Lost in space!

I know it has been while since the last post, so I'll try to make this a big one.

So what has been going on the last 6 weeks? Quite a lot is the short answer.

We had a presidential visit which was minor bit of excitement, then we had Tobaski (Eid_al-Adha), then we had presidential elections.

I also went down to the Kombos (urban coastal area) three times, and Farafenni twice...


The Presidents visit was advertised and everyone in the town had to go to the main road to watch him go past, all the children wore their school uniforms, and everyone else wore their best clothes.

I stayed at home and missed out on it though.

So the story goes is that unfortunate things happen to villages who failed to turn out for the drive past, but that is just hearsay.


I'll leave Tobaski for its own post.


The elections passed without any issues, and everyone had two days off work (well except me who had loads to do). A number of people on the compound and in the office helped out as counters, observers or presiding officers for the vote too.


My kombo visits were for shopping and a few bits of admin. The first visit was to pickup my Alien card  ( photo id) and go out for food with some other VSOs I stayed two night and did a bit of shopping too. The second visit I ordered some more Doxycyclines, got my bank book, my residency permit and did a very fast shop (on this occasion I was down and back on the same day). The 3rd visit just this last weekend was for a one night stay and to pickup my Doxycyclines (thanks Lucy for getting them from the office for me), check my mail and do some shopping.

My two visits to Farafenni were both for a half day or so and included a visit to Eddies bar/ restaurant and some shopping.

You will note that every trip out of Kerewan includes shopping, this is because there are limited opportunities to buy packaged goods here.