty road, nice view of the hill tops surrounding us. After returning to Parc Milley Mamoudou we sat by the creak and enjoyed the midday sun before setting out on our hour walk back towards town. Watching people go about their lives is so fascinating, kids bathing in the front yards, square plots of freshly planted seeds, schools in session, goats passing by. Everyone greets you as you pass by and at times a whole slew of bathing naked children are interrupted and come running to shake your hand. We hopped into another public taxi making our way back to Conakry. We all enjoyed our quick one night trip up country.

 We spent Friday night watching the sunset at the beach at a little place called Chaka Waka. It is an amazing food truck run by Sierra Leone people. They make great pizzas and Bruchetts (steak skewers). We had a lovely table of girls gathered to enjoy the evening together. Saturday night we returned to the Chaka Wakas for a last farewell to those volunteers leaving this past weekend. We were in good luck since another Mercy Ship worker was celebrating a birthday. We arrived to an already set up DJ booth, combed out sand for a dance floor and tons of people. We spent the evening dancing and singing to all the songs. Looking up at the stars and around at all of our friends I felt so blessed to have all these girls to share my time here with.Sunday was Christel's last day on the ship, we said our goodbyes. I believe her journey home will be just around 24 hours. She was a great bunkmate and I know we will get a chance to meet again in the future!

Now I am rundown and a bit sick, among everything i have mentioned above I have been working 8 hour and 12 hour shifts! I guess that tends to be my norm, no slowing down.