BACK in Liberia!

So a few things...

Landing at Robertsfield Airport really got me all excited - the trip seemed quick - maybe due to Brussels Airlines upgraded planes with ipads and all - so I watched a few too many movies!

But as soon as that door opened - wooosh Liberian air! YES! Ocean and Humidity and Heat and Jungle and Moisture and Cement and all of it! Loved it! I jumped JUMPED from my seat I was so excited!

Down the stairs I was a little too giddy and almost knocked over a fellow carrying who knows what back from China...but anyway I saluted the Liberian workers awaiting to tend to the newly arrived plane, as they waited misty air they smiled and waved back as if we were old friends - and I thought we are WE ARE old friends. As I got to the "terminal" I wondered would I ever get out of here LOL - gosh how long will the line be  today....

But alas - my new status as a "Liberian Resident" allowed me to "speedy" entrance - thank goodness because the line was LONG - as a Delta flight (God Speed to anyone who flies Delta to Liberia) landed before us - but here I was with my fellow Liberians on the "Resident" queue! YES! How exciting! And speedy was the service! The immigration terminal now has a CEILING! I was thrilled - the other folks in the queue were surely confused by my excitement....

Alas I entered the baggage area - LMAO - oh how to explain the baggage claim area - well it is hard to fathom - there is a carousel and it is maybe 20 yards long MAYBE and it is probably the FASTEST moving thing in all IN ALL of Liberia - I have never seen a carousel that moves so quick -

Remember those little yellow ducks at the local carnival and you had to catch one - well that is easier to accomplish!

I grabbed my luggage and BULLDOZED my way through the crowd - oh yea - completely bulldozed down my fellow residents since expats were still waiting on line! HA!!!!

Outside was my friend and the driver and WOOOSH! Away to town we went!

All the smells and the lush greenery so different compared to when I was last here...ooh the water and the swamp! YES! The smell so rich SO RICH - I think I now understand why dogs stick their heads out of car windows - HA!

All has been well here at the house. Mamie has been busy with school and is eager to learn more. Her reading and writing skills are already impressive! She has been jumping ahead and trying to teach herself math - she is quite the over achiever.

It was great to see Andrew and the garden is looking well - washed away....but he has planted many a new bush, so come this spring our yard will look much fuller!

And all things seem good -

Heading to the supermarket I thought it might rain - so I put on my rain boots - and as I left the house the house and walked the compound everyone was worried that I was heading to the jungle - explaining that I was only going to the supermarket everyone laughed (as they were not prepared for rain). Upon my return from the market in the POURING rain - I saw all my neighbors and compound staff soaking wet - and nodding to me - good thing you wore your boots! HA! INDEED! INDEED!

The local market is full of local produce - cherry tomatoes, eggplant, GIANT avocados, onions, and even local lettuce! Good welcome home!