Welcome to Bong County

Well I've finally managed to get on the internet to make my next post! A lot harder than one might think. After a delayed flight and a night in the Hilton hotel (slept in style), we arrived in Monrovia on the 2nd of May. After a few nights in Monrovia and a new Liberian name, Sianah (pronounced See'n'ay), we drove to Gbarnga, Bong County. And when I say we drove, it was quite possibly, no, it was definitely the most uncomfortable five hour drive I've ever experienced. It was serious off road driving, like constant bumpy, Carys Mansfield's driveway, middle of nowhere, rough terrain driving; lets just say I think the suspension on most cars have been completely bumped out. You'd occasionally get to a strip of Chinese funded proper road and then you'd get blasted by the wind coming through the windows and then a serious bad hair day. To drive to Gbarnga (or anywhere in Liberia) you have to be a particularly skilled driver to assess the smoothest way around the road at a fair speed whilst watching not to drive into other drivers coming the other who may have chosen the same route as you. To be fair to the drive though, it was pretty amazing to see the countryside of Liberia, quite different to the countryside of good ol' Wales. To be fair to my but though, it was very glad to see Gbarnga and the idea of solid ground once again.

Our bumpy ride to Gbarnga, (with a cracked windscreen?!)

The bathroom situation is also very interesting. Due to the lack of running water in most of Liberia, there almost always is a big container filled with water. And because of this lack of running water, there obviously isn't any flushing loo. So, after you've deposited whatever in the loo, instead of the standard boring handle or button flush, its the throw-water-down-the-loo-with-enough-force-to-push-whatever-is-in-the-loo-down-the-pipe flush. So yeah. You can imagine the fun we've had with that. And then, I had my first bucket shower in Monrovia, and after my initial hesitation of throwing a bucket of cold water over myself, it was the nicest relief from the constant heat and humidity here. It is also quite an odd sensation getting out of the shower and wondering whether you're still wet from the water or whether you've just sweated through it already. How lovely. In Gbarnga, however, in the two guesthouses I've been in, I've had the luxury of actual real proper running water. Out of an actual real proper shower head. Absolute bliss.

The Gbarnga team with Mitchell, our Branch Coordinator.

And then this last weekend was my birthday. The three of us from Gbarnga and my ICV (In Country Volunteer), Vivian, travelled back to Monrovia for my celebrations. All of us crammed in the three seats in the back and another two travellers in the passenger seat at the front. Hot couldn't even describe it. The first taxi we caught broke down after 15 minutes and after 45 minutes and 15 Liberian motorist crowded around the engine, we set off again, shuddering. However, halfway there, the driver had to announce the car wasn't going to make it to Monrovia, so he set off and found another taxi to get us there. Again we set off, in a slightly funky smelling taxi and a new driver. When we arrived we met up with the other UK volunteers and then after a long week-end of "jolly-jolly" and a couple injuries sustained, we made our emotional goodbyes to them again and made our way back. And as one great man said, we had a"Gbarnging time in Monravia" J. Flomo Carter.

Our broken down taxi and Flomo looking tired. Poor Flomo.

Poor Flomo getting kicked in the head. Poor Flomo.

Finally, I'll leave you with this atmospheric, thoughtful photo of myself, gazing at the Liberia YMCA logo. Very artistic.