AFTER ELECTIONS AND OTHER HAPPENINGS

November 28, 2012

Electricity seems to be at a premium in Freetown all of a sudden. From the time I arrived on October 2 to before the elections we had power virtually all day and night. It would go off intermittently, for very short periods and seemed to be storm related.

Ever since my return from Up Country to Freetown on November 18 we have had more frequent interruptions for longer periods of time.  Yesterday was the worst so far; no power most of the day and all night.  Generators are expensive to run so even the office (which has had NO electricity for at least a week now) has limited hours of productivity.

At the apartment they can afford to run the generator for only a few hours at night and even then it is not strong enough to run the A/C unit in my bedroom. Up country conditions are looking better all the time!!! At least there you KNOW what to expect and can plan accordingly.

Speculation for this shortage of electrical service runs the gamut from the fact that the Minister of Services is from the losing party and is sulking, to it is (as reported by the government) caused by the road construction and underground cable issues, to the fact that the government has run out of money to buy the fuel to keep the main station running.  Some say the present ruling party, who was reelected, provided a false sense of prosperity and productivity by providing abundant supplies of electrical power to improve the chance of reelection.  But whatever the cause, it is what it is and we will deal with it.

I now have a guest for a couple of weeks.  Mustafah is a professional documentary photographer and a colleague of Sara Terry, the filmmaker of Fambul Tok.  He is here to study the water sanitation methods (or lack thereof) with an eye on Cholera.  Cholera is a real threat and this year many died here as a result.  He is American, used to work for the WSJ in New York, has moved to Berlin, and is now out on his own.  He is taking on projects or creating projects that he feels will have the most positive impact on humanity. It is fun having him and we have lively conversations after work over dinner.

I am amazed at how much I am loving this country, electricity or no, hot showers or no. There is something about it that speaks to me in great volumes.  If the reelected administration can do the right things, it is poised to become the fastest growing economy in the world!  This according to Al Jazeera news.  The feeling of positive energy after the peaceful election and continuing peace, supports that view in my estimation.

Before I left on this journey it was on my mind that a follow-up documentary should be made to showcase the positive changes brought about by Fambul Tok.  I spoke about that to Micheala one day and she said she had been thinking along those same lines!  We agreed that the story should feature the Peace Mothers cooperatives and their great success stories of creativity.  This creative thinking has resulted in prosperity and better living for their families and an empowerment of the previously very marginalized women that is fantastic to behold. 

During the process of putting together the journey for the US Ambassador’s wife, Annerieke, to go up country and visit some of the villages where the Peace Mothers have the biggest success stories, she spoke with a local TV personality named Isa about the purpose of our journey.  Isa expressed an enthusiasm and desire to accompany us with her film crew to do a short documentary of our trip!!!  This journey will take place from 16 December to 21 December.  Isa is finding the funding to make the film a reality.  I planned to publish a coffee table book about the journey and still will do that.  The book will be a gift to the US Embassy, Fambul Tok and me from me :-).  It will be available to Fambul Tok as a fund raiser.

Mohamed from the hotel in Kalbala sent a text that the brave little mouse who invaded my room is still around.  He said he would trap it before my next stay.  I told him that the mouse is so brave and clever he deserved to live.  Mohamed thought that was very funny.

This morning on my way to the office, I had a great compliment paid to me.  A woman who is always at her table selling her wares on the street next to my apartment called me her “Padi” (friend) as I called out my usual “good morning”.  Great stuff!!!

For those of you who meditate or are thinking of meditating I am reading a book that is the best one on meditation techniques ever.  It is called Everyday Meditation by Tobin Blake.  For Amazon Kindle users it is available as a Kindle book. 

The fruit bats are back!  Mustafah and I watched them flying from the vicinity of the coast to the area of the Cotton Tree downtown.  There were thousands of them. Thus the dry season is officially here.

Much Love To You All,

Mom/Grandma/Sara

Check out these pictures of interesting signs, posters and signs on buildings.

Efforts to educate girls are strong.

The campaigns for use of condoms and to get tested for aids produce many billboards as well as signs in youth centers such as this one.

They LOVE Obama here. There are many such posters, T-Shirts and other signs.

If you cannot read the saying along the edge of this roof it says: We Do Not Allow Flies On Top The Meat

This "God Is Good Tele Centre" is an example of a blessing for the business by including it in the name of the business.

Spread on the ground drying are peppers, rice, and okra.

Thatched roof houses are common in Koinadugu District.