Brittany's blog

On Sunday June 17th I was honored to be the special guest speaker at the Comfort K. Toe Institute Orphanage graduation ceremony. I can't say for sure that my inspirational words were understood by many, but the audience seemed to appreciate them regardless.  The best part of the program was the look on Brittany's face when they called her up to give out the diplomas without any previous warning or preparation.  She also was asked to give an impromptu speech. I love Africa. 

-Kasey 

This is right after graduation with the school principal, administrator, one of the orphanage managers, and Keva, the little girl who refused to get out of the picture. 

Passing out diplomas.



Hi everyone!  I am officially joining Kasey's blog instead of having my own due to the lack of internet and time.  Kasey did really well at the graduation!  Her speech was wonderful and everyone really appreciated her.  I on the other had looked like a deer in headlights when, during the ceremony, it was announced that I would be the honorary diploma-hander-outer (not in those words exactly). I was so awkward. I didn't know where to stand, which hand shakes and which hand holds the diploma.  It would have been a fiasco in America, but Africa's much more go-with-the-flow.  Everything has been going really well here.  So far I've left the blogging to Kasey to catch everyone up, but I just wanted to say hello to everyone who's following us!  Along with teaching, fixing computers, and other things, I've been checking stuff off my list of "Things To Do In Africa."  For example:
✔Get my hair done like an African woman
✔Explore the streets of the Liberian Marketplace
✔Survive exploring the streets of the Liberian Marketplace
✔Sport a tailored African dress at the graduation ceremony
✔Make tons of new friends
✔Bring "The Wobble" to Africa
✔Eat mango soup

A few things still to be completed on my list:
__  Adopt 7 african children
__ Find a home for triplet baby orphans (their mother died after childbirth...any takers?...seriously)
__ End poverty

Thank you all for your continued support!

-Brittany

Getting my hair done by Ms. Jestina Bombo.  It took 2 days and a total of about 7 hours.

Kasey and I with one of our favorites-Austin.  He's begging us to take him back to the states with us, as are a handful of others.  He has proclaimed himself as "Brittany's boyfriend" and is ready for marriage as soon as I say the word.  He's smooth.

A beautiful African sunset.

School Is Out!

On Tuesday the school year came to an end. Thank the sweet baby Jesus. I truly have come to love and appreciate each of my students, but at the end of the day they are still annoying 6th graders and my patience was thinning.  The year ended with a big class party. The students all brought in delicious African dishes that their mothers prepared along with cakes, cookies, and some really spicy rice that Brittany and I couldn't touch. I bought the soft drinks and we had a great day. Graduation is on Sunday and Brittany and I will be processing with the other faculty, gowns and all. 

Some of my 6th grade boys thoroughly enjoying their party drinks.

Dance Party!

Three of my favorite students.

Brittany is here!... and a lot of other stuff too.

Wow! So much has happened this past month but unfortunately the internet router got hit by lighting in a big storm.  It didn't work at all for a couple of weeks and once it was fixed it was only strong enough to barely do email. Let me try to catch you up. 

Brittany Marcum arrived and all of Liberia celebrated.  After a week, we got an influx of roommates from Mercer University.  Jessica had to leave us to start her job as the best Tutor/mentor at Upward Bound, and all of LIberia mourned.

I got Malaria, even though I never missed a single dose of my malaria prevention medicine (I promise mom).  It took me about a week to fully recover, and to be honest it was probably the most miserable week of my life, so far.  It is not a fun illness.  On the bright side, after a couple of shots in the booty and some pills, I did recover.  That's the good news, the terrible news is that on the same day I got malaria, so did our fan club baby.  We both came down with symptoms on Wednesday, and that Saturday, he passed away.  Malaria is a serious threat to children under the age of 5 and the elderly, but it is certainly not an illness anyone should be dying of in 2012.

Now that the internet is working, I can promise more blogs and pictures very soon explaining everything else the month of May brought on.

Spending a "relaxing" day at the beach on Brittany's first full day in Liberia while Jessica got her hair done at the house behind us. 

Our wonderful fan club in some of the new clothes Brittany and Jessica brought. Thank you Goodwill, Megan Trasport, and Meagan Green and Shelton family! 

A couple of Brittany's new friends who spent 3 hours burying, uncovering, and reburying our feet in the sand.  William, the cute one of the right, might be riding on a plane home with Brittany.

The beautiful baby that lost his life to malaria.  Every 30 seconds a child somewhere dies of malaria.