Here, There, Everywhere

Today while we were going across town in a poda poda (the local version of mass transit, which is in fact nothing at all like mass transit, just an extremely old van with too many people in it), I noticed how many NGOs there are (Non-Government Organizations, mostly non profits trying to help people). When I mentioned it to Laura (who has been working at SWASSL through Volunteer Services Oversees for the last 8 months) she said "Yeah, that is the way people stay alive here." Sadly, that is very true. Some people here can get by on their own, most just scrape by with the help of NGOs, and some don't survive. As hard as people work, a lot simply can't survive alone. Many people really need someone outside of the system to help them get by- there is a cycle that they just can't break without someone from outside of the cycle stepping in. As glad as I am to step in, I've really been racking my brain for how to change that cycle, how to help people help themselves. I'm not sure how to do it yet- but I am turning it over in my mind constantly, so hopefully I'll start to have some ideas soon (though everything is still coming around the education).

Maybe you are all getting tired of pictures of the sunset over the ocean- but I feel so blessed to see it everyday (and it is always beautiful!) so I like to share. Not to mention I'm sure my mom likes it :). The other pictures are of a sweet little girl I met at SWAASL (names are confidential though). I love the hair- it is adorable. I'm planning on getting mine braided soon, so I'll put some pictures up. I love my African clothes (nerdy as I look) and, I am ashamed to say, am beginning to really like R&B and hip hop. My Krio (the local language) is getting better quickly, as is my French. I'm trying to get used to the spicy food, though that is a bit harder. I'm still a vegetarian though, so the spice is fine with me.