La Capital

After making the 32 hour trip to West Africa,  I arrived at the airport quite tired yet excited for the new adventure.  I stood waiting with the group for our luggage which took about an hour to make it on the baggage claim.  The thought of having to lug my two large bags, each around 50 pounds each, and my carry on, roughly 40 pounds, to the SUV was unbearable.  But I made it. Our group of 23 people filed into the van/bus to head to the compound.  On our way out of the city, I learned quickly the rules of the road do not apply as they do in the US.  As the bus was taking the off ramp of the two lane highway, the taxis quickly starting heading our direction towards us, a one lane road.  We were able to just barely sneak by.  Not just that, there were no lines on the road, no traffic signs, and people running across the road, chickens walking by, people selling Nike's, and shanties filled the streets.  I was in shock.  We arrived at our gated home, then again had to lug our luggage into the house, and climbed into our misquito net bunk beds.

The next day, we had orientation in the compound, and went to a dinner party hosted by a volunteer whom lived close.  We left the compound to find shanties surrounding our house, a little boy standing in a bucket, with his mother washing him, rosters running around, and people everywhere stopping to look at this long line of 23 white people.  Quite the sight!

The next morning after returning home, I went for a run on the beach with some other volunteers, one of my favorite activites to do back home.  The beach was lined with trash, in the water, on the waters edge, and in piles leading onto the beach.  I was stunned.  the water was brown, a place we had been advised not to go swimming do to the amount of sewage that was deposited into the water.  I couldn't believe such a beautiful beach could look this terrible!  Althought it has been quite the experience, the people have been nothing but nice to us, and sometimes will respond with a Bonjour as well!

Tomorrow I will be heading out to a smaller capital, located again on the coast, which is suppose to be less poluted.  I will be adopted by my host parents and move in with them to continue my expeience, speaking only in French, and adapting to the African lifestyle!  Update you soon.  Hope you all are doing well!