Less than 48 hours away...

Leaving Sierra Leone behind...with all its beautiful beaches and wonderful people...


From Brussel's airport...The flight back from Freetown, SL was pretty uneventful. I got to London and then to Brussels...only to discover that my baggage is missing! :( Oh well... I have a 27 hr layer over in Brussels and all this travelling has worn me out. So, I have decided to park myself at a 24 hr starbucks in the airport and use this time to get some work done...The first call of business is responding to crazy amount of emails in my inbox (i.e after blogging and facebook and skype etc :P) ...then down to serious business.

The international airport check in procedure in Freetown is quite a sight/ experience. It is craziness at its height! No equipment...just people...people everywhere! Long lines..of people and baggage that move at ant's pace. You need to give money to get anything done...and men are always wanting to marry you!! The only thing requiring electricity that caught my eye was this lamp that they used to determine if your visas to europe/usa were valid or not. Having been through all that, I have to admit I have never looked forward to flight food as much as I did when flying from SL to London..I was done with all the african food...sooo much palm oil in everything (tasty though :P)

So..while waiting at the airport, I happened to meet a guy from Philadelphia who happened to be in SL to start a business. He wants to deal with timber and start a diamond mine etc etc...He helped me get through all the requirements (though I think doing stuff his way made me even more uncomfortable)...but it was good of him to be there around me...Conversation with him was strikingly different from what I had gotten used to for the past few weeks. Everything about him was money! He kept saying how there is so much to be made in SL with all the diamond mines and other business prospects...how he does not fear anything and just wants to make as much profit as possible...it got me thinking...I had visited the mine area a few days back and seen really poor Sierra Leoneans working 8-10 hours a day for 7000 Le (1 dollar ~ 3000 Le). Some of them toiling away with hopes of a better future, a house maybe, with the dreams of an education in Europe or maybe medical treatment for a loved one. And here there was this american guy, brilliant personality, very helpful person not giving a damn about the people whose land he is about to exploit!! So...have I been in this development 'business' way too long, or is my perception of his brilliant personality wrong (may be that easy comfortable charisma is not true)...is this a new form of colonization? Not political conquest but economic abuse...but then the good all era of colonization did start with economic benefits- the spice routes and the like...and then again, SL does need new businesses, it does need an economic boost and foreign investments....at what cost though? Well...last night got me thinking...

Nearing the End...

Hello!!

Its my second last day in SL...I fly out tom'!

Two of us went to Kono for a few days earlier in the week and got to see the diamond mines-an absolutely crazy trip :) But we got to see the countryside! The bus trip from freetown to Kono was ~ 11 hrs for ~200 miles! the bus kept falling apart while we were driving- the door, then a window and then a seat!! We made it on dirt roads lined with orange colored trees (from all the dust!), after hearing four 30 minute religious sermons (two islamic and two christian) and travelling with chicken and metal poles and stacks of vegetables :)

The diamond mines were quite a site though! So...the trip was worth all the energy. I have some really cool pics which I will post soon or you should just ask me for them :P

So..the 'poda poda' is a really small vehicle-the size of an SUV or something and they are most everywhere in Africa apparently...the ones in SL are really small and pack ~ 15- 20 people in one!! We took one back late one night- it was quite an experience-it goes really 'fast' (as fast as it can get here :P) and people just keep getting in and out of it randomly!

Coca Cola Nation

This is at one of the beaches we visited over the weekend...


Everywhere you look…you will find a coca cola sign. The only thing more ubiquitous than that are the cell phone advertisements! And there is a different price of regular coke, coke light, diet coke and coke zero!! I guess it must depend on where they are bottled, but I am not sure. Oh and red bull is pretty ‘famous’ here too!

Going back to cell phones…the market is pretty interesting- Its not a monopoly because there are about four or five very popular ones-zain, africell, comium, celltel and sierracell. Its not really very competitive field either because most customers just chose to have three or more cell phones, from different services!! So, people travel with three different phones with different ringtones all the time!!

Sorry...I have not been writing much lately....will try and do so more often...I have to def. write about the pota pota ride!!

Some Real Work...

I actually got some work done last night…well PhD related work! :) It felt really good to do some ‘engineering’ work! These few weeks away from lab reminded me why I started a PhD…I kind of like biomedical research!!

On that note… I was asked to repair certain anesthetic machines yesterday! I think they are fried the machines because of the voltage difference between SL and the US (where the devices came from)…but we’ll see. My electrical engineering skills will be tested soon :) I really hope I can fix at least some of them. The entire hospital has one anesthesiologist (one sources said the entire country- I am guessing Sierra Leonean anesthesiologist). Most of the operations are done by nurse anesthetists!!!

Oh…the ginger ‘beer’ (non alcoholic) here is sooo good!! I could drink liters!!

Back to work….

Living it up in SL :)

This is the view from one of the busiest roads...

It has been a couple of days since I blogged...was busy getting stuff done...most everything takes double the time! And I usually have to get to an internet cafe...with so many emails to get back to..I never get around to blogging!!

Well...I spent the last two days talking with senior doctors in the hospital. Got to see an operating theater while in use ...through the glass windows upstairs [not sure if there is a specific name for that :P]. They were operating on a hernia with minimal equipments and supplies...very fascinating! the nurses and doctors were wearing crocs!! Sierra Leone is starting its first surgery residency program!! So, it has been really cool seeing how that is [going to be] working! Met the minister of health today...even got his cell phone number!!

I have a strange muscle spasm (hopefully nothing neurological :P)...maybe GLAb will provide passes for massages at a spa...JK. One of my teammates is down with Malaria...and I think I might be getting there too...hopefully not. But probably should get tested. Getting used to the water situation...but the first thing I do when I get to Boston is take a LOOOOONG HOT shower!! Well...all things aside, this has been a great experience soo far!

Thinking of going to Liberia towards the end of this trip...ummm..we shall see...depends on my physical condition :P

Settling In...

Day Three!!

Last night we went to a bar/restaurant call Paddy's (so..one would imagine it to be Irish...)...but it served Indian and Chinese food and played old boy band music!!!! Reminded me of high school days! It was fun hanging out there...it is at the sea and had bright lighting...they were playing an action movie at the same time as the music..very entertaining!! [I have pictures too :)] Oh hindi movies are soo popular here!!

We spent all morning today touring other hospitals in the area...one of them is a private hospital that serves the 'richer' folks. The doctors there are primarily from India!! Its a pretty decent hospital, though it could do with more equipments too. They seem to have a pricing hierarchy- the ex-pats and foreigners pay more than the local folks. Well...the hospital said that, but I am not sure how true it is. They seemed to be a bit hesitant to report details. Our project is primarily focussed on Connought hospital- the main teaching hospital in Freetown. Hence, any improvements would be hugely beneficial. This picture was taken enroute to the hospital run by an Italian NGO- the only hospital in Freetown that provides free medical help. But its located on an unpaved dirt road away from the heart of the city!

So...I am off to 'tour' Freetown on foot now. There are some German guys here...working on micro finance stuff and we may meet up with them tonight and explore some more. And then probably go to some of the beaches tomorrow...umm..I am getting REALLY tan...aahhh...

Touring the Hospital...

Second day!!

We toured the hospital today and it was amazing to see all the different wards and facilities. there is soo much that can be done to improve the situation! The ICU has 10 beds with monitors...thats the only difference compared to the regular wards! And they let us in without making us change clothes or shoes! There is no running water in the hospital and the electricity is intermittent. The people are very hospitable and keep telling us all their problems and what they need...When I think of the situation here...its like looking through a kaleidoscope. There is not enough personnel, there is not enough money and they is a lack of infrastructure. And most people we talk to seem to see the problem from their point of view. The good thing about the situations is that a lot can be done to improve various aspects of the service. we will probably be visiting other private hospitals in the area this coming weekend...so that should shed some perspective.

Well...I better get going...will post pictures later...probably when I get home...Staying away from Boston has made me realise how much I love and miss the town :)

First day in Sierra Leone…

The food here is amazing. But if I eat like this everyday, I am sure I will put on a ton of weight!! Everything is fried!! Fried potatoes, fried plantains, fried meat, fried rice…
So…folks from the hospital came to pick us up from the airport and we got our first glimpse of the city. It is teeming with people, lots of tiny roads, very pretty women (!) and loads of hills! So...our apartment…it is very clean, there is no running water, we have electricity (but no fans), has mosquito nets and four locks!! We went to the super market in the evening and it is like a completely different world!! You can find most imported foods there. I bought a sim card but apparently it does not work because I did not hear back from the folks I texted :( I have to figure that out sometime tomorrow. There is hardly any internet around…but will try and find some once in a way… It is about 9pm and we are all sitting in the ‘common room’ and talking…because there is nothing else to do :) So, I figured I will start writing everyday and post these blabber when ever I can find time :)

I get to tour the hospital tomorrow…so excited! We met the doctor of internal medicine and had lunch with head of surgery…The doctors are so nice here :) Hopefully we can do something worthwhile here!!

[written on the 8th...posted on the 9th :)]

From Sierra Leone!

Kusheh from Sierra Leone!!!


All of the 7th was spent in travelling- from Belgium (now I realise the airport is much bigger!) to London to Lungi airport in SL and then to Freetown via a hovercraft! Fun times! So...the flight to Lungi- I was sitting next to this VERY accomplished lady from Britain who has been to 27 African countries on different projects, her stories were amazing; the men sitting behind me were drunk on the free airplane wine; the bathrooms on the flight were out of water...and the flight was about an hour late...but all in all, it was pretty uneventful and I got in safe. Thanks for all your good wishes :) I was very gald when I got all my luggage too! I took the hovercraft (in picture) from the airport to freetown when it was pitch dark! Quite an experience...met up with my other teammates at a hotel here. We spent the night here and are just about to leave for the hospital...this is where I am writing from!!! My last hot running water shower for the next three weeks!! The beaches are beautiful...there is sea everywhere!! In the hour I spent 'exploring' the town, I found a casino and night clubs-apparently I am in the tourist land of SL. The people here are very nice, very eager to halp and always asking you out!

So, here is hoping to a productive three weeks in the warmth of Sierra Leone!

Paris- Where Good Wine is Cheaper than Good Coffee!!!

Paris...I am in love with Paris!!! Its the best city I have been to- better than New Yok, San Frans, DC, Boston, Chicago, or any one of the Indian Metropolitans...its simple amazing. A bit too chic for me to live there, but def. worth many more visits!!

I got to Paris on the night of the 4th and met up with my second couchsurfing host- the guy with the boat. He turned out to be a really cool guy, works in an America based HFund and does cool healthcare projects on the side!! And he has an awesome boat on the Seine that overlooks the island Sarkozy used to live on before he became the President!! Anyways, he took me on this amazing 'Paris at Night' tour of the city. I dont have words to describe it. When I upload pictures, you will see it for yourself. Stunning. The next day, I woke up to a 'Snowy Paris'. It was mesmerizing. I spent ~ 15 hours just walking aorund the city, getting in and out of museums and monuments, eating as little as possible :) and trying to take in as much of the ambience as I possibly could.

Last night, when I went to bed, I remember thinking that I had never seen so many women wearing designer coats (all black, mind you!) and high heeled boots and carry Coach (or D &G or something like that) anywhere else in my life!! And here I was, a tourist from the US, in my sneakers (yeah- I gave in...:)) and carrying my huge backpack and trudging along this fancy city :P Anyways, I did a little more of that today...and finally took the train into Brussels and got my computer back!!

I will head out to the airport in a few hours and start the second leg of my journey- Freetown, Sierra Leone!! Stay tuned! :)

Lille- Where I learnt What Makes a Sunday!

Yay!! Back to my keyboard! The last three days were amazing!! Not sure if I can remember all the things I wante dto blog about...but I'll try :)

So, I headed out to Lille after spending the day in Brugge to have my first couch surfing experience! I was staying with Cecile, a computer scientist and her boyfriend Arnaub who is Computer Science PhD student. There was another couch surfing guy staying at their place too- an Indian dude from Germany. I spent the night of the 3rd hanging out with the three of them and a couple of their friends- we 'made' Indian food for dinner and hung out at a Latin bar...in France! Talk about being multicultural :) It was fun, with us being the only ones actually danicng salsa and entertaining everyone else :P

The next day, I headed out to old town Lille where I realised all too quickly what it means to be living in Europe (or anywhere but the US) on a sunday! Everything was closed. That is everything but very expensive cafes!! Oh did I mention how expensive Europe is??!! Wait till I get to my stories about Paris.. :) But the tiny streets of Lille and the cute shops (I saw stuff from the windows :P) made a 4.00 euro coffee worth it. And it was freezing cold. Its amazing how people over there are immune to the cold- even kids walk around in skirts and gloveless (I know...I hate gloves but I was wearing two of them-in layers...it was that cold!!).

Anyways...walking around Lille was fun and so were the couple of museums I went too...I ate my first French crepe (I even have a picture of it! :)) and got my first 'authentic' French lesson...not that I remember anything! :)

A Lovely Day in Brugge :)

I am typing on a French keyboard...so this will take a while! I spent the entire day traversing Brugge. It was amazing...the architecture was mesmerizing...the town is so 'dainty'...the chocolates delicious...the coffee strong...the lace stores, very unique...the cobbled roads impossible to walk on :) and the history of the town captivating...It was another day of walking in the cold...but it was sooo worth it! I am definetely going back! I even managed to talk english to french speakers and it was quite entertaining :) The Gruuthuse by the frozen river was breathtaking! Oooh and I had the best toasted waffle with sugar...The pictures will come later...when I have access to my computer. I got to Lille about an hour ago... I am couchsurfing here...for the first time ever...so this should be fun! I am going to spend tonight and tomorrow here and then head to out to Paris later tomorrow night! Still figuring out what to do here...
Quick note: If you speak english, its pretty easy to get by in Belgium- therez tons of english translations...I am quickly learning that France is a different story!

Greetings from Brussels!

I am finally on a different continent! I had a pretty non eventful flight, if you discount the fact that it was insanely cold and my luggage was opened enroute (they even broke one of the zips!) and I still dont know if anything is missing...but there is nothing I can do now...so I shall deal with it when required. I still have my passport- so thats good :P Anyways, so got to Brussles on time and the first thing that struck me was the emptiness in the airport! Its so small and there is hardly anyone there! I met a Brazilian girl who goes to grad school in Brussles and she helped me figure out the French a bit. But other than that, it was smooth sailing!

I took the train, then a subway to get to the place where I am crashing for the night. And the train ride reminded me sooo much of India! When I looked out of the window, it was as if I was staring at certain parts of suburban India-though the architecture is different, the houses seem to have the same worn out paint, the walls have graffitti and out of nowhere spring up fancy glass buildings with signs like 'Microsoft', 'Sony' etc Weel, this was enroute to Brussels, which in itself is very different. The interplay of modern buildings with the older creations is quite striking, which I will imagine to be the case in most of Europe.

I spent the majority of day just walking around Brussles, downtown and residential, in boots...NOT a good idea. But its was cold...and it was fun...I realized how expensive everything is in Europe...a piece of quiche was 5.00 Euros!!! I saw an add for human rights in Kashmir at a subway stop...pretty cool. And I saw ING everywhere!! Its amazing...like the Dunkin Donuts in Boston- you will never know where you are if you are next to an ING...I found the crowd in general very different from back in Boston- a lot more Europeans (well..I guess I am in Europe :P), but also a lot more Northern Africans and Central Africans and Middle Eastners and a lot fewer Indians and Asians...it was interesting making conversation with starngers. Most seemed very helpful too!! I met someone from Chechnya too-neat!

But best of all, I saw some amazing architecture...it was surreal- walking around with map and a camera and around this cathedral and hearing music coming from inside the building...
Well...I am done with the day...I know its pretty lame on a friday night. All the tarvelling and the getting ready to travel is catching up...Will probbaly head out to Bruge tomorrow morning and then to Lillie. Will not be taking my laptop, so the entries might have to wait a bit..maybe not... Yay travels!!