Linnea Ashley on November 25th, 2009

She laughed. Not ha ha laughing, but the laughter of levity – of realizing that crying does no good. Or maybe I just projected that onto her because I can understand how a tired smile and a laugh at the absurdity that six weeks or six months…hell six years…can repair what took thousands of people […]

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Linnea Ashley on November 25th, 2009

“I want to touch the earth, I want to beak it in my hands, I want to grow something wild and unruly…” My voice bounced off the water-warped tile and yellowing tub. Slightly off key but beautiful to me because I was singing for no reason. Scrubbing each arm, my stomach, eventually my feet, and […]

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Linnea Ashley on November 23rd, 2009

We took to Dimples immediately. Something about the broad smile that staked claim to his entire face and the deep dimples standing guard beside it. Yeah, the big smile and the generous laugh that followed almost anything we said or he did, laid a foundation for our budding friendship. Dimples is Liberian born and bred […]

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Linnea Ashley on November 23rd, 2009

Upon closer inspection I realize that Monrovia isn’t dirty. At least not in the way I had it etched in my mind. There is dirt. The rainy season is ending and dirt – the dried remnants of rivers of mud – lines the street and abuts curbs. But this morning, I noticed that people had […]

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Linnea Ashley on November 23rd, 2009

I entered the convent. Less by choice and more by necessity. It is the only place that will have me. Or rather the only place I can afford. So, for this week, I’m staying at the St. Theresa convent. Sparse digs but pretty clean and affordable ($20 a room…split between me and BushDiva) with two […]

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Linnea Ashley on November 17th, 2009

It’s the touching. A slight graze of a hand on my shoulder, down my arm. Or sometimes I catch myself watching as his hand slides down her side to her hip and rests there softly, or while dancing, his hands lightly guide her behind to move with him. It feels pornographic. Not because it is […]

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Linnea Ashley on November 16th, 2009

Today was one of those days…mef dreams chased me and I woke up tired. It is hard to complain though- unlike my friend who bit her own hand thinking it was a troll attacking her, my dreams are just vivid. Interesting even. Just not restful. So I woke up off of one of those where […]

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Linnea Ashley on November 16th, 2009

I sound like tubercular Theresa or something. I’m not sure where the hack came from but it appears to have put down roots. Wednesday I was under the weather and stayed home from work- sore throat and sleepiness my constant companions. But after BushDiva squeezed me some orange juice and I got some rest I […]

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Linnea Ashley on November 16th, 2009

“Monrovia” “Gbarnga” “Monrovia”. Men yell out destinations they are sure our “otherness” is looking for. A sea of red-black faces stare through the heat. Children, clad in stained tattered tops or woolen footed pajamas, hide their faces, stare, or simply ignore the bustle and movement around them. I notice the noise less. Instead, the colors […]

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Linnea Ashley on November 13th, 2009

The fireflies blinked close to the ground in a game of silent hide and go seek as two boys pumped vigorously to fill their buckets. I sat on the steps peering up beyond the silhouette of the palm trees at my front door. Tonight was the first night since I’ve been here that I’ve really […]

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