Temple of Justice

I get to Monrovia and renovations are finished at the Temple of Justice, I like to think they built it because they knew I was coming, even if they did misspell it. As I took this picture, the driver at the time (Thomas) said he didnt understand or like the Justice System becuase how it had to work so hard to provide proof and how things take so long and how corrupt judges are, I was astonished, knowing how a decent judicial system can work, yes it takes time to lock away criminals but those who are innocent can prove their innocence!

Then again I havnt grown up in a society where the Government is wholly corrupt as are the officials down to the policemen, there is little trust, and I understand, even though I DONT, how the 14 year civil war on top of 30 years or more of corruption.

My favorite signs

"Do not Urinate here" or Dont PePe here typical sign all over Monrovia except most misspell peepee...

Monrovian Field Day

Today I attended a Field day behind City Hall put on by one of the NGOs in town. As we walked up to the pitch (soccer field) I noticed a LARGE crowd of people obviously upset because a front end loader was "levelling" the field stopping valuable soccer time. The first part was a girls kickball tournament. why the girls can't play soccer I dont know. But it was probably the first time the field had been cleared to let girls play on it. A group of local footballers through a fit about letting these people on 'their' pitch and had a minor sit in in the the infield preventing play, there was a giant discussion(2nd picture) and they cleared off. The girls got to play in front of a huge crowd. I think this is a neat deal, because the girls/women of Liberia face a daunting challenge as most of the violence is done unto them.

View of Monrovia

I know Ive talked about the trash around Liberia, so I thought Id give you a picture of some of the trash, this picture is standing under the bridge over providence island. the river is the Montserrado River and the shore is lined with trash and underneath the water is lined with trash. People were out throwing cast nets and setting crab traps right along the trash.

An enjoyable evening

The internet has been out at our compound, and since I have not had it, I have found other things to entertain me. Last night, a Thunderstorm blew in off the Ocean and I sat out side and just listened to it thunder and watched some spectacular lightning. After a hard day, it was nice to sit and just relax. The day was hard because I had several people ask me for money, and one of which was one of our drivers, who followed me home and talked to me there. It was a bit overwhelming to have several people ask you on the same day. I am growing tired of being a "target", (not in danger) to people, in other words I stand out. I have a short time left here, and my goal is not to look ahead but to do the best I can here, and now.

The Rainy Season

The rainy season seems to be upon Liberia, and right now its quite nice, the temperatures have dropped out of the 90s and the humidity, along with the smell has decreased. It rains during the night and gets cloudier earlier. Will put a dent into pool sitting, but the cooler temperatures are nice. Once it reaches full force I hear it just rains everyday, all day. I hope it doesnt get that bad while I am here. I can imagine the Rainy season being very miserable to the normal Liberian who lives under a tarped roof with dirt floors. I don't think it floods here too bad, or that would really make things difficult for the locals!

a local market

The local markets are the life blood for many Liberians, and one can find a wide variety of items at prices that are affordable for most Liberians. The price of rice is going to continue to rise, and soon I believe most wont be able to afford that. The first floor had non meat food items along with clothes and other necessities. The second floor had tables of meat, chicken, fish, and bush meat (anything not beef, chicken, or fish) The above picture is that of a hand of whay I think used to be a monkey. This piece has been pulled off as are most items into small servings costing 5 Liberian Dollars, (10 cents USD) or the smallest bill that Liberians can use. Most people live on 60 LD a day (one USD). I couldnt stay long on the second floor because the smell of fish and bush meat was almost unbearable to me. The vendors weren't forcing us to look at anything, like most of the vendors around the expat hangouts, and I think most werer suprised to see us there

View of Monrovia Part III

This is a view of Broad Street, one of the main streets in Monrovia from atop the Ducor hotel. Monrovia is a slender piece of land surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean on one side and swamp/Montserrado River on the other. Haze covers the top.

On a sad note, walking to work today I saw a kid kicking a plastic water bottle, kids use anything and everything as a soccer ball, and a car came by and crushed it. He was devistated. I helped him find a new waterbottle among the trash which he kicked on down the street. I have never seen a more crushed look on a face when the car ran over that bottle.

Harper

Just got back into Monrovia from Harper, and it was a good trip. I was able to gather enough information to write 3 success stories. Harper is absolutely beautiful, yet building lie in rubble, the once proud home of former President Tubman. Its amazing to me that little has been done to rebuild. Some of the buildings are frames of once beautiful houses. The helicopter is a Russian made chopper and flown by Ukranian or Russian Pilots. The flight was hot, but only two hours long. Had we driven, it would have taken us 22 hours over two days. 12 hours the first and 10 the second, Ill take the helicopter any day!

here are a few pictures from our trip.