Alice

While I was at the hospital the other night I had the pleasure of meeting a great lady. At the hospital they have people who have the job to be "sitters". The job is exactly what it sounds like. When someone is in danger of hurting themselves or others they have someone sit at their door with them until it is time for them to be transported to their next destination.

I had to make phone calls periodically and check my messages so I could not be the designated "sitter". So they called Alice to come and do it. Alice is a woman probably in her 50's from Sierra Leone. She has a great sense of humor and was so easy to talk to. She was very open about the things that she has seen her life and it honestly made the time go by so much faster listening to her talk. Alice told me about how in Africa and in Sierra Leone especially that the biggest problem that they have is that there are so many languages. She believes that the division that most people have and the lack of organization and being united on issues is based on that there are so many languages. She said that in Sierra Leone alone there are 18 or more languages. She feels that people who live in certain areas and speak one language feel a sense of entitlement and want to be seen as "number one". The only problem is that no one wants to be number two. Alice said that in order for issues in many African countries to become resolved that the people must unite and stop thinking of themselves as separate tribes or by divisions of religion but that they are all Africans. Alice stated that there are so many people from her continent that are bright mathematicians and scientists and if the continent could unite behind all of the bright people and opportunity that they have that they could accomplish so much.

Alice told me about how the president of her country was living in America and felt the need to go back to his country and do something be productive and helpful and he was able to lead his political party to victory over the then president. Alice did not state that she supported one side or another, she found beauty in the story. She thought the effort that was made by this one person was a sign that things could be better and that change was possible. Alice told me about how people used to send their children and family members to London or America to be educated and that there was a time when they were doing so well that they may not have been able to afford to pay their way but that person could work and support themselves while they wee abroad and then comeback with their new knowledge or after they had made some money and contribute to society. Alice stated that after the civil war there that this had changed greatly. Alice spoke of how so many libraries and books were burned down and destroyed how whole cities and populations were wiped out. Alice stated that the worst part about it was that the child soldiers as she stated were "just babies" little babies who were on drugs and had no idea what they were doing. Alice stated what was it all for, what can be accomplished from war? In Alice's eyes nothing. Alice said that now so many have to come to America and work and send everything back to help others just make ends meet. Alice stated that she felt like it was every persons responsibility to become more educated and go back home and help rebuild. To teach the young people who are so easily swayed and fall into bad things, or are taught bad ideas. Alice herself wants to become a teacher and then she wants to go home and educate the youth.

I didn't enjoy why I was at the hospital last night but I'll never forget Alice and our conversation. It really goes to show that you can get so much even out of the saddest situations. I don't have the same idea of home that she has. I felt like I could identify with her though, because it is my dream to not be famous or even remembered when I go away from here but I hope that I have the time to establish some type of institutions that facilitate the homeless in learning skills and making money and having somewhere to live while they get themselves back on their feet. Although I realize that our economy now is taking a downward spiral, I'm also aware that it will not always be like that here, and even when in a recession or depression we are still much better off then so many nations. I feel like because of that there is no excuse for this country to have as many homeless people and hungry people as we do. I hope one day that I can help change that. And every time I think of that dream of mine from now on, I'll think of Alice.