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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
“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 […]
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 […]
The laughter emerging from the back porch was continuous. And loud. Raucous even. Strands of conversation in different voices bounced off the screens and escaped on the cool breeze snaking its way between the mesh – keeping us cool. The “us” was me, BushDiva, Wry-ly, Emme, and Benin*. Emme is an IFESH scholar working in […]
“I think I’m gonna like it here…I’m very very glad to volunteer…” Ok… so things are definitely looking up here. Meeting and hanging with LA (aka Gutz) has been a source of both entertainment and networking. He has gotten in the habit of introducing me and BushDiva to everyone he knows as his colleagues or […]
There was still no water today. The electricity flickered on for about seven minutes – just long enough to heat water for some paste tasting oatmeal – but that is little solace against the absence of water. I need to wash my hair. I really really need to wash my hair. Desperation is setting in […]
After dinner BushDiva got the bright idea that was should crash the reception. By that point we had eaten and we were fairly certain the food had been served there, so Fancy called around to make sure it was ok and we were invited to join. Of course by that point, the party was winding […]
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