Life in Freetown
So, I’m sure there’s at least one person out there who would like to know a little about my life and living situation here in Freetown (thanks for caring, mom). So here goes:
-I live with relatives of my Bossman. Am sharing room with Albert, a great guy who works in a bank here in Freetown. The other inhabitants in the house are one mother, one daughter, one son, one additional boy, and one additional girl (the African way, they tell me. Very inclusive!)
-The mother (not quite unlike my ‘real’ one in Denmark) cooks me nice breakfast in the mornings and make sure I’m alright all the time. This morning it was plantains.
-Yesterday I had a conversation on religion with the family. Most people here are very religious, although in a manner rarely seen other places, I’d argue. The biggest denominations are Christianity and Islam. The beautiful thing is the degree of coexistence and lack of animosity between the groups. They go to church/Mosque with each other and know a lot about each others beliefs. The ex-president was muslim but had a christian wife, I’ve been told. I like it.
Anywho, I had a conversation with one of the girls in the house about religion. She asked what church I go to in my country. I tried, cunningly, to get put of the conversation without revealing my heathen upbringing, but it was inevitable. I had to tell her that I simply don’t really believe in anything that you have to go to church for… She was shocked. And concerned. he told me that it one of the biggest sins; not believing. We agreed that G-D is probably rather upset with me, and I asked if she could perhaps throw in a a word for me next time she talks with him. I keep my fingers crossed. I have furthermore promised a colleague at the office to read the ‘Rhapsody of realities’, so let’s see what kind of Jakob makes it back to NYC… Watch out American friends, you may have a proselytizer amongst you..!
-The office where I am is very nice- the people more so than the buildings, though. It’s a rather young and very nice team they have here, and I think I learn, especially about Sierra Leonean culture, a lot just by hanging out around them
-The other day I went with Albert to the cinema to see the Arsenal-Hotspurs game. Bendtner didn’t score, but we had a great time. A couple of hundred people were in this big, big hall to see the game, everyone cheering loudly. They’re almost as crazed as the Brits with football, British football in particular.
Ok, that’s all folks… Now I’m off to the provinces to start the Fambul Tok program with its first talks in the small communities. Very excited!