Travel

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 […]

Continue reading about one of THOSE sundays

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 […]

Continue reading about Saturdaze

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 […]

Continue reading about friday market

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 […]

Continue reading about star light, dim night

Linnea Ashley on November 13th, 2009

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 […]

Continue reading about sisters of the yam…er…lentil

Linnea Ashley on November 13th, 2009

“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 […]

Continue reading about i think i'm gonna like it here…

Linnea Ashley on November 9th, 2009

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 […]

Continue reading about a different kind of sunday

Linnea Ashley on November 9th, 2009

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 […]

Continue reading about late night in the serengeti

Linnea Ashley on November 9th, 2009

It was about 2:15 as we stepped into our front yard – just enough time to see the wedding processional lurch slowly through the rutted street toward the church/outpatient department of the hospital. By our estimations we were right on time. We headed single file in the same direction, taking the pedestrian path that flanks […]

Continue reading about open invitation to a wedding

Linnea Ashley on November 9th, 2009

I sat on the front steps this evening, watching the sky flash purple streaks in the cloudy distance. As the night threatened rain that never arrived, I felt the slight stir of a breeze carrying the cacophonous music of crickets, frogs, or whatever animals live in the moist darkness of a Liberian November. Two men […]

Continue reading about still; unstill