We all woke
early and gathered our belongings. It felt strange to be packing up and seemed
only a day or so ago that we arrived and settled into the Comfort Zone.
By the
time we had piled our suitcases on the ground floor, Lamin was waiting in the
minibus to take us on the final journey of our trip. We made our way through
the bustling streets of Freetown and waved a final goodbye to the local people
who had greeted us with smiles and cheer every day since we arrived. We had
arranged to have breakfast at the Family Kingdom before heading to the airport
and what a treat it was! We were warmly greeted by the staff serving eggs,
sausages, waffles, pancakes, fresh fruit, croissants and much more. We filled
our plates and savoured our last meal together. Before long it was time to make
our way to the airport.
After a quick speedboat ride across the water and a
smooth check-in, we were sat in the departures lounge of Lungi airport waiting
to board our flight home. I could finally relax knowing that everything had
gone according to plan.
Organising this trip has
been the most rewarding experience of my life. I have struggled to put into
words how much it has meant to me to be involved in this project and whilst reading
various travel blogs about Sierra Leone I came across this statement which sums
up my thoughts entirely;
“Freetown is a magical, exciting, colourful city
full of wonderful, friendly people. It is also a poverty-stricken,
overpopulated, under-resourced city where you’re never far from sadness,
disease and crime. Don't go to
Freetown if you don't want to face corruption, inequality and the leftover
horrors of war. On the other hand, don't let that be a reason to deny yourself
the incredible experience of visiting this amazing place and meeting such
wonderful people.
You'll find multi-coloured buildings, fantastic
music, great football, warm handshakes, big smiles, honesty and friendship,
street-politics, stray dogs, beggars, amputees, congestion, pollution, poverty
and a vibrancy that can only be born from the humour and strength of people who
have known horror and are still struggling to survive”
I have been lucky enough to visit twice during 2013
and have fallen in love with the place. I would urge everyone from the
developed world to go to Freetown and be prepared for it to change your life
forever, as it has mine.
Amy Hugill