In a few hours I'll be boarding a plane back to a country I fell in love with almost three years ago. I'll be leaving one home and going to another. My intent with this blog is to share my story of Sierra Leone. I hope to combat the danger of the single story coming out of Salone: the story of blood diamonds and child soldiers, corruption and war, Ebola and ignorance. While these phrases do contain truth, to paint a picture of a country from only one violent and desperate perspective does a grave disservice to a colorful and vibrant place, full of optimism, hope and love. For each thread of violence and disease in the tapestry of Mama Salone, there are many times more threads of fierce positivity and infectious hospitality.
(my host family in Bo)
I recognize that appreciating the cultural complexity of a place takes energy, and humans, like water, tend to take the path of least resistance. In my experience, however, the reward from putting in the cross cultural energy has far outweighed the effort. Of course my own experience is filtered through my perspective, but my belief is that when we look at a place or a story or an idea from many angles, we can arrive closer to the truth. This is my story.
(neighbors in Bauya who immediately treated me like family)
