Irish military band at Mamba...

HELLO!

Ive had some complaints about my lack of blogging, and honestly I´ve been sick... sick to my stomach, homesick, missing friends and family, and just taken aback by the overwhelming emotions that accompany a trip like this...

...but enough of that. I was not going to blog tonight, but my sis and mom insisted, and well, lets just say I got inspired by a battallion that walked in.

I spent the day in the UNMIL office, collecting my thoughts and trying to channel my energies into my work. Ive realized that Im done with most of the work I can do up to now, and am now preparing myself for the collecting of data, which got delayed by my stomach acting up.

So as I write this, there are over 30 Irish military men and women in the room, six of them playing 2 guitars, an accordion, byron (an irish drum), a flute and tin whistle, and two played the BAG PIPES!!!!!!! All of a sudden I am transported to the land of the beautiful rolling "R"s, and to the happy sounds of music that reminds me of the immigrants music on the "Titanic", remember? The happy people dancing on the lower level of the boat? Smoking, drinking bear, playing cards, loving, dancing and laughing? This is what they sound and look like here... They jump from celtic songs to traditional folk music, and just fill the air with murmurs of a giddy, glad feeling... Everyone accompanies, those who can sing, do, those who dont know the lyrics bob their heads along the guitarr.... very memorable.





On the bottom corner of the last picture I happened to catch Jim, a very nice canadian (of course he's nice!), who is celebrating today his 36th anniversary, and it is the first time he is away from his wife. He has emailed once and called her twice, looks happily married. I write about him because it touched my heart to hear him speak of his long time life partner, and I wish that for myself and all who either have or want to find their other half to walk through life with... I also send a shout out to "pretty soldiers" Mr. Denis and Michael, who were so kind to explain and tell about the songs and Irish activities in Liberia. And thanks to the musicians, they truly made the night more interesting, thats for sure.


The next block of this post is dedicated to Nancy Gbakoba. She works at EFA, gracing the office into smiles with her strong presence, gorgeous outfits, funky hair-dos and sweet smiles. She has a great heart and has taken care of me ever since I arrived. Thanks Nancy for checking on me and trying to get me to eat and drink darkdark black tea when I was in bed, and then for taking me to the clinic yesterday, explaining things, sharing your experiences as a woman living in Monrovia and for keeping me company... I dont think she knows how much her presence has meant to me. I will be eternally greatful to her.



Im done for the day... I promiss to blog again when I have a better idea, a whiff of inspiration or more news.... I am leaving on friday to Sierra Leone and then will not have internet for maybe a week and a half. But I´ll blog before that.

Peace!

Giovi