Mon Première Voyage en Guinea!

I packed my bags, wrote a Birthday card to my brother and a Au Revior card to my family and said goodbye.  I went to grab my bags and walk to the Office to catch the bus, but my host mother insisted my sick brother get out of bed and carry my small bag for me the 300 feet to the office.  I felt awful!  After getting there, I hopped on the bus and found out that the number of seats we had on the bus, was not sufficient to bring us all to Mamou, therefore we fit 31 people on a 24 person mini bus.  We took off, and the views were just amazing!  Guinea truly has some of the most beautiful views, just green trees, plants, and vegetation with waterfalls flowing off the side of these amazing cliffs!   Of course I had to go to the bathroom after two hours on the bus, and there are not any rest stops, so we pulled over to the side of the road and a bunch of us volunteers ran into the woods with rolls of toilet paper.  Quite the experience!

Then we arrived in Momou where our counter parts, had also arrived.  There was running water, which meant an actual shower, a latrine that flushed, aka doesn’t smell and water to wash your hands.  I still could not use the water to brush my teeth but it was the first time I had felt completely clean and all the shampoo and conditioners had been completely washed out.  We were also made breakfast, lunch, and dinner, which our counterparts did not eat because it is Ramadan, but we had our very first salad!!!!!  And no fish, it was beef or chicken with peas or potatoes.  I’m telling you the simple pleasures!

After the seminar I ask my counterpart how we were getting to site, he told me he rode his motorcycle, therefore I would be traveling solo to the Village where he would meet me there.  I took off for Labe with some of the other volunteers in my area, made it through all the check points, past all the pot holes, which all the taxis swerve around, on the other side of the road even if there are cars coming on the other side of the road.  The taxi also had to swerve around the cows, goats, and sheep standing in the road that don’t know to move.  There were three people in the back of the station wagon, 4 in the middle seat, and three people in the front seat.  Quite squished! 

We made it to Labe, where another volunteer and I were suppose to be staying at the regional capital for the night, but it turned out, that we would not be doing that and waited instead on the side of the road in the middle of the city, with people watching us, until we had a ride to his site.  Finally 4 hours later, we hoped in a Honda CVR and took off down a rock road practically down the side of a mountain.  At numerous points, we looked at each other and thought; “If the breaks down work, we are dead”.  But once again the views were mesmerizing!

We arrived at his site walked around; I ended up having to spend the night there because there was not car going to my site.   Then the next morning I was told to be ready at 7:00am for a car to take me to my site.  At 7:00am I sat on the side of the road, and at about 12:00pm the car showed up and drove Matt, the other volunteer, and myself to my site.  We thought that would be a comfy ride, but again there was three people up front, and 4 people in the back of the small sedan.   I kept trying to call my principal, but he did not have any cell service, so I was told to go to the village and people would know where to send me!

I arrive in my village, and was met by my principal, and all the other important people of the village.  I was shown to my home, but before I even made it to my house, the principal said if the lodging was not okay, I could look at a different house.  I should have known that was a bad sign.  I was brought to a hut, which was so small, that when I extended my hands to the side, I was touching both sides.  Also they had just put down wet cement on the floor.  I tried hard to smile and say that would not work.  Then I was shown to another hut, which was larger and had tile floors.  I would be spending the next three nights there.  I was brought around to meet, what I felt like, was everyone in the community, then asked to come to a teachers meeting at the school.  I showed up with my Principal, and we began the meeting by introducing everyone, then next thing I know, only my principal and I were awake and working.  All the other people at the meeting have lain down and were talking a nap.  I was quite appalled, but my Principal said, “It’s Ramadan”.  Hmmmm.  My village is quite beautiful, lots of cows, and chickens, two Mosques, and lots of amazing views.

I asked to see what house I would be staying at, but was show 5 different houses, two of which I would be staying in a room in someone else’s house, one house, I feel in love with, and another one I was told about but didn’t see. Therefore I was left with absolutely no idea of where I would be living.  I stayed in my principal’s hut, which was quite cool, and really neat to see in the morning with the light coming in from the roof.  I was unable to speak with any of the women because they only spoke Pular, the local village language, but I attempted to help cook.  I was given a lot of great meals, no fish, mainly chicken, and beef, but I was given one meal, which I was explained was a laxative, “good for the stomach”.  I thought to myself that is the last thing that I need! Haha.

The next day I was to head to my regional capital; I was put into a taxi by my Principal, which had 4 people in the front seat, 5 people in the middle seat, and 5 people in the back, 3 people on top of the car, and all the baggage strapped to the top as well.  Next thing I know, about an hour into the ride, we are pulling to the side of the road, because the check engine light had come on.  I can’t imagine why, with all the people and baggage on and in the car.  If I were the car, I would have refused to continue on as well.  The problem was fixed after they opened the hood and poured water from a stream on the water.  A half hour later we were back on the road, and heading up the cliffs.  I arrive in Dalaba 2 hours later, excited to have made it, and had to find a taxi to Labe.  I hopped into a taxi, excited that I would almost be at the regional house with the other volunteers.  Two hours later I was still sitting in the taxi and had not moved and now had to go pee.  So I asked the men outside the car where the toilets were or if that was even possible.  He walked me to someone’s house, and introduced me to the family he didn’t know and said that the white person needed to go to the bathroom, could I use theirs.  They seemed happy to oblige me, therefore I was relieved to feel about 5 pounds lighter.  Then I hopped back into the taxi and thought, okay just a little bit longer and I will be there soon!  Two hours later, I am still sitting in the taxi waiting, until the driver says to get out and hop in a taxi heading to Labe right now.  So I hopped into this mini bus, which I had been told not to ride in, but at this point, I was about ready to ride a bike, if I had one.  Again, about 45 minutes later, I hear this loud noise and realize that we are pulling to the side of the road.  No big deal, just a flat tire.  Therefore everyone has to get out of the taxi, sit on the side of the road, and wait for it to be taken care of.  After 30 minutes later, I am told we are all set to go, but that everyone needs to pray first, so 15 minutes later, we all climb back into the bus and get going again.  I arrived in Labe, call the driver to get picked up and arrive at the house with everyone, pretty much in tears of relief that I actually made it!  I had left at 8:00am and arrived at 6:00pm!  Quite the ride.  Don’t even ask how much stuff was on the top of the car as well as how many people were on and in the car.

The regional house was nice, running water, city and solar electricity, a huge market.  I ate so many fruits, veggies, and cooked dinner with the other volunteers.  The first night we made mashed potatoes with garlic, then went out for cold beer and pizza.  Then the second night we made spaghetti with tomato sauce, baked macaroni and cheese, garlic bread, and squash!  I was definitely making up for the comforts I had not eaten.  Then the next day I found yogurt at a gas station and was so excited to eat it with fresh mango and oranges, until later on that night when nothing would stay down and I realized just how sick I was.  I should have realized that because the city power shut off at night that the yogurt had not been refrigerating. 

Then the next day we took off to return back to our host families.  We left at 8:00am in the morning and got to the first check point where the gendarme wouldn’t let us through because the taxi driver didn’t have the papers for the car.  Therefore, he knew a car full of white volunteers had money and demanded 40 mille francs.  Normally a taxi driver can get though a stop by paying 1 mille, but because we were there the price was jacked up.  This was a true awakening for me to see the corruption first hand.  There were 10 more check points, 3 prayer stops, 4 bathroom breaks, and lots of bartering with the gendarmes at the check points which took quite a bit.  Finally we arrived home, to our host families, and as I drove past my house I waved to my host mom and brother.  We got out of the taxis, which were then searched by our guards at the office, and I turned to look at the gates and my brother was standing there, ready to take me home, aka carry my bags.  I was so excited to be back with my host family, they all said how much they missed me, and I really had never been more relieved to be in a familiar place after such a crazy, long, mentally draining, uncomfortable, and alone voyage!  One more month before I will be there for good!