After zooming between worlds-Freetown, Boston, Rhode Island, Guelph, Toronto and back to Freetown- I find myself feeling a littleâ€¦. weird. I am wondering if my Auntâ€™s theory about airplane travel creating a lag between the soul and the body has some truth in it. I have also begun a fast so maybe I am confusing an existential crisis with plain old hunger. Actually I am not even hungry, just contending with this hovering feeling of â€œNow what?â€ That being said, the â€˜whatâ€™ is rapidly materializing with various projects on the go and positive elements to each.
First and most importantly, is the network for ecotourism stakeholders. I am still working on a name, but something like SUSTAIN: Sierra Leone Eco-Travel Network. I am taking suggestions, so long as they come cheap- Iâ€™m a working gal on a stipend after all! I am planning to create a website for the network, which will have to happen once I am back in Canada.
The fantastic news regarding the network is that I may have financial backing at least with respect to the launch event. The maiden meeting will take the form of a charette; a meeting of interested parties dialoguing around an issue of mutual concern-ecotourism. Actors will have the opportunity to meet one another; to define their respective roles in the fledgling tourism industry; and discuss how they envisage making tourism economically viable and environmentally/ socially sustainable in Sierra Leone. A collective vision will be sought and exposure for various â€˜greenâ€™ initiatives provided. There is a great deal of support and even enthusiasm around this idea and failing all else- there will be food and dancing. Also, I am enforcing a strict â€˜no power pointâ€™ policy for the meeting so hopefully people wonâ€™t want to rip out their eyeballs throughout the meeting.
The second great piece of news is that I am not being forced to relocate to another office for my work with the security company. Driving an extra 2 hours away through the most tedious traffic imaginable seemed like the worst idea in the world to me and thankfully by the grace of God and computer memory sticks I wonâ€™t have to.
So things are fantastic, but my feelings of accomplishment and contentment all rest on the success of the network meeting. Fingers crossedâ€¦..