What’s that on my slipper? (One of the best yet most awkward romantic gestures!)

Banke: ‘I can’t believe he wrote on my shoe…’

Freya: ‘He wanted to find a route directly to your sole!’

Cockle Bay house had been having some electrical and general functional problems lately; warped doors that scrape the floor making scratching noises, scaring one into wondering what might happen if the door jammed and the handle came off in ones hands while one was still inside, electrical socket sending a shock through poor subject when trying to turn on the fan, and meshes with bite holes from not so tiny, furry beings… So of course, we got people in to fix them!

The carpenter came round and meshed our drying room - which he is yet to finish, and ‘fixed’ the doors, so they don’t scratch the floors anymore. I say ‘fixed’ because our definition and the carpenters I think, are apparently quite different. Not to be unkind about his ‘skills’, but he managed to fix my door and break it at the same time. True, it no longer scrapes the floor, but somehow, he has managed to unhinge it in such a way that it no longer closes, or worse locks! Not really my definition of fixed!

But anyway, that’s not the story today!

So the electricians came round to fix the sockets and light fixtures. There were FOUR of them! ‘The joke, how many electricians do you need to fix a socket?’ came to mind.’ They got right to work and Freya and I, carried on with ours.

Bear in mind that 2 days earlier, when the electricians had come to have a assess the electrical socket, one of the men had asked me to be his friend…

As I sat in my room doing my work, the electricians stood on my table, fixing the wires that connected my room with the next. Throughout this process, I happily typed away, listening to my i-pod on speakers. One of the electricians even (surprisingly!) sang along to Kate Bush’s Wuthering Heights! About half an hour later they were done, and were packing up. I walked into the living room, and was stooped by the table, when the same guy from 2 days earlier came in and said to me, ‘I left you a note on your slipper!’ I said ‘okay,’ awkwardly, and continued with my task.

After they had left, Freya and I entered my room to find, beside my bed a note – as promised – written directly ON my slipper, with my pen! It said:

‘U are 2 nice. I really need you 4 friend. This is my line… (which cannot be disclosed for obvious reasons)’

Needless to say, I was speechless! It was actually a really nice, grand romantic gesture, akin to an alternate rendition of Cinderella, or perhaps that scene in the movie Wicker Park where Josh Hartnett is utterly besotted and writes a note on Diane Kruger’s shoe box! And, had there been mutual affection, it would have been quite sweet. But having seen him only once and definitely not with the mind to fall in love with him, this was rather funny.

But it was a sweet gesture, and as Samson, our other housemate said, it means he saw something good in me. And that, I can neither laugh at or mock, so this will go down as another one of my strange, but characteristic experiences in Sierra Leone that we’ll all reminisce over for years to come!!

Bankexx

What, do I have 'social butterfly' stamped on my forehead or something?

Exasperated yesterday, this was part of the message I texted to one of my housemates yesterday. I was having a particularly annoying day, caused by something I had thought I would always enjoy.

You see, before we came out to Sierra Leone, we attended training, which was supposed to prepare us for change. One of the things we discussed was the Emotion cycle*. In a way, I thought I was doing really well and was not going through the stages conventionally, actually, I wasn't even really going through any of the stages. Forget 'Storming before Norming', I was settled and ready to take on the world. However, it only took a 2 minute walk up Fort Street in the rain, past a hairdressers before I realised that even I, the Great Banke, was certainly not above the emotional cycle pitched at the 'Skills for working in development' course.

The thing is, I have wondering, smiling eyes. When I walk down the street, I make eye contact with people and smile until I walk past. I even say hello when I'm in a particularly good mood. I also have that thing where I always manage to catch the eye of the street sellers and then regret it because I realised I've smiled and given them the impression that I want to buy whatever it is they are selling (which is usually not the case!), then when they come over I have to smile sheepishly and say 'no tenke!'

So I do this when I walk down Fort Street. I see loads of people between HFaC and SLNA - where I work - and because of the culture here, people are mega friendly and genuinely want to talk to you. In a strange way, they all seem to know I’m not a local. I don't know what it is... well once, this guy said he knew I wasn’t from around here because I walked quickly like an 'English man'!

 

So every day, I walk to work and people say hi and shake my hand and its fun. I even made friends with a girl at the local hairdressers who sometimes walks me to HfaC at the end of the day. But the glow began to ebb as I started to tire of saying hello constantly and smiling all the time.

You know, if you're from London, and ‘travel’ is usually personal time for thinking, i-poding and ignoring people. As friendly as I am, even I start to tire when I have to stop every five seconds with a greeting! See, I'm used to saying hello to the people I’m friends with and am equally polite but not over-friendly with the rest. However, I made a mistake of hurrying past the hairdressers in the rain, not stopping to wave because I was late and I didn’t see my hairdressing friend. 2 seconds later, a lady I don't know came out, shouted my name and shouted crossly, 'Banke, you have to say HELLO to us O!' So I’m there thinking 'what? I don't even know you', but apparently this matters not. Furthermore, later on (when I sent the text mentioned at the beginning) a man walked past me mumbling undecipherable words. A few seconds later, he returns and addresses me angrily saying in Krio 'I said hello to you, why didn't you reply?' Shocked I said 'oh, sorry, didn’t hear it, hello'. He then said okay and walked off! And there are more stories! Must I say hello to everybody, all the time?

I GUESS I MUST HAVE ONE OF THOSE 'APPROACH ME' FACES... I guess this is mostly a good thing... Well I guess I'll really mean that in 2 stages time!!!

Bankexx

Footnote

*The Emotion Cycle - Stage 1 is total euphoria, complete amusement to everything new. You love this and could do it forever! Stage 2, annoyance sets in. Everything you thought was fun becomes a nightmare, and you try to imagine the easiest way to find a cosy sofa in front of a romantic movie, with a tub of haagendaaz, completely oblivious to the current situation. As you can tell, my version is also called ESCAPISM or DENIAL. Stage 3 is the depressed 'Why Me' stage, where you moan and 'well at least I'm alive' is the most positive you're willing to get. Stage 4 is the accepting stage, you realise haagendaaz and Will Smith are unnecessary (well...) and you could just enjoy where you are, sit on the beach and watch the beautiful sunset, and it really is a great experience! Okay, I've embellished and exaggerated a little!

Ten things i like about you!

There are 10 things I really like about Sierra Leone. Insanely interesting, but possibly more than 40 lines. You have been warned!

1. The Poda-podas – This is public transport at its most eccentric! Between the red and blue strobe lighting, amazing surround sound music system, rear view mirror substituted for an LCD screen playing music videos, and apprentice hanging out of the side door shouting undecipherable destinations, you’re not guaranteed a safe ride home, but you’ll sure have fun getting there!
2. The beaches – Sierra Leone is just started to get noticed as a great location for tourism and rightly so. The beaches are amazing. When the weather is great and there’s fuel in your tank (personal car or chartered taxi), Laka, Lumley, no 2, etc… beaches are the best places to be.
3. The currency – My, do I feel like a millionaire! With 6,000 Leones to a pound, every payday (well, stipend day) feels like a lottery payout. The only downside is that it goes as quickly as it comes since Freetown is a rather expensive place to live.
4. The Thunder and Lightening – This hasn’t happened for a while, but when the storms begin, you find yourself somewhat terrified, yet transfixed by the angry streaks and flashing moments in the sky followed by a rumbling so prolonged and deep, you feel someone has actually been offended.
5. The Cotton Tree - At the historical heart of Sierra Leone and at  virtually the centre of everything accessible in Freetown, the cotton tree reminds me that if a tree can withstand over 200 years of weather like it has, its people can do so much more.  
6. The Mountains – The hills which can be seen from anywhere in Freetown are absolutely amazing! That’s why its called Sierra Leone!
7. The Palm Trees – Despite the felling of our beloved garden palm tree in the storm last month, I absolutely love them. In so many shapes and sizes, they beautify the landscape, especially on the journey up-country!
8. The other Species – Its amazing how many dogs share this city with humans, who appear so used to their presence, they seem not to notice them anymore. There are dogs virtually everywhere. I counted 25 on Wilkinson road, and that was just one side of it! Okay, well I'm not entirely sure this category should be on the list, but I love one of the dogs we have in our compound called Bingo. Just look at him!
9.  Names of Places – Of all the countries I’ve been, I have never so much enjoyed calling the names of places there. From Siaka Steven Street, to Cockle Bay, to Tonkolili, to Magburaka, to Tacugama, to Lightfoot Boston, you are never short of cool, sweet sounding places to describe!
10. The Youyi Building – Another great phrase everyone loves to say, the white, tall modern looking building houses the Ministry of Health and Sanitation – as well as other ministries; the Chinese built structure project what a more modern Freetown might look like.

Till Again…. Bankexx

 the mountains…

Excuse me, are you Allah?

I had one of the most bizarre and surreal experiences today when I got on the poda-poda, on my way home. You see it’s a little more difficult to get a poda going to Aberdeen from Fort Street after work, because a larger percentage of the podas that come past the Circular road stop seem to go to Lumley (another part of town). So Freya and I were happy when we finally heard the ‘apprentice (poda conductor)’ shouting ‘abadaba-daba-daba’ – this means Aberdeen in apprentice.

So anyway, we got unto the poda quickly – glad to be out of the looming clouds and impending rain – into an unusually empty poda, and we sit down. As we sit, another man boards and takes a seat on the row behind us. The poda starts to move when the man in the row behind taps me on my shoulder and asks,

‘Excuse me, are you Allah?’

Obviously, I’m reasonably perplexed by this question and I turn round to face him, repeating bemusedly, ‘Am I Allah?’ Here sits a well dressed man with a red jacket over an olive green shirt and a smart umbrella, tucked in his hand, with spectacles on (and as Freya rightly noted, looking slightly out of place in the poda), asking me possibly the most ludicrous question ever!

The man looks a little frustrated and repeats, ‘Are you Anna, Anna?’, and it all suddenly clicks into place; he’s asking me if I’m Anna!

We have a bit of a giggle and I assure him that no, I am not Anna, to which he exclaims ‘oh, I thought you were Anna’,  turns to the apprentice and says, ‘Apprentice, I’m getting off, she’s not Anna’, and then the poda stops – after having driven to the end of Circular road – and Mr Red Jacket hops off and simply walks away.

Freya and I looked at each other and burst into laughter. What on earth? He had been so determined; one would assume this Anna was some long lost love, but again as Freya rightly pointed out, he couldn’t have known Anna that well, if he was asking the question ‘Are you Anna?’! Maybe he’d seen a picture on  facebook and I happened to fit a vague description of this ‘Anna’ character… who knows!

At least I don’t have to worry that people are asking if I am the Muslim deity!

So if there are any Freetowners reading this post and were curious as to why those two English girls were laughing their heads off at the back of the poda, now you know.

Till my next Tale!

Banke xx

My Friend, Accept defeit and JUST blog!

I’m sitting on the veranda of our Cockle Bay House, watching the palm tree in our gardened compound rustle in the rainy wind, and listening to the angry yet calming sound of thunder in the distance. I wonder at the fact that I feel so settled after only a month. This time last month (if counting by date, not weeks) I was sitting on the descending plane secretly wondering whether it would be a week before I thought, ‘okay, who was the idiot who filled out that application form and invited herself into a year of misery?’ But at the risk (well too late now) of sounding like a cliché, I really am enjoying it.

I really did mean to blog sooner, I did. I even started a few draft posts, but the problem was/is my tenacity. I was so determined to put up pictures, creating a wonderful narrative of Banke’s journey into Sierra Leone, that I missed the opportunity to give you minute-by minute detailed accounts of my experience (I bet you’re breathing a sigh of relief) But don’t worry, I have found a way and am still working on it and will release it to you all as soon as I reach out an outlet with a speedy internet connection.

With no preamble, I’m going to crack on and tell you what I really think about this place (I bet you’re on the edge of your seats...). The great thing about Sierra Leone is the People! I am amazed everyday by what I see. Firstly they are really friendly... well apart from this lady who sells Freya (one of my housemates) and I bread in the mornings on our way to work. She always looks miserable and we are seriously trying to find a way to cheer her up.

... I have just had the most brilliant idea. As part of my role as an advocacy officer in SL, and to aid participation and inclusivity in decision-making processes, I’ve decided to set up a poll to discover how we can brighten up our bread lady’s day. Please help us by answering the poll after reading this blog. Our decision depends on your answer...

Okay, so there was a bit of a preamble... As I was saying, the people are great. They are friendly and very accommodating. They all seem to think I am Sierra Leonean and once I begin to talk, they then think I am a Sierra Leonean, come home to visit her parents. I have received a few friendship requests and can now say ‘how di bodi’ pretty well. Sadly, this is the only Krio I have managed to perfect so far...

... actually... Mek I get one bred Ya?

So my 40 lines have been used up and more, and I haven’t managed to tell you a single thing about my experience in SL... I promise to divulge in my next blog... till then.
 Bankexx

So a reporter came to my house today...OMG

So this has been an amazing week! On Wednesday morning a photographer form the South London Press came to my house and took some photos of me doing the handstand task (pictures will be uploaded when he sends them to me), in my front room, and on the road, riding my bike. The handstand task was really scary. I've always had a fright of doing a handstand against the wall, but can do it freestanding... Weird I know! If you would like to read the article, get out and get yourself a copy of the South London Press and look on PAGE 2!! My story is also running in a few more local newspapers this week. I'm very happy some awareness is going out to the local community about youths volunteering. We NEED to learn to give more of ourselves.

... moving on to Friday, my AMAZING friend Samantha got us these tickets to see USHER live at Koko, Camden- Seriously i don't know how you get these tickets but, love you! It really took me back to year 10 and 11 in Aske's with our unevenly rolled up skirts and black trench coats. Oh the days. Those moments are really good to remember when you're leaving a place for a while, because helps to remind me why I love London. So this is our Usher in the flesh!

I really didn't think I'd enjoy it but I really did. His voice is amazing and we did our best to join in with the Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh my gosh...

Click here to see Task 10 Learning 25 languages for VSO!!

... then on Saturday, I completed my 10th task, which was me in a VSO t-shirt, holding a collection can, trying to get people to stop and answer my question, 'excuse me, do you speak any foreign languages?'  have never seen so many forms of rejection in my life. Thanks to my dad, and my friend Mudi for stopping out to see me!!

My favourite total rejection line was the, 'oh, I already give to 2 other charities...' I always - as a fundraiser - wonder 1. how that helps me, and 2. what that answer had to do with the question -do you know any foreign languages? I dont think i shall ever know...

Less than a month to go...

I looked at my counter today and it said 23 DAYS LEFT TILL DEPARTURE and I panicked a little. Not because I thought 'oh my, Im actually leaving this place', or 'i'm going to miss everyone' (this should come later at a leaving do or the like). Rather, my anxiety was due to the fact that I realised I have 23 days to complete 20 tasks and buy all the things I think is necessary for my trip. Where on EARTH did all the time go?
On a more successful note, I have completed 2 more tasks. I will put up a video soon of me throwing a boomerang and learning to juggle 3 balls;

So, okay I did put 4 balls on my task sheet, but who was I kidding? Co-ordination is hard at the best of times and those of you who know me know my directional ability! I think I'll just cut my losses at 3 and move on!

So today I completed the task to VOLUNTEER AT A SOUP KITCHEN, and it was really fulfilling in the sense that I helped to bring a smile to people's faces and for no payment. It made me realise that to give something can really be better than to take it. Thanks to the American Church in London (Tottenham Court Road) for letting me participate in the soup kitchen. I encourage any one who wants to help other and give back to society to try it out. Its worth more than a £2 a month cheque to a faceless organisation. Unfortunately, since it was about feeding the general public and mostly vulnurable people, I could not record it, nor did I attempt to take a picture (which was a bit sad), but i did manage to take a crappy picture of me in the storeroom looking more like a beebo profile pic of a 14 year old than anything else, but... yeah... Before I go, some shoutouts!!! (A new Addition to my blog)

• To my Cousin Tomi on her 21st Birthday!! Happy birhday, enjoyed spending time with you up North...
• To the Catford Rotary Club for allowing me to crash their weekly meeting unannounced and eat a 3 course meal with them and sit on the presidents table.
• To Carol Jean Couture whose fashion line is exquisite!!! Thanks for letting me perform at your show! click her to check out her designs

Till next time!!
Banke

5 planes and 4 US States; wow what a journey!!!

Last weekend was really eventful for me, I travelled to Arizona for a couple of days and it was amazing. Not only for the intense heat that greeted my sister and I as we landed, but also because the travel experience was like never before. In just four days, I visited 4 US States... Oh sorry, I meant 3 US States (Chicago, Arizona and Washington) and 1 Canadian State (Montreal), and managed to board 5 different planes!

As some of you might know, I am ever so slightly apprehensive before I travel by air, and this was no exception. I had to get over my 'IF ITS NOT BA, I'M NOT GETTING ON IT' rule.

As a sidebar, I could relate this experience to my impending travels, saying the adventerous journey was in preparation for my flight to Sierra Leone. However, I won't, as it was pointed out to me the other day, most of my sentences now begin with or contain 'when I'm in Sierra Leone...' Yes I realise how annoying that could be!

The flights were quite smooth and I soon got over my fear of flying UNITED (Yes, I look up crash rates on the flight risk assessment site online. Yes, I am that pendantic about such issues!) But it was fine. Other than the ancient movie screening system on the transatlantic flight, it was great. I even got to go on a tiny UNITED EXPRESS jet from Washington to Montreal, which was really fast. Funny story:

 Upon taking off on UNITED EXPRESS, ascending into the bulbous clouds of the Washington sky, there was of course turbulence, to which I momentarily panicked and grabbed unto the arm rest beside me, accidentally scratching the leg of the poor man next to me. Between saying the Shepherd's Psalm, I managed to apologize, to which he replied, 'don't worry about it, I was about to do exactly the same thing'... Maybe its normal to scratch people on flights... At least that will alleviate my embarrassment, though I know thats not exactly what he meant!

So, I've had some American fun before  leave the West for a year, there will be som many more adventures in the South, I am sure. In terms of task, I have completed another, spending the whole night awake, which was hard, and had me in a stupor the whole of today. I was kept awake by my trusty programmes Home and Away and Gossip Girl (What a season finale today!!). These are some of the trivial things I will miss about having uninterrupted wireless connecting me to You Tube and ITV Player!! Till Next time...

Banke!!

Out of the desert, comes a £50 cheque!

Welcome back. Okay, so this one is 28 lines, Sorry, I obviously can't count!

It took me a while not to spell desert as dessert. Seriously, and I was a spelling bee champion! Dessert is yummy though!

Okay, so guys, this was a tough week for me. If you have been on my justgiving page lately (no, you haven't have you... yes, you should have... I've caught you out... just joking... am I?) you would have seen that the donations have slowed to a crawl. So I thought I would unleash my fundraising powers, you know bring in the charming big dogs. I started contacting possible funders; calling, emailing, stalking...

I even contacted people I knew the chance of receiving a donation from was about as possible as rowing to the moon and back in 3 days on a canoe... But I did anyway! I was feeling confident after reading my 'guide to fundraising' and felt the funding world was my oyster...

... 3 days later, my canoe was still standing vertical in the sand. I had called my old school like 10 times and sent numerous emails and had spoken to a particular voice message so much that I chant along with it now. Just to cheer myself up! Funny story...

I call one of my old establishments, hoping to speak to the head of department. The receptionist puts me through. It goes through to voicemail, so I call back and say to the receptionist, 'can you give me her direct number?' Receptionist says no. So next time I call, I ask when the head will be around. Receptionist says 'I can't be certain of that. You just have to call back.' I am getting kind of exasperated by now, so i say, 'I could call back 20 times and not get through to her. Could you tell me when she might be around the vicinity of her office? She must have a timetable!' So receptionist tells me to hold on and comes back 2 minutes later and says, 'well she's actually not on site till Friday (This is Tuesday by the way!), so you can try her then!'

?

As I put the phone down, I think to myself, 'would it not have been easier for receptionist to tell me

that at the BEGINNING of the phone call, therefore saving my time and hers? In addition to that thrilling but grossly unhelpful phonecall, I hadn't received any replies from my numerous emails and other voice messages. I was down, Yes down! My canoe now appeared to be lying facedown surounded by desert wind, with tumbleweed blowing mockingly across the sand.

But then, my mother came home with a cheque for £50 from a church member who heard about what I was doing and wanted to donate! So a big thank you to the twins, and my mum! They really put a happy spin to an otherwise miserable day for me!!

Banke xoxoxo

Yes, I definitely hate Marmite!

Welcome back. As promised, Just 25 lines or less!

RE: Just over half an hour ago, I tasted marmite for the second time ever, and I am definitely convinced that it will be my last!

This was task 2/25 to raise money for VSO before I go away, and it was fun. Check out the video clip at:

Task 2/25 Eat Marmite - CLICK HERE TO WATCH!!

So far, I have raised over £350 for VSO, and I have to say, I think that amount covered that single bite of marmite spread bread. Who says they like marmite again?

WHAT ARE YOUR TASTE BUDS LIKE? Not far from tasting like ear-wax, the yeast extract taste is far from desirable. There is definitely not enough Folic Acid and Vitamin B12 in that 'thing' posing as a healthy spread to tempt me into its destructive arms ever again.

Were it up to me, following the extract should read: 'possible symptoms following consumption include,'

a. uncontrollable contortion of the face in disgust, b. unsatiable need for something sweet to rid your mouth of bitter taste, c. sweating, d. piercing headache, e. possible stomach ache (if untreated vomitting may follow... and so on

I have all of these symptoms. I suppose all can be easily treated by a 2 hour nap, however I have an even beter idea. Instead of treatment, the perfect prophylaxis from the effects of marmite will simply be... NEVER EAT IT AGAIN.

Thanks for Reading,
Banke xoxo

NB: No, I will not be packing marmite in my suitcase when i leave... urgh... i can still taste it!