Like most mornings we've now
experienced in Sierra Leone, we woke up to car horns and the hustle and bustle
of street life outside our windows. After experimenting with various ways of
showering, we were all downstairs ready and waiting for our breakfast. Every
day in Sierra Leone brings new opportunities for us all to experience and today
was certainly not lacking in them. At 7:45 Lizzie, Angharad, myself and Mr
Meally were off to the TV studios to be interviewed and perform on the local
early morning television programme. After listening to a variety of stories we
were summoned to perform (which included some improvisatory flute beat-boxing
from Lizzie!!) We endured brilliantly with the heat and after coping with a
camera filled studio we set off to back to Ballanta to continue teaching. The
whole experience felt completely surreal.
Following our wraps at
lunchtime and meeting up back up with the JT Reffell gang, we decided a trip to
the supermarket would be most suitable, so we could all stock up on some
supplies (*cough*paprika Pringles,* cough* Malteaser ice cream ;). After a
bumpy, rainy bus drive up a mountain road (no exaggeration!) we arrived, had a
good shop and after coping relatively well with our new foreign currency then
we ate heartily J
The evening which followed was
definitely one which I will remember forever! Clambering back onto the crazy
bus with our trusty tour guide Lamin we were heading to the "Cultural
Village". None of us knew exactly what we were about to experience but
from what we heard from previous years we knew we were set up for a treat!
Driving through the gates into the community, we were greeted with a gaggle of
girls and boys running, smiling and shouting to us. When we got off the bus, we
were escorted by a group of children clinging onto us, guiding the team to some
seats which were set up in an outside stage. We sat in anticipation of what was
to come, then suddenly the drums started and the show began...
The drummers and the children
performed beautifully! Everyone was so impressed! They danced perfectly in time
and executed many gymnastic tricks brilliantly! We were all particularly wowed
by the young boys (4 years old) backflipping and standing on their heads!
Following the performance, we
were invited to sing to them! And after a rough rendition of And so it Goes
sung by Darcey, Kirsty, Alex and myself, they all wanted to talk to us and
invited us to buy little gifts to take home which are all handmade in the
community. The atmosphere was inspiring and we all took away more than a few
brackets that evening!
Later, arriving back at the
"Comfort Zone" and having reminisced and shared our stories and
experiences- We settled down to a yummy plate of Pesto pasta and a can of coca
cola with the soundtrack of pouring rain and thunder.
Although today has been one of the most incredible days
of the trip so far, I would not be surprised if tomorrow is even better,
because after all, we are in Sierra Leone and anything is possible here.
Night night!
Alice
