But we managed to make it to Kabala. I am staying with one of the founders of the Nar Sarah clinic, Theresa Kargbo (who makes an appearance in the book The Land of Magic Soldiers which is worth finding). I am not sure how many other people live in the house. There are maybe about 12 adopted children living with Theresa; her husband lives in Freetown with his other wife (as in second of two current wives) but stays occaisionally in Kabala as well. They were kind enough to clear out a bedroom for me. There is a window that opens onto the yard making the room bright and breezy at times. The room is occupied solely by a bed and a table. Hawa, Theresa’s niece, takes care of me. She brings me boiled water to wash my face, washes my clothes, sweeps my floor, lights my lamp, brings my food, washes my dishes, fills a bucket of bathe water for me, and cooks my food. I sleep under a mosquito net feeling very much like a colonial queen.
I have recently been displaced from their house while the roof is being replaced. The thatching under the tin is rotting. I’m staying with Theresa’s brother, Peacemaker, the clinic’s medical director, for about a week. While also full of children, their house is quite a bit different. Peacemaker’s has an actual living room. One of the big challenges for me has been balancing time spent with others with time I need alone to do my own things. Most people in Kabala don’t seem to have enough activities to occupy their time. People visit each other or hang out on their own porches. Constantly socializing. Theresa’s porch has a bench on it with people coming and going at all hours. Peacemaker has a yard with a table very much like this except there is also a living room with a light that centralizes activities and makes things at the house much less chaotic. They cook for me here as well. After 4 days of dysentery I’m eating more Western food than I had been – even though Merah’s, Peacemaker’s wife’s, food is good (if lacking in variety and nutrients). My only complaint is the rocks I find in every meal.
I have recently been displaced from their house while the roof is being replaced. The thatching under the tin is rotting. I’m staying with Theresa’s brother, Peacemaker, the clinic’s medical director, for about a week. While also full of children, their house is quite a bit different. Peacemaker’s has an actual living room. One of the big challenges for me has been balancing time spent with others with time I need alone to do my own things. Most people in Kabala don’t seem to have enough activities to occupy their time. People visit each other or hang out on their own porches. Constantly socializing. Theresa’s porch has a bench on it with people coming and going at all hours. Peacemaker has a yard with a table very much like this except there is also a living room with a light that centralizes activities and makes things at the house much less chaotic. They cook for me here as well. After 4 days of dysentery I’m eating more Western food than I had been – even though Merah’s, Peacemaker’s wife’s, food is good (if lacking in variety and nutrients). My only complaint is the rocks I find in every meal.
No comments:
Post a Comment