LIBERIA

new story in wash times

It's about young motorcycle riders in Ganta, a northern city near the Guinean border. Many of these youth bikers are trading school or after-school studying time to make "fast money" transporting people on the bikes.

Read the story here.

back to Ganta

I can't believe it's June!

So much to do!

I'm still in Monrovia, but I'm trying to get back to Ganta. Having a bit of a transportation issue. Will keep you posted!

nice weekend

Ran around town. Got visa extended. Caught up the friends. Cooked fried potato greens with Hawa. It took many hours, and I cut my fingers when I was “slashing” the greens. They aren't deep cuts, but man, I have a long way to go in the kitchen. What can I say, I'm learning. It was great to spend time with Hawa. Hadn't seen her in about six weeks! Distributed donated art supplies to the artists. They were happy. We're holding another show in July. The theme is “Women of Liberia.” We also talked about painting leather strips and making them into bookmarks as a way to generate extra income. Stayed up too late writing and emailing. Picked up a good internet connection at the back of my apartment. It's fast late at night and early in the morning when most of the city is sleeping. Working on so many stories. Need to finish them all. Time is going by too quickly. Packed up most of my room because I'll be outside of Monrovia over the next two months. Did some job searching. It has to be a really good job to make me leave Liberia. Thinking about when I'll come back and how I'll do it. 2011 for sure because that's the election ... which reminds me to contact the President's press secretary. Still working on that interview.

in town

I made it! After about two weeks of not having Internet access, I am happily emailing and blogging.

back to Monrovia

Heading back to Monrovia today (five hour drive!) for the weekend. I have to take care of a visa issue so that I can stay in the country. :) And I'll also be working on a few stories. Stay tuned!

on mattering

I'm expanding my volunteer counseling to a community in Ganta that is home to leprosy patients.

Leprosy?

Right. That's what I said the first time I heard about the community.

are you getting me?

I've had a great week. The students are on break this week and the next because ninth and twelfth grade students across the country are taking a standardized test called the West Africa Council Examination. I've been going up to the school from about 10 a.m. until 1 or 2 p.m. this week to tutor students in English. I've really enjoyed the one-on-one time I've been getting with the students because I think I'm a much better teacher in smaller groups and I can make sure the students “are getting me,” as they say here for “understanding me.” Liberia is an English speaking country, but they often speak in a version called “Liberian English.” One of the most often questions I ask in my classes is: "Are you getting me?"

biker city

I'm up late and cannot sleep. I usually collapse around 10 p.m. and sleep soundly through thenight until the roosters crow around 6:30 a.m. I'm having a hard time sleeping tonight for some reason. There's a big thunderstorm outside. The lightening is flashing all around. The thunder is grumbling. And so I am writing. How very Edgar Allen Poe of me.

I've been working on some interesting stories this week — including a story about the motorbike business here in Ganta. One doesn't see many cars in this no-stoplight town. It is overrun with bikers — including young ones who aren't going to school because one can make “fast money” by transporting passengers on the bikes. I'll keep you posted.

two months

Today marks two months in Liberia. Wow, the time has gone by quickly!

I only have about two and half months left! I don't know how I'm going to get all of my work done!

Keep checking back on this blog for updates on my published stories about Liberia.

first chicken

While I was in Bopolu last week, I was gifted my first chicken. This is a traditional way of welcoming someone here. Thankfully, I wasn't the one who had to kill it (although my friends insisted that they would teach me!)