Hello all.
As I have been on this mission now for almost 3 whole months (!), some of my thoughts and feelings regarding this experience are settling into place a bit more.
First of all, and I hate to admit this, but I am utterly exhausted. Mostly physically because of the workload but probably a good share mentally and emotionally as well. I have always been somebody who *needs* a decent amount of sleep (at least 8-9 hrs). Yes, that probably reads lame but it is a cold-hard fact of my life. I feel incredibly crappy when I don’t get proper sleep. I also need a steady amount of alone-time, both of which are very difficult for me to find here. I am not complaining, merely stating a fact.
Secondly, some things are hard. For me, personally. Because anything I say is not necessarily a reflection of any of my colleagues’ experiences. Yes, we may share similar sentiments but I truly believe everyone has their own unique experience while here. So speaking on a strictly personal basis, it’s hard for me not to have access to the same degree of freedom I had back home. Specifically, freedom of leisure time, freedom of convenience and freedom of purchase. I am aware how this sounds but let me explain. I am a doer and a maker. I like to purchase things that allow me to do both. At home, whenever I had a day off I was always making something either in the kitchen or with arts and crafts. Or I was always doing something like going to the movies or traveling to explore new places. It’s difficult to do those sort of things here. It’s difficult to go anywhere or do non-work related things on a steady basis (due to logistical reasons, not due to safety concerns). Yes, these things happen sometimes and I’m grateful they do but it’s just very different than the lifestyle I left behind.
Though this mission here in Sierra Leone has been a bit challenging for me in some aspects, there have been too many wonderful little things as well. So, without further ado, here are some of the small things I am thankful for.
*I am thankful that even in whatever current mental and physical state we are in, we can still choose to reach into our core and simply be sweet humans. I am thinking of two instances in particular, though I have faith that this sort of understated thing happens frequently. One colleague painted the nails of two young girl patients who had been in the hospital for SO long, and one found leftover birthday hats for a girl with serious injuries who celebrated her birthday in the hospital. It was so good to hear how much they smiled because of that.
*I am so thankful for new friends. Really, truly. Among many things shared with them, I’m thankful for having a few moments to sit on the roof of our house talking as we hungrily eat pizza and drink beer while the sun sets and the bats fly across the skies. Not many things are more picturesque.
*I am thankful for the fact that even though I am a fairly rigid person, and want what I want when and how I want it, that truly, this place has helped me let some of that go. For instance, although I am a Foodie and constantly dream of making show-stopping meals and desserts to impress people (thank you Pinterest lol), I’m thankful I can put all that aside a bit. Put all my expectations of what I “should” make and be able to have mastered a couple of simple and *delicious* no-bake cheesecakes for our Christmas Eve dessert. Because here, that’s the best I can do. Really, as simple as it sounds I am so proud of this feat. As far as I am concerned, the oven here is too unreliable for my baking preference and I was going a bit crazy at not being able to make stuff because of it lol. So, I compromised and the result was even better than I expected. Golly, I love when that happens. Thank you to the No-Bake boards on Pinterest!
*I am thankful for randomness, something I have always appreciated. One example, we went out for sushi and each roll had 1 Pringle chip as the topping lol. Then we drove past a Christmas display of lit-up Christmas trees. Okay fair enough, but in between the trees were these large, brightly-lit, neon-colored butterflies in between the trees. Because why not lol? TIA…This is Africa!
*I am thankful for a variety of Christmas music playing on a Bluetooth speaker as we prepared to eat a meal at a table set with lighted candles, paper snowflakes and red bedsheets as tablecloths. It doesn’t sound like a Hallmark Christmas scene, but I enjoyed it. I also got a small but sizeable and varied chocolate stash for my Secret Santa gift.
*I am thankful for hole-in-the-wall restaurants (the kind you wouldn’t even venture giving a second look to) at a beach preparing one of the best seafood meals I’ve ever had. They catch what you choose that day and bbq it on a grill/stove. Served with French fries, ketchup, hot pepper sauce and a Star beer, it’s perfection.
*I am thankful for help from people. Truly, I am. Example: after a disastrous haircut (which will be written about in a future blog post), the Medical Coordinator of the hospital (the big boss) grabbed some sharp sterile scissors from the operating room and a pair of regular ‘ol orange-handled scissors you get at any store, and cleaned me up as best she could one evening. In the past, she had had some training as a a hairdresser and she made me feel so much better. There’s not much time here for giving haircuts and the gesture meant a lot.
*I am thankful for resourcefulness, a trait I have always had somewhat but being here has really pushed it to the forefront. A few weeks back, the young daughter of our pediatrician wanted a castle-themed costume birthday party. So everyone was assigned roles like princess, Turtle Boy (?), knight, King, Queen, etc. My friend and I were supposed to be the dragons. Okay, cool. But how do you make Dragon costumes with next to nothing? You get resourceful! Green work scrubs from the hospital and scales and horns made out of paper and *lots* of clear packing tape. It’s really a pity I don’t have a picture.
*I am thankful for a confused rooster, whose mis-timed crowing throughout the day reminds me that the day simply is, and that you don’t need to have the correct on-time crow for it to proceed. The day will be so regardless of our expectations as to when the rooster should crow lol.
Truthfully, the list goes on and on and on. These are the things I grasp to when I’m having a difficult or tiring day. These are the things I should grasp to, always. The things I should always hold so close and never let go of.
It really is always the small things that make my life feel so big. I want to remember this always, especially as the New Year has just started. In what frame of mind will you begin your New Year?
Little Big Life 
Oh Ashia,
I love to read about your work. Knowing you on a personal level , I know you need your quiet space, alone time, and how much you love to bake and craft! I’m so proud of you and what you are learning a out yourself and how to turn the hard parts into positivity! Your small beautiful moments will carry you through! We miss you so much and look forward to seeing you. Half way there! Love you,
The Condon’s
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Sounds tiresome but also so fulfilling. Love to read your posts. By the way. I took over the toy shopping for our kiddos and even some clothes to hand out.
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