My first week in Conakry

My First Week
I’ve been back in Guinee for a week already, so it is time for an update! I’ve gotten quite familiar again with life here. It didn’t even take 24 hours before I felt completely at home again in the busy city. However, my life this time is completely different from living on the Africa Mercy last year. This time I live in the middle of the city, which means that I, just as most Guineans, often don’t have electricity or running water. I also have to do my own groceries this time, together with my roommate.

I don’t think I’ve explained what it is I do exactly this time, so let’s start with that. Most mornings I work at the radio station. I do some simple jobs for the owner, who is also the owner and founder of the orphanage I work at. In the afternoon I usually work at the orphanage, I mainly work with two handicapped boys. These boys, Daniel and Moïse, have cerebral palsy, and because of this they aren’t able to do much. They are both 3 years old, but they can’t walk or crawl, Daniel can’t even roll over. Moïse can move a bit more but still can’t do much. In the last week I’ve met the physiotherapist twice. Almost every week he does exercises with the boys, and this week he showed me exercises I could do with them. So now I do these exercises with them everyday, hoping it will improve their motor skills. The physiotherapist is convinced that at least Moïse should be able to walk if he has enough stimuli, so that is what we strive for. I also showed the caregivers at the orphanage the exercises I do with the boys so they can learn them too. The caregivers are quite busy with the other ten children of course, but it’s a fact that Daniel and Moïse don't get enough attention and stimuli. They don’t ask for attention as much as the other children and therefore get less attention.

In the weekends I am free, so I’m able to spend time with friends or just relax for a bit. This morning I went to the church I visited often last year, and it was great to be back!