Teddy Bears

Hello!

I know I haven't posted in awhile...I am back in London! Will write a proper post soon, but in the meantime, here are some pics from Glenna on teddies in Liberia: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_pictures/8046756.stm

Miss Liberia

Last night I went to the Miss Liberia Pageant. I felt I had to go; it was a cultural experience after all. Besides, it was being run by Miss Boss Lady Entertainment. Fantastic. Six contestants vying for the title (apparently there were 9 contestants but only 6 on the actual night). It was held downtown, in the Centennial Pavillion where the TRC hearings are taking place. The red carpet was supposed to start at around 5. At 5, they were still building the set, I'd heard. It was a bit of a dilemma deciding when to go. They said the show was to start at 7:30 sharp. But this is Liberia. So we got there after 9. And we got there just as the show was starting.

It was entertaining though! There was, of course, the swimsuit competition, evening gown competition, talent show (the costumes were fantastic) and other acts. Plenty of interim acts as costume changes seemed to take forever. Sadly, I missed the talent show where I heard doves/pigeons were released from the stage amongst other equally impressive acts. I left at midnight; I couldn't wait it out. I heard show finally finished at 3:30 in the morning. And the winner? Miss Grand Bassa!

My Liberian Mixed Tape

Update!

Ask and it will come! I still don't know what the names of the songs but my taxi driver gave me an 'Afro Mix' tape as a gift the other day...fantastic!

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I've been thinking about what I would put on a Liberian mixed tape. I know the songs; I hear them all the time. But I realized I didn't know the names of most of them. I could hum it, but that would be useless. What I can think of right now:
Akon, of course
Ne-Yo Independent Woman
Rihanna
Fall in love?

...and there's so much more...

Rubber, tires and golfing

We visited Harbel the other day - also known as the Firestone plantation and named after the founder and wife of Firestone. (I'm not sure if the plantation encompasses the entire town but the two names seem to be synonymous.) It was interesting. It was strange. I'll tell more another time, but basically Firestone (yes, as in the tires/tyres) signed a deal to lease a large expanse of land from the government of Liberia in 1926. They signed a 100 year lease - so it's up fairly soon - for a tiny rent of something like 6 cents/acre. I had a strange desire to visit; someone I know is writing about Firestone so it sparked my interest. It sounded bizarre and intriguing. There's a golf course and tennis courts, lots of schools and houses and markets interspersed amongst the rubber trees. I had heard there was a Swiss village in there too, but apparently this isn't so. In case you're wondering, this is what a rubber tree looks like.

African dress

I got some clothes made here, and one of them is an African dress. I went with my elevator lady to her tailor. I had this idea of the clothes I wanted to make; dresses and skirts with the cloth I bought at the market. I found myself ordering a two-piece full-length African dress! But I was pleasantly surprised. I finally wore it today and it was a hit!

Rain

I caught some pictures of the storm the other day...I guess it rains like this for days on end in the rainy season.

Clean Monrovia Day

Saturday was clean Monrovia day. The President issued a proclamation the other day (I'm not sure how the news spreads, but it does, and everybody seems to know). The first Saturday of every month is to be 'Monrovia Clean-Up Day'; similar to what's done in Sierra Leone and elsewhere. Businesses were shut from 6am-10am, and everyone was told to participate in the clean up. And it happened - businesses were shut, and piles of garbage amassed (casualties of the clean up day as someone joked) on the side of the streets.

Random photos - View from above