Much like the first thread that lays the foundation of a tapestry, our day in Sierra Leone began with a glint of sunshine, weaving its golden hue after a week of persistent rain. Our morning kicked off a bit later than usual due to some vehicular hiccups, but what followed was nothing short of magic.
AISHA, with its magnificent presence, took over our Instagram for the day. While Sofía led the reins on this, her dynamic lens captured mesmerizing moments as we journeyed in our pick-up, generously sponsored by World Hope International. If you’re curious to relive the day with us, don’t miss out on Lehigh’s Instagram stories. There, you’ll find a treasure trove of images and clips captured by Sofía.
A short ten-minute ride with Bakar had us arriving at our hub of dreams and plans, the World Hope International office. Here, the spirit of teamwork shined bright. The air buzzed with strategic deliberations as we mapped out plans for the installation of the three AISHA projects around Makeni. While Eric and Elif delved deep into finalizing the Liability Contract, Omar, Sofía, and Aabi worked diligently, prepping for the training sessions lined up for the next day. Zavier, in his zone, integrated the NLTK package into our existing software. Meanwhile, Rachel became our guardian of data, meticulously managing our database, and ensuring every fact and figure was proofread and perfect.
In between our intense work sessions, we had the delightful company of Christa and Taylor, who had arrived in Sierra Leone just days before. Their cameras became our shadow, capturing the pulse and fervor of every team member. And when Khanjan called, it was not for a meeting or discussion. Instead, it was for a cherished memory – a grand GSIF group picture. With Prof. Michael Kramp and Prof. Xuanhong Cheng, who were about to jet off to the States, our team, amidst laughter and camaraderie, froze a moment in time.
The day’s highlight came when we ascended to the balcony of the second floor. Here, with the panoramic view of Sierra Leone as our backdrop, our team, accompanied by our wonderful translator Randolph, posed for pictures. Later, Christa and Taylor engaged some of us in candid interviews, letting us share our experiences, hopes, and aspirations.
But amidst the vibrancy and hustle, there was a poignant moment too. A group from our team traveled to Magbole, paying tribute at a clinic ceremony to the late Samara Everman. Samara, a cherished GSIF fellow, left an indelible mark on all our hearts. Khanjan, representing our collective emotions, shared a few words, and the community members too spoke, painting a picture of the beautiful soul that was Samara.
As the day neared its culmination, our tapestry was rich, vibrant, and filled with stories. Each thread, whether it gleamed with joy or was tinged with melancholy, added depth to our collective story. And as the loom of the night approached, we looked back at our day, a tapestry not just of events but of emotions, unity, and dreams, ready to be hung in the galleries of our memories.
Team Highlights
Elif → Learning how to write a liability contract with Eric.
Eric → Hiding the fact that Aabi took his phone back from Elif (jk it was writing the liability contract)
Zavier → Browsing the NLTK repository on GitHub.
Sofía → Seeing the tribute to Samara.
Omar → Taking group photos.
Rachel → Fixing the AISHA answers spreadsheets and finalizing the topics
Aabi → Hiding the fact that I took my phone back from Elif
Team Average Rating: 1.5035/5