Well, it has been an astonishing six weeks since I’ve returned to Canada. I can say I am re-integratred back into my work and life responsibilities. However, I can’t help but pause several times a day and think back to my eight-week deployment to Guinea. I often describe our existence there as ‘life in a bubble’. The team lived a very comfortable life at a Western-style hotel, chauffeured by a local driver and long hours left little time to get into much trouble! We forged great friendships with our colleagues – strengthened at the dinner table over a few Heinekens and Desporados!
Before delving back into the world of à la Claude, I thought I would share some photos of my time in Guinea. Enjoy!
Me with our driver, François
Going away dinner at Le Patio
Going away dinner at Le Patio
Terrace courtyard at Le Patio
Arienne and Laur, CDC folks
Jennifer, me and Elise – Go Canada!
Fish kebab and plantains/fries
Bamboo furniture constructed on the roadside
Goats in the street
Baked fish and ‘banane a loco’ = plantains
Sunset over the Atlantic
School boys having fun
Steve and I just before we fly away from Guéckédou
En route to Conakry from Guéckédou
Scenery from the Forest Region
Scenery from the Forest Region
Village in the forest
Scenery of Guinea
Scenery of Guinea
Scenes from our roadtrip
Guinea infographic
Dinner in Guéckédou
Beer for thousands of Francs!
Scenes from our roadtrip
Sewing in the sunlight
Our tour guide in N’zérékoré
Movie night at the Millenium
Typical night at the Millenium with Steve, Keith, Jennifer, Elise and Marie-Christine (mostly!)
Fancy meals at the Millenium
Kids bring goofs – after getting maple candies!
Goats in the city
Smallest. Banana. Ever.
Most interesting fabrics in Guinea
Who wants Café Mayo?!?
Best mango pie in Guinea
Canadians at the Embassy for the Fourth of July
Bauxite stores ready for loading and shipping
Chickens – ready for the plucking
Doumbouya – the leathersmtih – and his apprentice
Gangplank to the Obama Bar
Obama Bar restaurant on the water
Lots of laughs over dinner
Group excursion to the Cascades de la Soumba
Loaded up for a road trip
Ebola messaging everywhere
Cascades de la Soumba
Mask dealer in the National Museum courtyard
Happy Canada Day!
Canada Day dinner
Saying adieu to a Canadian colleague
Calamari salad from Le Loft
Paying for our group dinner – a paltry 2 million
Some handmade jewelry from Ousmane
Fillet de mérou – at the Millenium – best meal in Guinea
Pigs wandering the street of Conakry
Grilled Commandos at the Millenium
Mural at the University of Conakry
Mural at the University of Conakry
Our own gentle giant – Marcus
Menus on portable boards
Complimentary cocktail from Le Loft
Saying goodbye to Lara at Le Loft
Fruit stands everywhere
Grande Mosquée Faisal
Cattle branding – Guinea style
Girls making rice flour
Obama bar
Lara, Luis and me – best of pals!
Shrimp, avocado and heart of palm salad
Upstairs have a nightcap
Marché du Niger
Goat cheese appetizer from the Millenium
Schoolgirls on their way home
Adorable Guinean friend and colleague
Chicken who barely lived through our shopping trip
à la Claude 