Getting back to "me"...

People ask me to write a book about my stay here, like what I am doing is something special or different.  I used to say I wanted to be a writer. Then, I got way too insecure and self-conscious about others reading my work…My thoughts. However, for me, it also feels a little weird to hear that my lifestyle or current path is any different than other ex-pats I see in Freetown...or even different for me. First of all, there are hundreds of us here…I don’t even see the majority who are living upcountry and deep in the bush most of the year. But also, this is my life - it's the path I chose for myself - is it really something worth discussing? Aren't all our paths different?

I remember being in Northern Uganda in 2008 with Nicole and Brian, and very specifically shunning any establishment where even one other muzungu showed up. We ended up spending time just amongst ourselves, and maybe a few locals we worked with. We ate local street food every morning (chapatti with eggs and grilled vegetables or a banana), and did not frequent actual restaurants or cafes.  We lived in one hotel room, and Nicole and I slept in one small bed together the entire time. We never ever wanted to visit Kampala, or any major city, and liked our very humble living.

Here, in Sierra Leone, however, I live in the capital city. I see Apotos every day, and everywhere I go. There is also a great number of Diaspora.  If I don’t bring lunch with me to work, I am happy to eat at one of the more local restaurants where I don't see other Apotos, and am more than happy eating African food.  However, if I eat out in the evening with friends, I usually eat at establishments where you only find other Apotos or Diaspora (I am including all the Lebanese in the Apoto category).  To be fair, not eating meat here does not give me many options, so the “white” establishments give me menus with choices. Also, with the current cholera epidemic, eating at the local spots just isn’t as good an idea. Nevertheless, my story can't be that different from theirs. 

Anyway, when I hear I should be writing every day, and taking lots of pictures, I don’t categorically disagree. I should. Why not? If nothing else, it will turn into memories for me.  However, I remember Uganda, from four years ago, perfectly.  Honoring oral tradition, I feel like Nicole, Brian, and I have told the same stories that stand out to us over and over again to anyone who will listen…especially Brian and his “So, there I was…” A part of me also maybe sees this as my forever life to some extent…where one day, Sierra Leone will just be another venue for my similar stories. So, is this really something I need to document?

Nevertheless, I promised my uncle I would write. Considering I haven’t written in so long, any writing is better than nothing. This is my commitment to him. Even if I am one of hundreds of ex-pats here, writing their blogs, living their lives away from most of their loved ones. This is a different story... because it is my story.

On the go...

So, after 30 years of existence and at least 15 years of saying I would, one day, just get on the road and "go", I am finally doing it. I gave up my house for the next two months, and have very few obligations from now until September 1st.

I decided to put only the essentials in my car and dropped off a few boxes at Mike's...The essentials I brought along are pretty basic, I must admit. I have a bathroom area contained within a metal case that Mike calls the "metal case of doom" (it's pretty heavy, but includes shampoo/conditioner, face wipes, toothbrush/toothpaste, pretty much anything you would find in someone's bathroom), a kitchen (a cooler with eggs, cheese, homemade tzatziki, soyrizo, mushrooms, tomatoes, veggie bacon, veggie breakfast patties, and rice milk; there is also a plastic storage container for my dry foods, including sourdough, English muffins, corn tortillas that went bad within the first day - yaye to no preservatives!, instant oatmeal, tea, pita chips - four bags, and on day 3, two bags are already finished, stale goldfish, and cashews; lastly, my kitchenware - camping stove, wine opener, can/beer opener, a pot, pan, plates, bowls, cups, cutting board, knives - really just one, dish soap, spices, and paper towels), and my bedroom which consists of crash pads, yoga mats, sleeping bag, and pillow, and my clothes which all fit in one backpacker's bag.  Looking back on this list, it actually looks and feels like I brought a ton...however, considering I am living off this for the next (at least) 3 weeks, I feel like it's fair.

On Friday, Mike and I made the drive up to Cedar City, Utah, and stayed the night there. Cedar City was a CUTE little town right across the border from Arizona from Nevada. We stayed at a bed and breakfast, and I would have LOVED to stay in that house for weeks...I thought about how it would be really fun to actually own a home like that and have guests stay there with me as they drove on to their destinations. They hire college students (really sweet and accommodating ones) to take care of patrons, make breakfast, clean up, etc...The night we got in, we were so hungry, so we found a pub hoping we could have a couple beers and a bite to eat.  Turns out, there was a Mike's Tavern a block away, so we went there...low and behold, it was karaoke night and the entire town was there (20 people) ;) to sing and hang out. It felt like a pretty young crowd, and we later found out that there is a university down the street. After we ordered our Zion Brewing Company Amber Ale, we looked around to see what we could grub on. Well, the waitress offered us chips...no, not potato crisps or fries, but actual chips. Well, that wouldn't do for us, so we asked where we could eat at that time of night (midnight), and she said the only place open was Denny's. We finished our 4% beer (um, more like water), and head over to Denny's.  Denny's is never my first...or second...or 27th choice of a dining establishment, but it was definitely clutch in that moment. Mike and I were both beyond exhausted....Mike ordered the fried sampler and I had a potato skillet (hold the meat).  I really liked my food, but Mike had a stomach ache for at least a day after. We also ordered decaf coffee, but after the first cup, we felt like there may be caffeine. Mike swears he can taste caffeine. No, not like he's suddenly awake, but he actually tastes the flavor of caffeine. Anyway, we left there and CRASHED until we heard the other guests in the morning screaming "Gooooooooooooooooooal" a couple times during the Germany v. Argentina World Cup game. I had a feeling they weren't rooting for the brown guys...I called out the nice gentleman later at breakfast.

By the way, Mike is driving at the moment - we are heading to Arches - and he keeps pointing out beautiful scenery, as I keep typing away on my wonderful MacBook. :)  I mean, I guess I kinda did want this trip to be a chance to zone out and be in my own world...blogging world, included.

Just finally made it to Moab. Actually, we have been here for a few hours, but decided to drive over to Arches National Park to drive the loop and figure out which hikes we want to take tomorrow. Thankfully, our campsite has electric outlets (well, connections for water and electricity), so I can finally charge my laptop and write from our picnic table.

So...where did I leave off? Oh, yes. Last I really wrote, we were leaving Cedar City.  Cedar City was a cute little town, as I said before...the town had an old town downtown area, and it was interesting because in many of establishments that looked like houses, there were businesses...whether it was a more obvious bed and breakfast, a massage place, a dog grooming business, etc. Everyone was beyond kind. When Mike and I went to the grocery store to pick up a few things before we head off to Bryce, two different ladies asked if we wanted to go ahead since we had fewer items. You just don't see that type of generosity and thoughtfulness at home. The cash register lady and the nice lady in front of us got into a conversation about what kind of fish can be caught at the local fishing area, etc. Just jovial...and very present people.  I mean, I feel as though many people live in their own heads. It's not a matter of not wanting to be kind and ask if someone would like to get in front of them, but more that we don't even notice. We are just methodically going about our days. We don't even notice others...unless it somehow benefits us. I know this is a huge generalization, and there are many kind people in Southern California...but, it's just an observation.