Let the Sun go down on me Elton…just for a minute. It’s hot!

It’s January 4, 2014, 2:14 in the morning and I’m up writing on my laptop because I can’t sleep. I woke up rubbing my arms a little and felt something a little different.

IMG_1627Yep, I have a heat rash. When there is no escaping the heat I knew this was bound to happen or at least a good possibility. So, I decided to get up and try and get some fresh air. I’m writing from a sofa out on the back porch. Tomorrow, meaning Monday, first thing in the morning, we will head to Moyamba District for one day. It’s a Province and I’m not sure if it’s going to be any better there. I thought about going out to the front porch, near the ocean breeze but I didn’t want to wake Sylvia up…Mary’s sister that went through the war. I didn’t want her to hear the front door open in the middle of the night, which is something and a sound she may not be used to, and have a flashback. That may not be good for her or me. (more…)

Returning to My Mother’s Land 2

December 28IMG_1232

OK, so this is what I’ve learned. I am becoming more comfortable each day…Everyone is super nice but also super cautious and suspicious of outsiders…especially outsiders with cameras…yesterday, at particular times, was a difficult day for me…because of the language barrier I felt out of place at the beginning of a gathering at a Sierra Leoneans house. I’m happy to say that by the time I left, I was happy and glad I went. It turned out to be a great gathering, lots of fun, music, dancing and food. Everyone was really nice and accommodating … as usual. (more…)

Published in: on December 31, 2013 at 6:05 AM  Comments (11)  
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Returning to My Mother’s Land

A Sierra Leonean Woman African Beauty

A Sierra Leonean Woman
African Beauty

December 22 or 21st , I’m not sure but it’s a Sunday…I think..

After traveling for 27 hours by car, plane, shuttle, shuttle again, plane, boat, then car…we finally made it to Ishmil’s house, Kadia’s brother. It is really nice…with security, security walls, and security doors. He made us African chicken and rice, which means free-range and the meat can be a bit tougher but it was spicy and delicious. We had refreshing water as well. One of Kadia’s bags, an important one was left behind by accident by the flight crew and my makeup bag with all of my makeup was left somewhere as well,,. The good kind of makeup bag where you have all of the “trusties” that have been working for YEARS…you simply keep replacing the…so, I thought, well there’s a blessing in everything. But, I was also thinking, I know God may have wanted me to get back to my roots but with NO MASCARA! A little EYELINER? No? I don’t think he wanted me to go THIS native! Not cute…But, I handled it…smiling… (more…)

Another Day of being Black in the White Public World

So, here I am again…asking anyone who wants to hear, do you want to know what it is like to be black in the public white world? I say public white world because the experiences I have had in this world are not the experiences that I had in the military world growing up as a military brat. In the military, there was one common goal…to secure the safety of America and everyone who lives here. Rank also mattered more than color…at times….But any way, that’s another blog for another time… Right now, I want to share with you what happened to ME last night… (more…)