One year in West Africa


On 20 June 2010, I will be heading to Freetown, Sierra Leone to take up a one year VSO placement. Working as an Advocacy Specialist for an NGO called Health For All Coalition, I will be helping to develop tools and opportunities for the health care workers of Sierra Leone, to ensure that their voice is represented and their opinions are known.


This blog will chronicle my experiences over the next 12 months...



Thursday 10 June 2010

10 days to go...

The count down has officially begun!

In 10 days time I will be saying goodbye to everything I know, and saying hello to a hell of a lot of things I know nothing about.

Daunting? - Extremely!
Exciting? - Definitely!
Fully prepared and totally packed? - Ummmm, no...not really.

With all the vital visas and vaccinations sorted, I find myself worryingly preoccupied with foolish yet pressing questions:
  • How much sunscreen is too much sunscreen?
  • Exactly how much toothpaste do I use in a year?
  • Is Marmite a luxury item - or something i can't live without?
  • Is there such a thing as too much sunscreen?
  • Oh my God, how much is all this sunscreen going to cost me?

One more day at work - and then eight days to dedicate myself to finding the answers to at least some of these questions.

4 comments:

  1. Marmite is definitely something you can't live without, especially as they now come in handy plastic tubs :o)

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  2. Freya, I'll miss you loads and can't wait to start reading about your adventures. i'm sure you'll be an asset to the team in SL and they'll love having you there. Loads of love and hugs, good luck. Smitha xoxo PS. don't forget that you have a vital question about using an iron without electricity...look forward to hearing how that turns out :)

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  3. An iron? You won't need one out there...! Really sorry I missed your send off on Friday. I am sure it stirred up some good old memories. I will be sure to keep checking out what you've been up to on here from time to time!
    Have fun, take care and be careful. See you in a year!
    Claire xx
    PS you can never wear too much sunscreen (especially when you're as pale as us!)

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  4. So good to here your news - can't imagine what it is like. Do you need Man U memorabilia? COuld be good bargaining material! Would love to write more but need to write a HV newsletter!!!!! Take care and keep writing.Cathyxx

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