Pancakes and Samosas

July 8, 2006



It has been a full day of food and fun. This morning we went out for breakfast, to the Samaritan Purse house down the road for pancake breakfast. One girl there is from Calgary, so in memory of the Stampede, we had our own little party here in Liberia. We ate, visited and even did some line dancing, it is hard to stomp though in flip flops, not quite the same. It was fun though. After that I came home, then drove to town to run errands and pick up Joy from a sleepover. I drove the jeep today, you can see the potholes alot better from higher up, but with the larger vehicle it is harder to swerve to miss them. I also found weaving in and out of traffic more difficult.
Tonight was a “big” night out on the town. Friends of my sister have been here two years as missionaries. Their daughter (also Rebecca) and her boyfriend came for a month, before her parents head back to the States. Anyhow, Rebecca plays the piano and sings very beautifully, and my sister helped to arrange for her to sing at a hotel here, the Mambo Point Hotel. They probably have one of the only pianos in the country. Anyhow...because I play guitar and sing, they thought it would be fun if I played as well, so we both did a set. It was in the hotel bar area of the resturaunt. I was really not looking forward to it, as I felt my music perhaps was not up to Hotel standards, or what you would play in hotel, but what they hey, you only live once. I did four songs, 2 fast, 2 slow and sweated profusly, and was very nervous and made many many mistakes, but from what they tell me, no one could tell. I was very happy about that. It was fun, and now, I have played in a hotel in Liberia, something new to brag about :) And the proprieters wife who is from Ireland (but has been in the country 19 years) came over and visited with us and thanked us, and we all had free drinks and samosas (which were very yummy by the way). It is the first time I have had any sort of payment for my music, so that was exciting. All I need now is a sign that says “will play for samosas and cold beverages”. These are the things memories are made of. As I left, one of the employees said “I like your music, you have a nice voice” I say, “oh, thank-you”, him, “sleep well”, me, “I always do”. It is nice to be appreciated. Makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. I told James I could start busking here. I could make five five dollars here and there. At the least, it would be something new....I could start a new craze here. As long as I have been here, I have never seen anyone busking, I think they should start. It will be like the Victoria of West Africa.