Aubrey's Guide to Freetown

Do you like blistering sun, spicy food and Madonna bumper stickers? Then you're going to love Freetown, which has an insane excess of all these things!
Here are some tips on what to do when visiting:


When packing, DO NOT, repeat, DO Not bring water proof bug repellent and safari, nature-y tourist clothing. I'm going to be frank with you, anyone who wears that stuff ends up looking dorky and basically sweating to death. Besides, you really only end up wearing "tourist clothes" when you come to Sierra Leone, then they are put in the closet never to return.


Tip Two: no matter how crappy you think it is, enjoy the plane ride while you have it, because once you step off that plane there will be no air conditioning or new movies.


As for tip three, when in Rome do as the Romans do, or in this case, when in Africa. Don't spend your time here sulking about what you're missing from home, just join the crowd and go with the flow. Try your best to be an optimist!


Tip four: if you happen to break down and go a little crazy, do not panic. Just take a deep breath, splash some water on your face and take a big gulp from your canteen. Look at the big picture, you're getting to do something few people get to experience! In the words of my BFF, Bob Marley, "Don't worry about a 'ting..."


There's a whole lot of cool things to do while here, and as long as you follow my four step plan, there's a good chance you'll get to experience them. But if you really want my advice, get an advice giver who isn't thirteen!

Fowl Business

I will begin with a disclaimer and apology today. To those of you who have listened to my endless chatter and talk of dreams of chicken ownership, you were great friends. After reading this blog you will be hitting the great unfriend button of life because after countless hours of waxing poetic about the joy of chicken ownership, I have realized my folly.

It seems romantic and glamorous on film. Zha Zha made it look whimsical and fun. I even have a visual of Miley Cyrus on a tire swing, young and carefree (pre-turk of course) feeding chicks and bringing joy to the hearts and lives of pre-teen girls everywhere by producing eggs for consumption. I imagined myself flinging grain and baring my soul to the beasts as they gently click and coo around me, obviously understanding the turmoil of a young mother and the hardships I face. But what Ms. Gabor and poor little misguided Miley omit in the fanciful forays in fowl life is the poop.

We all do it. If you want to be a living organism you must commit 20 seconds to 45 minutes to the task daily. Some animals stop in the woods, some read a book others answer questions like where are the sneakers I wore last Thursday and how do they make margarin. (Cause mom is clearly a captive audience at that point) I understand the need, but a nice quiet throne room with candles and matches should be the goal not my front porch, back porch, and once in my shoe which was under my kitchen table. These birds are the greatest escape artists ever. I’m pretty sure they are plotting with graphs and charts as I am writing this. We wire and re-wire and nail and staple but the little slop-suckers keep escaping! How? After escaping they must immediately evacuate their bowels…everywhere! Why? I’m losing my mind! Even the 15 month old screams no and chases them now. It is a great exercise plan (running while bent over flailing your arms, it’s like planking…only better and with yelling). It is chicken pandamoneum here. And what do we have to show for it? 2 eggs every other day. Wah wah wah…

So, to all my friends out there who heard my cries for chicken and prayed with me to have the joy of my heart…I’m sorry. And to those friends who are drinking the cool-aid and seeing chicken ownership as an investment in your future happiness, don’t believe the hype. Just like Zha Zha and Miley, it can go very bad.

Playing catch up

First, I am so sorry that there has been such a gap in posts. We have had crazy internet and power issues and we have finally worked out a few kinks. I have been trying to write during the silent times anyway so I can update folks, so if you are interested in what we’ve been doing…

 

November 2013

We haven’t been doing very much…Just moving!! We finally have a home that has a private compound and room for everyone. We are so excited and so blessed that the Sisco family allowed us the opportunity to take over their lease. It is amazing.

We have loved everyone home we have stayed in. The small 3 rooms of the village were a little tough and going outside to use the potty was not on my top 10 favorite things I have done, but each place has stretched us and been a place where everlasting relationships have been made. The thing is, we had no idea how much alone time we did not have! We have lived in compounds with constant traffic and daily random visits and we have loved it, but our house is quiet now. No one is sitting on my front porch and I just sent my kids outside and I don’t know what they are doing! I got up this morning and walked through my house in my pajamas to sit on my couch. I am a new woman.

We are getting settled in and my girls are loving the fact that they don’t all have to share a dwelling. Five kids in one room was a bit much…a bit. Everyone has decorated appropriately and they love home. It feels like home.

Thanksgiving was a quiet affair with just us guys and that was ok. We ate turkey and all the good stuff that goes with it and talked to our families and relaxed. This year’s turkey was baked in an oven and not in a coal pot and the feast was topped off with an apple pie. See how typically boring we are. Weeeeee!!!

We are finding our groove at TRS and learning the ropes. We are so excited about the work ahead. Everyone is good. NOTHING is going on.