Courtney Wright, Mechanical Engineering, BSE ’18, SWE at UM
On Thursday morning, everyone arrived promptly at 9am for the LSWE Case Competition final presentations. Teams presented their solutions to the challenge posed by August Goanue from the Liberian Rural and Renewable Energy Agency—how to best overcome Liberia’s energy crisis by utilizing Liberia’s abundant supply of renewable energy. Judges for the final presentations included Augustus Moore—Dean of the University of Liberia College of Engineering, Dr. Aline Cotel— a Civil Engineering professor at the University of Michigan who helped start the partnership between UofM and UL through the US EHELD project in 2011, and Emily Aiken—a coordinator with the UofM International Programs In Engineering Office.
Our three judges – R2L: Dean Augustus S. Moore, Emily Aiken, Dr. Aline Cotel
The eight teams presented a wide range of innovative solutions incorporating solar, hydro, and biomass energy technology. Several teams analyzed how the construction of new hydropower plants, or the improvement of the existing Mt. Coffee hydropower plant through an added reservoir or reinforced transmission lines and substations, could expand Liberia’s energy capacity. Another team posed an action plan to collect unused fruit from rural farmers, and process this organic material to generate power for the grid. A few other teams explored the feasibility of off-grid solar panel systems for homes in rural areas, that could not otherwise be easily reached by transmission lines.
The audience was captivated by the speakers’ enthusiasm about their research, and eagerly answered each proposal with a barrage of questions. The judges were impressed by the work all of the students put into the presentations throughout the past week, and announced that the winners would be named at the final Networking Dinner on Monday night.
After lunch, Xiaohang gave a presentation about Civil Engineering and Ethics. Xiaohang is a Master’s student in Civil Engineering at UofM, and introduced the students to a range of famous engineering works, known either for their astounding success, or terrible failure.
Xiaohang presenting on Engineering Ethics
This last official day of camp was rounded out by a brief workshop about Goal Setting and Strategic Planning. Students discussed their personal and team SMART goals, and how they planned to achieve them. LSWE members also had an opportunity to review the National SWE and UofM Chapter Strategic Plans, and began drafting several strategic objectives for their own chapter.
LSWE SUCCESS Camp members in front of the University of Liberia’s Engineering Building
After dinner, some of the LSWE students challenged each other to a dance-off and invited several the UofM students to join. Celebrations that evening included the singing of several patriotic Liberian songs, since the following day was a national holiday—Flag Day.
Xiaohang Ji, Civil Engineering, MSE, GradSWE at UM
Start up with our morning with small sandwiches and boiled eggs, a brand new day comes!
Our breakfast of sandwiches and boiled eggs
In the morning, students continued to work on the FM Radio. There are a lot of additional information included in the FM Radio handout booklet. Students also put some time on reading the instructions and background knowledge. They tried their best to solder the elements on the circuit boards. After they finish soldering, most of the students wanted to keep them. Some of them from electrical engineering and related majors said that they had learned about the knowledge of the FM Radio, but they didn’t have access to do it by their own hands. Students pressured about the chance to make a FM Radio by themselves. As they were making on the FM Radio, they got a better understanding about the basic of the theories. As for the students from other different majors, they also felt this session was a good chance for them to learn about other engineering majors.
For lunch, we had chicken with potato leaves soup with rice and papaya, which provided our energy for the coming afternoon.
Our lunch of potato greens, rice, and papaya
Graduate School Application session began at the beginning of afternoon. This session started with two reflection questions: What do you know about graduate school? What have you heard about graduate school? After a warm discussion, Chris gave us an example by sharing what her academic career was. Based on her own experience, she showed the students how to write a good personal statement. As for other parts of graduate school application, Chris and Xiaohang gave tips of preparing letter of recommendation, CV, GRE and funding.
Chris explaining the grad school application
Xiaohang sharing her grad school experience
After the Graduate Program Application workshop, Lauren held her biomedical hand activity. Before everything starts, Lauren showed us a funny video of computer based walking pattern of different animals, which successfully draw the tensions of students. And then she explained to us how the nerves work in our hands, and then taught us how to make a hand model. Here’s the hands that students made.
Time flies. A day with a good combination of engineering activities and workshops ended. On our way back to dormitory, beautiful clouds showed up. What a fulfill and wonderful day!
Olivia Dotson, Sophomore in Chemical Engineering, SWE at UM
Today was the first day in a while that we didn’t wake up to rain. The sun was bright and shining!
The reflection question for the morning was “Have you thought about attending school outside of Liberia? What do you think would be different? What would be the same?”
Many of the girls had previously thought about attending undergraduate or graduate school outside of Liberia in order to pursue their major. Some commented on the difference in access to internet and others believed there would be similarities in the curriculum.
The discussion from this question was able to flow right into the presentation on “International Experiences” led by Xiaohang. Xiaohang lead the group through all of the stages of preparation to attend school in another country starting with physical and then mental. The group had a discussion on worries that they might have when going to another country. Many of the concerns were about food:
“In Liberia it is a tropical climate, so most of our food is fresh and spicy…food in other countries could become a health problem” – Quinnetta
“In china they eat with only chopsticks, so you wouldn’t know how to eat” – Boyonoh
Some were about social/cultural differences:
“In Liberia, we live really close. In other countries we may be alone and want to connect” – Yamah
“We have to greet or touch people we pass by in Liberia as a social norm” – Felicia
After this discussion, Xiaohang shared some advice on overcoming these struggles along with language barriers, making friends, homesickness, and culture shock.
She talked about challenges that may arise in academics, career plans, finances, health and wellness as an international student. Then, Xiaohang let some of the students who have had international experiences or interactions share their story:
“I attended a foreign exchange program and the people there had different perceptions of Liberians, I had to adjust myself” – Janneh
“For the US it is just the weather difference” – Janneh
“I went to the US with Littie and we stopped in Brussels. There I saw the biggest airport I’ve ever seen…we compared everything to Liberia” – Quinnetta
“Weather was different. I was like how is the sun shining and I’m still cold” – Quinnetta
“One cup of rice is so small. I ate all of Melinda’s rice in one day!” – Quinnetta
“Everything about is was funny because we couldn’t find our way easily” – Quinnetta
Then Xiaohang shared her experiences with going to the University of Michigan and how she has learned to accept all of the cultural differences and embrace them.
After this session, we had practice presentations for the case study. This gave each group a chance to practice presenting and get valuable feedback on their presentation as they continued to work on them. It was nice to see the creative ideas that each group came up with to solve the energy problem in Liberia. From the same problem, there were many different solutions ranging from hydroelectric power to fruit power.
Bonyonoh and Gilly practicing their case study presentation
Due to the length of presentations, we ate lunch an hour later than usual, so everyone was hungry for cassava greens.
Ruth and Jessie relaxing after lunch
After lunch, we set up the room for the engineering activity on making FM radios. Melinda led this workshop with careful instruction on how to solder and emphasizing the safety of using soldering irons. After a while, everyone seemed to get the hang of it.
Maria and Melinda explaining soldering basics
In the evening, Lauren, Chris, Melinda, and Xiaohang then went around to all of the apartments to meet with teams, going over their presentations and make sure everyone was on track to present on Thursday morning. This got everyone working hard on their presentations late into the night. We all spent time and energy preparing for the final presentations to come on Thursday!
Xiaohang Ji, Civil Engineering, MSE, GradSWE at UM
The second week of the camp start with more of the same – continuous rain.
Our day’s agenda
Our morning’s reflection question
The morning session was given by Courtney, with a topic about a case study about renewable energy that she had done in University of New South Wales in Australia. She presented a proposal making use of wind energy in California, explaining a whole procedure including introduction, design, literature review, analysis and conclusions. Courtney’s proposal gave the students a really professional example of the structure, the content and how to give an excellent presentation. After Courtney’s presentation, students should have had a better vision of what they need to do for their own case study and how to present it. So it is the best time for them to continue work on the case study and their presentation.
After lunch, the highlight of today happened – the egg drop final competition! The six egg drop teams gathered at the corridor on the third floor of the dorm. We distributed one raw egg to each team. The competition had two parts. The first part was to drop the egg aircrafts one by one.
Our egg drop location – from the top balcony of our apartment building
The second part of the competition was to drop the egg aircrafts together. The winner will be the team with the longest flying time aircrafts – longer air time means a lighter landing, and hopefully a secured egg! With much laughter, frantic changes, and good spirited competition, the teams drop their aircrafts on the count of 3. Except for one team, all eggs remained in tact and first place went to the slowest aircraft to touch the ground.
The only failing team’s splattered egg
Everyone had planned to give the first presentations after dinner, but due to the interruption of power supply, we moved the first presentations to Tuesday morning. It might be a good news for the teams because the power interruption gave more time for them to prepare. Looking forward to their presentations tomorrow!
Courtney Wright, Mechanical Engineering BSE ’18, SWE at UM
We made the most of our first Saturday in Liberia, heading off early to explore downtown Monrovia. Our first stop was the Grand Royal Hotel for brunch, and to pick up a few SIM cards for our phones.
The team enjoying brunch at the Royal Grand Hotel in downtown Monrovia
After brunch, we stopped by a few of Melinda’s favorite stores—Mango Rags and Bosh Bosh—for colorful clothes, bags, and other gifts to bring home for friends and family. Melinda is the leader of our UM team and this is her 4th trip to Liberia with UM-SWE, so she of course did a wonderful job showing us around Monrovia. After a quick KeKe ride through town, we were soon back in the car winding our way up Ducor Hill.
Bosh Bosh and Mango Rags’ profits go to supporting equal gender access to education in Liberia
Courtney and Melinda showing off their wares
When we reached the top of the Ducor Hill, a massive dilapidated building came into view. We made our way through the light drizzle of rain, to the front entrance of the Ducor Palace Hotel, and began climbing up the central staircase. As I made my way up to the top floor of the old building, I peered down long hallways through the skeletal framework of rooms, imagining how the hotel looked before it was destroyed during the Liberian Civil War. The luxurious five star hotel opened in 1960, and hosted many important meetings with leaders from all over Africa.
When we reached the top floor of the hotel, we were amazed by the spectacular views of the Atlantic Ocean, as well as several urban districts of Monrovia. Graffiti scattered the Ducor walls, but the most notable piece was a quote on the top floor which artfully summed up the life of the hotel: “We are all fireworks, rising, shining, scattering, and eventually fading.”
Our guide showing Chris the sights
“We are all fireworks, rising, shining, scattering, and eventually fading.”
As we exited the eerie ruins of the once great Ducor hotel, the rain started pouring down, so we rushed to the car and headed to our final stop of the day: the beach! We arrived at a restaurant called Golden Beach, and ordered a round of fresh coconuts before walking down to the water, to take in the fresh sea air and beautiful coastline.
A mural at Golden Beach
Olivia enjoying fresh coconut
Our ocean view at dinner
On Sunday morning, we met the LSWE students at breakfast before heading to church. Quinn had invited us along with her to an Episcopalian service at the Church of the Good Shepherd in Paynesville, not too far from campus. This was one of the highlights of the trip for me, as my great grandfather came to Liberia about 60 years ago as an Architect for the Episcopalian Church. The sermon, hymns, interior and exterior design, and welcoming demeanor of the congregation reminded me of home, and it seemed unbelievable that I was in fact on the other side of the world.
The walkway to church
The Episcopal Church
After church we returned to campus, passing many people trekking through the flooded roads, selling everything from coke and fruit to shoes and flags in the crowded markets. For lunch we enjoyed chicken and fish in a palm butter sauce, with shortbread. Everyone spent the remainder of the rainy Sunday afternoon hanging out in the apartments, listening to music, reading, doing laundry, beginning work on the case study, prepping for sessions, and resting up for Week #2 of Camp!
Courtney Wright, Mechanical Engineering, BSE ‘18, SWE at UofM
On Friday morning we awoke to a driving rainstorm. With water streaming across the paths through campus, our morning run group was once again forced to settle for an abbreviated indoor workout. Braving the water in our fashionable ponchos, we arrived at the dining hall to the warm welcome of oatmeal, eggs, and coffee.
Human Knot activity
Human Knot activity
Our morning session had a minor rain delay, but after a quick human knot challenge to get us moving, and taking several moments to reflect on some interesting highlights from Augustus’ talk about the future of renewable energy in Liberia, everyone was ready for Day #4 of the LSWE SUCCESS camp to begin.
Renewable Energy Case Study Competition
I led the morning seminar about Professional Development and Business Etiquette. Everyone rehearsed elevator pitches with partners and several students jumped up to present to the group. All participants were eager—in this activity, as in every other—to give and receive candid feedback. This straightforward form of communication has been a noticeable characteristic of the LSWE team, ever since I met several representatives from their leadership team at the 2016 SWE National Conference in Philadelphia. The LSWE members have been open to sharing their expectations for the camp and stories about how their individual LSWE experiences have enhanced their STEM education, professional career, and personal lives.
Chris and Quinnetta getting to know each other better
The LSWE students have also expressed their interest in our lives back in the United States, both at school in Ann Arbor, and of our respective homes in China, Florida, Tennessee, New Mexico, California, and Michigan. These conversations with the LSWE students have inspired many conversations between the UofM team, as we have shared our academic and extracurricular experiences, as well as our aspirations to change the world in fields such as solar energy, autonomous vehicles, biomedical devices, drug discovery, structural engineering, and athletic product development. It has been interesting to learn from so many Geology and Mining Engineering students in LSWE, two disciplines which are not offered at the University of Michigan.
Some of the LSWE team bondingCourtney leading a professonal development workshop
Other topics explored in Friday’s morning session included the composition of an effective email and tips to successfully navigate a networking event. Students critiqued a few sample emails as a group; then several of the UofM students performed a skit comparing the good and bad behavior of job candidates at a networking event, and a few of the LSWE students jumped in to join the skit. Afterward, everyone had a chance to share their personal stories and experiences while practicing interview questions. We wrapped up the morning with a brief discussion about how maintaining a professional social media presence can be a powerful tool for networking. (And had some fun taking new headshots)
A group photo taken while waiting on headshotsA student’s design for their team’s aircraft – Egg Drop Challenge
After lunch, we began constructing aircrafts for the egg drop challenge. With an arsenal of trash bags, cups, pipe-cleaners, straws, cotton balls, and more at our disposal, we were determined to protect the eggs from the plunge off the clock tower. While watching the test drops from the second level of classrooms; all of the air crafts looked promising, and should be fierce competitors at the official competition on Monday (Our money is on Team Scrambled Eggs though).
Olivia and Angie build an aircraft for the Egg Drop Challenge.
Rose, Bonyonoh, and Gilly use the given materials to create a cradle for their egg.
We wrapped up our Friday evening with a lively dinner accompanied by a continuous loop of Rihanna + Drake’s Work music video. To celebrate a successful first week of camp, we then headed to downtown Monrovia, where several LSWE members showed us around several of their favorite spots!
Gillian Minnehan, Sophomore Engineering Student, SWE at UM
A rainy Monrovian morning
Today we woke to the pitter patter of rain against the roof of our apartment: the first Liberian rainstorm of the trip. Courtney, Olivia, and I did our morning core exercises (nobody wanted to go for a run in the rain) before showering and making our way to the dining hall for a light breakfast of hard boiled eggs and cinnamon rolls.
Lauren explaining how to give an effective presentation, effectively.
An enthralled audience.
We began the third day of camp with Lauren’s presentation on resumes and how to present using PowerPoint. Lauren is by far the most animated person of the UM students, and she did not disappoint today during her presentation. She happily demonstrated poor examples of presenting with a level of hilarity that rarely seen during dreaded PowerPoint presentations. The students were laughing and enjoying themselves despite a long morning of slides.
Vegetable stew with spiced rice.
Awaakeh and Rose enjoying lunch.
Noon rolled around, and we ambled to the dining hall to fill up on Charlotte’s (our caterer) staple: piles of rice and well-seasoned, fried chicken and fish. We ate quickly and headed back earlier than usual so that we could prep the room and charge our computers in anticipation of our afternoon guest speaker. Many of the students showed up early, as we requested, so our speaker wouldn’t be waiting on us. Turns out he didn’t come right at 1:30pm so in the meantime, we participated in a team building activity. We broke into teams of 4-5 people and gathered our supplies: 20 pieces of spaghetti, a yard of tape, a yard of string, and one marshmallow. The goal: create the tallest free-standing structure that can support a marshmallow with the given supplies. I have done this activity back home a few times, as have the other UM students, but the Liberian students were in for a new experience. Somehow, all the groups ended up producing the same teepee-like structure. Arguments and laughter filled the air, and increased as Chris called out the passing minutes. My team practically gave up part-way through when we realized we needed a base for our structure, but we didn’t have enough spaghetti or time left to fix our mistake. Before we knew it – time was up! A chaotic round of yells and laughter immediately followed; all the teams except one had failed to keep the marshmallow aloft.
The winning (and only successful) team!
While we were working on our marshmallow activity, our guest speaker, Augustus Gonanue, the Executive Director of the Rural and Renewable Energy Agency (RREA), arrived. As soon as we finished cleaning up the smushed marshmallows and broken spaghetti, all eyes turned to the gentleman on stage. Augustus introduced himself and immediately thanked Melinda for inviting him back to his alma mater. Soon enough, he jumped into the main topic of his speech: the role that renewable energy has and will have in Liberia.
Augustus Gonanue – the Executive Director at the Rural and Renewable Energy Agency
Hearing from someone currently in the middle of the struggle towards addressing Liberia’s energy concerns was an incredible opportunity for the students considering that the renewable energy case study that will make up the majority of camp time next week. I am really excited to see what the teams come up with between now and our final presentations next Thursday. Energy is a major problem in Liberia, like many countries, including the US. If these young, motivated, bright female engineers recognize and understand the energy problem in Liberia, and additionally research and develop a solution to it, they will already be forward-thinkers in their field. It is one thing to look around and identify a problem in your community and country; it is a whole other thing to take the time and energy (pun intended) to identify a solution. The students asked tons of thoughtful questions once Augustus finished his talk. After the last student was satisfied with his response to her question, Augustus bid us goodbye.
A Liberian sunset
In the evening sunset was beautiful – brilliant oranges and pinks shining behind some straggling rain clouds. The night ended with a collaborative effort by the entire UM team to prep materials and ideas for the next day’s activities.
Melinda Kothbauer, Computer Engineering, BSE ‘18, SWE at UM
Christian Greenhill, Materials Science & Engineering, Ph.D., GradSWE at UM
The second day of camp began with remembering everyone’s names. Each person was responsible for stating everyone’s name that had gone before them before introducing themselves again and saying their own name. It became increasingly difficult, but made for healthy amounts of repetition leading to better name retention! Of course the room was filled with a lot of laughter at the slightest hesitation indicating a forgotten name.
Gilly presenting about Building & Maintaining Membership
Some ideas about how to maintain membership.
After brief introductions, the LSWE students spent the morning thinking about their organization: “How do you generate interest in LSWE?”, “How do you utilize members to their fullest potential?”, and “How do you retain membership over time?”. Gillian Minnehan, sophomore in Computer Science led this workshop by breaking students into groups to discuss each of the different questions. The students then shared their ideas for implementable ideas in each of the categories. The LSWE camp hosts both current and new members to the organization, so the ideas generated came from diverse perspectives.
Chris explaining how a solar cell works!
Chris watching the electricity flow
Have you ever made solar cells from berry juice? Probably not yet, but that’s exactly what we did this afternoon at the LSWE camp! There’s a molecule in raspberries, blackberries, and cherries, called anthocyanin, that absorbs light very well. We built a device that extracts electrons from the illuminated anthocyanin in the berries to create current or electricity. But you won’t find many fresh anthocyanin-rich berries in tropical places like Liberia. You’ll mostly find juicy pineapples and sweet plantains like the ones we had at breakfast and lunch. Christian Greenhill, Ph.D. student in materials science and electrical engineering, managed to smuggle frozen blackberries wrapped in aluminum foil in an insulated lunch box with two ice packs into the tropics. We learned about renewable energy, solar technology and everyone built their own solar cells. We had fun measuring the voltages. Our highest voltage indoors (not in direct sunlight) was 358 mV from a 2x2cm cell – pretty impressive.
Melinda observing the solar cell creation.
Harriet testing conductivity with Olivia.
Courtney building her cell alongside Christine and Fati.
After a long day of organization development and hands-on engineering, all the students – UM and LSWE alike – retreated to the dining hall for a scrumptious ending to the day including sauteed chicken or fish with vegetables and fried plantains. The UM team spent the evening all together prepping for the next day at camp – packing supplies, finalizing presentations, and discussing our progress so far! We are excited to see what’s in store next.
A large blue suitcase, gently rocking in the seats beside me, presses against my shoulder with varying amounts of its weight depending on the current road condition. A little more on an uneven side road, a little less on a paved main street. Always as a friendly reminder that it is still there beside me. I’m neatly packed into the backseat of the car along with half of our luggage, on our way to downtown Monrovia from Fendell campus for our final few nights in country. The rest of the UM team fit into the first car, and seeking some moments for thought, I volunteered to travel with the rest of our belongings in the second car. Which is how I found myself situated between Edith and our driver, Thomas, both seated in the front, suitcases and ActionPacker tubbies stacked to the interior roof in the trunk and to my immediate left. On my right, a view of Monrovia through a window streaked with dirt.
Camp had concluded in the two days prior. Thursday was Flag Day, a holiday in Liberia to commemorate approving the flag’s design and establishing the republic. Thursday was also our last full day of camp activities. The morning contained two final engineering demos, recreating a coastal oil seep in a plastic cup and combining various materials to form reinforced concrete “hockey pucks”. It was a mess of fun – sand, soil, concrete mixed in white paper bowls.
Thursday engineering activitiesRe-creating a coastal oil seep
The afternoon, melting into the evening, was one extended celebration. To begin, we were split into three teams: red, blue, and white. We assembled on the soccer field, below our feet the deep crimson earth rich in iron. Two lines drawn in the dirt, separated by fifteen yards. A series of small competitions between the teams ensued. It was a field day, a sports day, a play day, an end-of-camp jamboree. The first clash was a race to one side of the line and back. The catch: coming back, you had to be hopping, both feet inside a sack. I was chosen as the representative for the white team. Jackie and Maria lined up next to me from the red and blue teams. We were even at the far line, the halfway point. I struggled to stuff my size nines into the small sack. I looked ahead and saw Jackie with a lead, so I began jumping like mad. The race tightened. With a few feet to go, the line in the dirt rapidly approaching, I took a final leap. Hanging in the air before falling fast to the ground, sliding headfirst with my feet still secured inside the sack. I rolled over to look up at my teammates. The dive had earned me the win. Two colors of red mingling on my left knee, a worthy battle wound.
The dive for the win!Another dive, but not for the winAeriel and Gloria representing the white team
After supper, we all met back in the dining hall for a more formal Flag Day celebration, followed by a T-shirt signing party. We said the Pledge of Allegiance of Liberia, sang the national anthem. Awaakeh described the symbolism of the Liberian flag. Then armed with permanent markers and bearing plain white T’s, we embarked on another journey. Someone turned the music way up. Dancing began. Innocent photos of two campers turned into strained selfies with dozens of people. My ears were ringing on the walk back to the apartment.
Setting up for the Flag Day celebrations
Back in the car, snapshots, small moments, pieces of conversations from the camp floated just above my head as the road took me farther away from Fendell. I had asked the campers to complete post-camp surveys on Thursday, but I hadn’t had my own opportunity to do the same until now. Reflections from camp mixed with a stream of glimpses from the outside, inseparable and difficult to process. Raw chicken thighs for sale at a roadside stand. The word “REMOVE” spray-painted on the side of a building. The smell of exhaust and earth and mildew. Boys napping on wooden benches. Edith and Thomas having a lively conversation about the upcoming election. I only catch snippets – a politician’s name, a mention of a rally. Large patches of standing water. Items for sale displayed on the side of the road as the rain starts to fall – wooden bed frames, metal doors, plastic sunglasses.
We pull to the side of the road to pick up Yamah from her house. I wasn’t aware this was a part of the plan, but I’m not jarred. Maybe when I’d first arrived, high strung from a minced, scheduled life in the US, but not now. We readjust the blue suitcase to sit solely in the middle seat. Yamah claims another, rather small, window spot. I can’t see her because of my oversized neighbor, but I know she’s there. In Liberia, it seems there is constant change. Not in an upheaving way – small adjustments, plans made and remade. Discussing and confirming and discussing and reconfirming. Squeezing another passenger into the backseat. Waiting for one more person to get ready.
There is this deep sense of compassion here, pervasive in each interaction. Sharing food, charging cords, notebooks, pens, clothes. Making room for one more, two more, five more. Repeated patterns of impassioned debate, even outright arguing, followed by forgiveness. Liberia has been dealt many challenging hands – brutal civil wars and the Ebola outbreak to name only two. Many Liberians carry scars still fresh from losing family members. In the face of all of this, the kindness and the closeness is remarkable. Friends holding hands, linking arms, hugging tightly. The loss of personal space was somewhat uncomfortable for me when I first arrived. I wasn’t used to someone approaching me and enveloping my hands with their own, embracing me warmly. But later I found myself yearning for it, thinking back on the place I came from seeming now a little colder.
We lurch over a speed bump. Campaign signs plastered over walls, on cars and on storefront doors. Yamah has now been integrated into the election conversation, and every so often, she implores me to understand her side. There seems to be an unrest about the future elections, a wish for peaceful transition of power. The hope of many Liberian women I have met. These dreams for their country are often blended intimately with their personal goals. Many of the women at camp have expressed interest in graduate school in the US, Europe, other countries in Africa. Many of these same women then mention returning to Liberia afterward, desires to bring their skills and education back to lift up their communities, their home.
Stopped at a light, men and women pass by the car window with food items for sale – chocolates, water in bags, wrapped pillow bread. Edith offers me local almonds roasted on a stick. Pedestrians weave through slow moving traffic to cross wide streets. A giant billboard in the distance advertising a local beer. We reach our apartment, and a security guard opens the gate to let us pass through. Thomas turns the car off. Yamah is saying something to me from around the suitcase. I lean forward and turn to her. I reach out and grab her hand in mine. A visceral meld of compassion, hope, and closeness so beautiful it pulls you in without asking permission. A newfound intimacy with people. An accommodating, forgiving, adjusting way of life. A peace and a pace aware of an existence that includes work and play and dance. An enthusiasm to learn. This is my post-camp survey. This is Liberia. For it all – the UM SWE team, the L-SWE team, the SUCCESS camp, all of the Liberian people and experiences of the past two weeks – I’m grateful.
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