First Impressions

We have 9 expats (considered a large group) and most of them are nice folks. We have several living quarters. One is a square building shaped in a perimeter around a central courtyard. The sides of the building are divided into rooms with three offices, four bedrooms and a kitchen/laundry area. We have domestics for all our needs, full laundry, dishes, cooks, radio operators, drivers, clerks. We have a lounge with a TV, DVD and stereo. There is quite a library (mostly of books I brought) which includes music and DVDs. There is no power in the whole of the county but our generator runs two four-hour shifts and with the batteries we have the luxury of 24 hr power.

The second living quarter is a five bedroom two shower stall affair simple bungalow. The third is considered the guest quarters and is just being finished construction. It has a large bedroom (I have dibs on it in five weeks time when it is vacated) and two smaller bedrooms. There is a three piece bath and the best of all is the outside but covered lounge facing the west sunsets. The sunsets from the pool should be quite fine. I will be in charge of building the furniture for the lounge area and I have visions of Thailand beach resort style with hammocks, raised, and cushioned platforms, chaise lounges. I will also try building some dumbbells for exercise.

The town is quite small. Not really a town but a collection of houses made of bamboo or cardboard or concrete blocks...what ever. Poverty is the rule, with many women having six or more children. We have a huge mother/child death rate making the region an ''emergency' area. There is one main road, unpaved and rutted beyond driving. Good thing because the only vehicles belong to the INGOs and UNMIL. Women are the workers, as usual, but the men are large and strong looking, quite handsome. The women have bubble butts and like to shake ‘em with the music, a cross mix of north American pop and west African specialties. I like the music. The rains have started early this season and have rained more than usual in torrential downpours. Meaning that harvests are delayed if at all possible. There are rumours of folks selling items to buy rice...bad signs leading to a green famine.

So our digs are nice and the town is nice (I go jogging in the am without problem) so I am quite happy to be here. We will see how things go in the next few months.