Sweet Liberia: Finding My Way Back Home: Day One of the Colloquium

Mural at Colloquium entrance

I've never worked so hard, for free! There have been LONG hours, oftentimes late into the night and then having to wake up early. But thank GOD day one was a great success. After much blood, sweat and tears, and yeah, some major disorganization hiccups on the backend in the pre-planning of the event, I attended the International Colloquium on Women’s Empowerment, Leadership Development, International Peace and Security 2009 at the SKD stadium. I photographed damn near everything and everyone I saw and enjoyed taking in the sights. The people were jubilant, the place looked great, and the various events, though sometimes delayed (Liberian time ya’ll), all made me proud to be a Liberian and a woman that day. I met the Vice President of Gambia, a woman, got close-up shots of the Liberian president, sat in on a presentation made by the Finnish president, made friends with local women in the Trade Fair, and ate some goooood food.

Today, I attended a roundtable on climate change in Africa and how it affects women and learned so much about how women are affected by climate change, especially in Africa (See my NatGeo blog post on the Colloquium). Earlier tonight, there was an crowd-pleasing wearable arts exhibit, AKA a fashion show, which actually started on time (one of the few that did), by a talented Liberia designer, Abraham Pelham, who is renowned couture designer in Paris. The models rocked the stage and the audience enjoyed every minute of their sashaying down the runway.

After the first day of the 'Colloqua,' we went home to nap before going out to celebrate. Our first stop was La Noche’s, located off of Broad Street, in town. A lounge that could be located in any metropolitan city, La Noche’s is owned by some Brazilians, I believe. Outside the lounge were dozens of UN cars—this must be their stomping ground. Inside, the place was too packed to really get a feel for it. I saw a few of my new and old friends and we toasted to a successful first day.

The group I came with decided to head back to Airfield Shortcut to Déjà vu, a nightclub that was much bigger, albeit smokier even that La Noche. There we met up with more friends and danced the night away into the wee hours of the morning. I stepped outside the club to get some air, and met a few cool people (everybody knows everybody else in Liberia apparently).

While outside, I saw the patience and good nature of the Liberian people displayed in the strangest scenario I’ve seen in a while. There was a wasted white guy going around harassing people…I mean, this guy was on something stronger than the usual mixed drink, I tell you. He was wrestling, literally, wrassstling, with other men. Then he’d get belligerent and start cussing people out. At one point, I got up and moved out of the way because he knocked a guy’s phone out of his hand, and I just KNEW he was about to get knocked out. But much to my surprise, no one ‘picked him up or laid him down.” Folks were very patient with him—maybe b/c they knew him to do this often?? But I expected, based on my experience in the States, that someone would lose patience and a fight would ensue. I was very proud of my brothers for keeping their cool that night.