Three years and counting...

It's been three years since I first landed at Lungi International Airport and had my first truly Sierra Leonean experience. Once on the ground in Sierra Leone, I traveled across a very dark port to a very dark city. And, here I am, three years later... and I'm sitting in the dark hoping for the return of electricity and internet services. Oh the joys... I was thinking about "three years in-country" and reflecting on what I first arrived with... and what's now long gone. Five pairs of Mark's Workwearhouse jeans are now three, heavily patched and threadbare. Under vests are now well-worn and tattered. Running shoes from Athlete's Foot have been replaced by Nika copies/rip-offs (literally, that's how it's spelled here) bought on the street in the PZ market. My computer is hanging on... thank goodness for the Mac machine in the land of PC viruses and powercord explosions. My original headlamp had to be replaced after a year... and my care-package delivered headlamp is still allowing me to read and type in the dark. Little digital cameras have been stolen and since replaced. Small phones have disappeared and been replaced by my nifty Iphone... which I guard with my life. Oh the joys... And, this blog... I promise, now that I have a little more time, to fully and actively participate in it's upkeep and maintenance. I'll try. More reflections on "three years" to come. Still learning and still exploring, S/