July 28. Last Night in Freetown, “Hakuna Matata!”

WVSL DM&E workshop for 3 days!

Tomorrow will be my departure date for Tanzania; however, I realized that I was not still ready yet to prepare for boarding an airplane. I have just received an airplane ticket, and I had no Tanzania visa. Today was public holiday in Sierra Leone, but WVSL staff attended DM&E workshop at the Hotel Barmoi conference room. Since I needed Internet to communicate with program coordinators, I also joined there and sat at the backseat. Every process should be going fast as well as be prepared well to go to Tanzania. At the same time, communication among WV International, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, and me should also be smoothly go well; getting an invitation letter, preparing logistic, contacting with WVT staff when I arrive… I simply thought that moving to a different place would be exciting, but getting ready with speeding up all processes was not easy.

First of all, my final destination has been changed. I was supposed to go to Arusha, Tanzania, but I should stop boarding an airplane in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania, stay there for two days, and then move to Dodoma on Friday, capital city in Tanzania. So I have to claim my baggage to receive in Dar Es Salaam, instead of Arusha. If I forget to do it, I will not meet my baggage in Tanzania and I have no clothes to change!

Second, I need CTA visa to enter Tanzania. All I knew about this visa is for people who will be volunteering in Tanzania. For having CTA/VISA application, I need five required documents: copy of my passport, CV, 2 passport size photos, invitation letter, and progress report. Luckily, I already had photos, and I have just received an invitation letter. However, the problem was progress report; I needed this as soon as possible, before leaving. This report would be for verification provided my academic advisor that I am a registered student at Hopkins and World Vision Global Health Fellow. The time was around 12pm, which was 8am in Baltimore. I wrote email to my academic advisor, Li, and program advisors, Ingrid, and Karen to get immediate help. I set this email as the highest important, to receive progress report from them by today (or at least by tomorrow in the morning.) Wow, Ingrid replied me in 8 minutes, and said that Li might be in China. 12 minutes later, Li emailed me that she was sitting in Helsinki airport, and she only have the next hour to work on this. I quickly wrote draft and sent it to her, and she edited/put on letter head/sign and sent me a letter in 24 minutes. Wow, I got a progress report within a blink of my eye! I thank my school advisors for their prompt assistance with professionalism. Every communication through Skype, international call from Ireland, email with advisors in Baltimore, asking advice for Ebola to professors, and asking International SOS for emergency service was a real-time and urgent. On the one hand, it was kind of exciting to keep eye on computer and cell phone all day long to get ready to go to Tanzania.

Third, there might be surveillance for Ebola in all entries, Sierra Leone, Ghana, Kenya, and Tanzania. All individuals from West African countries may be required to answer the questions on arrival and screened by immigration Port Health officials to sort out Ebola suspect. The worst scenario will be quarantine; Ebola suspected individual will be taken by airport ambulance to the hospital, isolated and observed. My program coordinator, Erin, wanted me to get ready to respond any Ebola questions with a calm attitude. Also, she advised me not to contact with passengers who are next to me in the airplane because they might be possible Ebola patients. (Last but not least), Wow… leaving Sierra Leone needs a lot of precautions and attentions.

Oh, my broken umbrella! 

Without my knowing it, the time became 5pm. The workshop was about to wrap-up, and staff were beginning to get off work. Today was the last night for me in Sierra Leone. I wished I could have met any staff to have dinner, but all staff were in a hurry to go back their home. I know… today was public holiday, and they worked all day. It suddenly began raining so crazy, and I decided to wait for rain stops. I was left alone in the conference room and I moved my body hesitantly towards my home. It was still raining, little bit sagged though, and I carefully walked and avoided mud puddles on the road. To make matters worse, my umbrella was suddenly torn… Oh no, I have just bought it in Mattru! I was hasty to avoid the rain under the Casino building awning. I asked for Casino security guards consent to be there for a moment.

“Rain small small?”

“Yes, I am waiting until rain stops.”

“What do…?”

“I am working for World Vision.”

“Fishing?”

“No. W-o-r-l-d V-i-s-i-o-n.”

“…Fishing?”

Dear deer, I am leaving soon... 

I exchanged a few sentences with them, waiting for rain small small. Unfortunately, it was still raining, so I covered my head with umbrella pieces and kept walking to my home. I expected wonderful last moment; but it was not a pleasant night. Going back home, I packed all my stuff. I have just had an actual feeling that I am really leaving this country. Nephas, who lives in the next door, knocked my door.

“This man is going to Tanzania!”

We were getting friendly but I was so sorry that I have to go. He taught me some Tanzania Swahili.

“Hakuna Matata!”

That meant “No problem!” He said Tanzanians like to say “Hakuna Matata!” It was good to know. I liked it. “Hakuna Matata!… Hakuna Matata!…” I muttered to myself continually. Tomorrow this time, I will have had dinner in Tanzania. So, there should be no problem.

So, I am saying it one more time.

“Hakuna Matata!”