July 15. Escaping Bonthe Island

To be honest, I do not know it is appropriate to use the word escape in this situation. Anyway, it was kind of emergency. Our team gathered at jetty at 7am, boarded a speedboat. I was not allowed to stop by Imperi ADP; I had to straight back to Freetown. I felt terribly bad. I did not even complete my interviews in Bonthe District. I did not even go to Imperi ADP. And Joseph was going to Freetown with me only because I had to come back to Freetown immediately. I, myself was delaying the AIM-Health evaluation more. I did not want to burden to anyone, but everything relies on my status and my schedule.

Why are you born as chicken and fish?

The speedboat was stuck at sand bank on the sea. The assistant boat captain was standing in the middle of the ocean! He pulled the boat to another direction, and the captain turned on the engine again. Okay, let’s go again. On the way to the mainland, we stopped by York Island, and Christiana bought a giant fish. On the seaside, there were two lonely Korean fishing boats left; Christiana said that fishers already left to Freetown to avoid Ebola virus.

When we got mainland, and driver Jacob was already waiting for us. He drove to the Jong river. Christiana got off here to get back to Mattru. I wished I also could cross the river to say hello to people over there. Moses, Francis, Nancy, Zainab, Sao, Ansu, Adama, Andrew, Julius… I did not even say good-bye and take pictures with them yet.

The vehicle returned from this route, and went straight to Freetown. I felt so strange. What is going on right now? What am I doing? It is only matter of time before I see Ebola confirmed case in Freetown. How do I know who are Ebola patients on the street? I might already have contacted, touched or shook hands with patients. It took 8 hours to get to World Vision Sierra Leone National Office in Freetown. Staff welcomed me. I hastily checked my e-mails. I needed to set a time of Skype meeting with Erin tomorrow to reschedule my workplan. I had just got the news in the office that there were 3 Ebola confirmed cases in Freetown. So then, it has just turned out that there is nowhere to go in Sierra Leone.

I quickly opened my International SOS insurance PDF file. I had never imagined that I would look into their policy. I needed to find what emergency evacuation services they can provide for me. I called London, England branch. A woman who has English accent answered the phone. The line was muffled and unclear, so it was difficult to deliver and receive the message over the phone. I explained my situation in Sierra Leone. I talked to one of medical teams, and this gentleman kindly asked and confirmed what I said under the poor phone connection. (England is such a gentlemen’s country!)

“I have been working for NGO, World Vision, in Sierra Leone since this June, and there is a Ebola outbreak in West Africa, and there are 3 Ebola confirmed cases in Freetown, the place where I am. World Vision and I am wondering if I have to evacuate Sierra Leone, what evacuation services can you provide for me?”

I could not quite get what he said, but the point was that I will get a call from another specialist within 24 hours. 

Joseph, driver Jacob, and I went for dinner at 7pm. We had not eaten anything from this morning. We went the restaurant near to the office, and got some chicken leg, and drinked Vicco. I did not know what to say while I was eating cooled undelicious chicken. Jacob was super quite, and Joseph broke the silence and asked me “What are you thinking?” I said, “Nothing…”

Louisa told me the food name is Kan Kan Kan.

I came back home. I met Amadu again. I tried to find the security guy Balla, but Amadu said he left. He might be fired…? Another new security guys were keeping my house. Amadu and I went our favorite place to get some street food. This food could be the last time to eat. I bought extra meat for Amadu and myself, and Amadu bought clean water for me. Thank you, Amadu, your food and extra meat are on me!

I may (or maybe not) have just a few days to stay in Freetown. I can do my interview work with national level health workers as much as possible for two days. Then, I may have to go to the safe place. I know. There is no perfectly safe place. But at least, I can make it easy by going to safer place for everyone; myself, my friends, my parents, and World Vision. I really want to believe this is not end, but it should be another and.