Wednesday, May 13, 2009
CRC Construction
Totally excited about the construction taking place at CRC Primary. Class VI is currently under way, and moving up quickly. The roof should be up just in time for the rains. Also, we’re trying to secure land for Junior and Senior Secondary School buildings that will be built in upcoming years. Next year, obviously, the class V students will move into the class VI building, and I always thought that if the Secondary School buildings get built eventually (if not right away) that would be OK. I am beginning to realize the importance of being consistent with the building, and really seeing the benefit of getting the current Class V students into our secondary school building by the 2010/2011 school year. I know that money is currently being raised for this project, and gifts can be made through Fraser Valley Christian High School – it’s a great thing to support!
Construction Pics
We were able to use funds that we raised to resurface a large section of the floor at the school that needed to be torn up and done again - cool to see the money that people supported us with go to a good use!
Guinea Trip
Guinea Trip
My CAUSE Canada friends, Travis and Nadim, and I decided a number of months ago to make a motorcycle trip for a weekend up North into Guinea. We decided collectively to make the trip last weekend, given that Monday was Independence Day, and a day off.
Things we thought we needed in order to get through the Guinea border from the North of Sierra Leone:
1. A VISA purchased from the Guinea embassy in Freetown. This was a great experience. First of all, I went to the Guinea embassy straight from the British High Commission, which was obviously very organized, secure, etc. Inside the Guinea embassy was one man sitting behind a desk smoking a cigar, and another sitting on a couch reading a magazine. I inquired about getting a VISA, and the man behind the desk said I needed $50 American. I asked about passport photos, and he just said “pas de problem”. I didn’t have my passport with me at the time, so Adrienne went back for me a few weeks later, filled out a form, and 10 minutes and $50 later had my VISA.
When Nadim went, his passport photos were tossed on a pile of others. After his passport was stamped, him and the man who stamped it got to talking, and they decided to exchange numbers. The guy actually took the form Nadim just filled out, ripped it in half, wrote his own phone # on the back and gave it back to Nadim.
2. Papers for your motorbike.
We spent some significant time in Kabala before we left making sure our bikes were OK to take across in terms of the number plates, registration, permission letters from owners, and so on.
3. Other official documents.
Things you actually need to get though the Guinea border:
1. About 50 000 Guinea Francs ($10) divided up into small bills to pay the fee/bribe/appreciation price at the numerous checkpoints along the way.
2. Someone who speaks either French or a myriad of tribal languages.
So we arrive to the first official checkpoint in Guinea having been stamped out of Sierra Leone. We park our bikes and walk inside a small pagoda – like structure, where we find two men in army pants and white tank tops lying in hammocks, smoking. From the wall beside each of them hang AK-47’s (I would have a picture, but I didn’t think it would be best to pull out the camera at this point). They ask for our documents, and we hand them our passports and most of our other official documents we have attained. They begin to leaf through them, obviously not caring or in some cases even understanding what any of them say. A number of the officers actually looked at our passports upside down. They asked us a few formality questions about our business in Guinea, length of stay, etc. (during this conversation one officer gets up, turns around and starts peeing), but the conversation would immediately turn to the only thing the officers actually cared about: the “fee.” We soon realized any official document attained was useless – the fee was the only thing that mattered. We could have breezed through with army tanks instead of motorbikes as long as we had the fee. This scene played itself out at various checkpoints heading into and out of the country.
To help up with these checkpoints was Moseray, a local guy who owns one of the honda repair shops in town, and his friend, Mohamed. The fact that they have crossed that border many times, and also that between them they spoke 6 languages made navigating our crew through the checkpoints much easier.
My CAUSE Canada friends, Travis and Nadim, and I decided a number of months ago to make a motorcycle trip for a weekend up North into Guinea. We decided collectively to make the trip last weekend, given that Monday was Independence Day, and a day off.
Things we thought we needed in order to get through the Guinea border from the North of Sierra Leone:
1. A VISA purchased from the Guinea embassy in Freetown. This was a great experience. First of all, I went to the Guinea embassy straight from the British High Commission, which was obviously very organized, secure, etc. Inside the Guinea embassy was one man sitting behind a desk smoking a cigar, and another sitting on a couch reading a magazine. I inquired about getting a VISA, and the man behind the desk said I needed $50 American. I asked about passport photos, and he just said “pas de problem”. I didn’t have my passport with me at the time, so Adrienne went back for me a few weeks later, filled out a form, and 10 minutes and $50 later had my VISA.
When Nadim went, his passport photos were tossed on a pile of others. After his passport was stamped, him and the man who stamped it got to talking, and they decided to exchange numbers. The guy actually took the form Nadim just filled out, ripped it in half, wrote his own phone # on the back and gave it back to Nadim.
2. Papers for your motorbike.
We spent some significant time in Kabala before we left making sure our bikes were OK to take across in terms of the number plates, registration, permission letters from owners, and so on.
3. Other official documents.
Things you actually need to get though the Guinea border:
1. About 50 000 Guinea Francs ($10) divided up into small bills to pay the fee/bribe/appreciation price at the numerous checkpoints along the way.
2. Someone who speaks either French or a myriad of tribal languages.
So we arrive to the first official checkpoint in Guinea having been stamped out of Sierra Leone. We park our bikes and walk inside a small pagoda – like structure, where we find two men in army pants and white tank tops lying in hammocks, smoking. From the wall beside each of them hang AK-47’s (I would have a picture, but I didn’t think it would be best to pull out the camera at this point). They ask for our documents, and we hand them our passports and most of our other official documents we have attained. They begin to leaf through them, obviously not caring or in some cases even understanding what any of them say. A number of the officers actually looked at our passports upside down. They asked us a few formality questions about our business in Guinea, length of stay, etc. (during this conversation one officer gets up, turns around and starts peeing), but the conversation would immediately turn to the only thing the officers actually cared about: the “fee.” We soon realized any official document attained was useless – the fee was the only thing that mattered. We could have breezed through with army tanks instead of motorbikes as long as we had the fee. This scene played itself out at various checkpoints heading into and out of the country.
To help up with these checkpoints was Moseray, a local guy who owns one of the honda repair shops in town, and his friend, Mohamed. The fact that they have crossed that border many times, and also that between them they spoke 6 languages made navigating our crew through the checkpoints much easier.
Guinea Motorbike trip 2009
(left to right) Moseray, Joe, Nadim, Mohamed, Travis
Crossing the SL/Guinea borader - that cement block on the ground is the marker
Mango season - $.15 for a whole bucketfull
goat Canucks goat
Goats
The other day Adrienne and I were noticing that it seemed like there were more goats wandering around in town. We were trying to figure out why, when the reason struck us suddenly: it’s obviously the result of goat Canucks goat! The goat-o-meter was around 500 last I checked. This is so great, and we can definitely vouch for the importance of goats for a local family’s well being. Get your goat!
The other day Adrienne and I were noticing that it seemed like there were more goats wandering around in town. We were trying to figure out why, when the reason struck us suddenly: it’s obviously the result of goat Canucks goat! The goat-o-meter was around 500 last I checked. This is so great, and we can definitely vouch for the importance of goats for a local family’s well being. Get your goat!
Rain, Rain, Come our Way.
March was crazy hot, but we were ready for it. What we weren’t ready for was April and May being just as hot or hotter. It has rained a few times, but we’re just begging for the rainy season (raining every day) to arrive. It’s funny because our conversation every morning has sounded something like this.
Adrienne (sounding hopeful from bed): It looks cloudy outside!
Joe (from the verandah grudgingly): No….clear blue skies again…
Adrienne (punching the pillow and regretting it because it made her sweaty): argh!!
Adrienne (sounding hopeful from bed): It looks cloudy outside!
Joe (from the verandah grudgingly): No….clear blue skies again…
Adrienne (punching the pillow and regretting it because it made her sweaty): argh!!
KSFTB Update
The relationship between CRC Primary and the Kabala School for the Blind has been confirmed through the board, and we are hoping to have our first “blind day” (or whatever the name will be) next month!
The most exciting news, however, is that after meeting the School Management Committee chairperson, MA Jalloh, I am confident that the school is in good hands. He has been involved with the school since the beginning, and really has a soft spot in his heart for its students, and wants the best for them. He also has the means and the connections to get things done, and since he stepped in as the chairman of the SMC 8 months ago, things have already happened. The most significant of these is that he got the district council to fund the building of 3 classrooms on their old site (the place they were located before the war). He was the principal of a local high school for many years, and until recently was in parliament, so he certainly has a ton of connections.
He has a plan for the school, and has been working hard at making things happen. I am meeting with the SMC next week, and next time I go to Freetown I will meet with MA and discuss prices for school supplies. Will keep you updated.
The most exciting news, however, is that after meeting the School Management Committee chairperson, MA Jalloh, I am confident that the school is in good hands. He has been involved with the school since the beginning, and really has a soft spot in his heart for its students, and wants the best for them. He also has the means and the connections to get things done, and since he stepped in as the chairman of the SMC 8 months ago, things have already happened. The most significant of these is that he got the district council to fund the building of 3 classrooms on their old site (the place they were located before the war). He was the principal of a local high school for many years, and until recently was in parliament, so he certainly has a ton of connections.
He has a plan for the school, and has been working hard at making things happen. I am meeting with the SMC next week, and next time I go to Freetown I will meet with MA and discuss prices for school supplies. Will keep you updated.
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