Tuesday, December 4th was the first work day for the ground team of Amistad America Inc. deployed to Freetown in advance of the Freedom Schooner Amistad's visit.  We are all still readjusting our biological clocks - to get there from the USA takes almost two days traveling in multiple planes. We deal with five hours of time difference and much, much warmer weather than in New England. Since the very first moment we've all felt very welcome to Sierra Leone. It is hard for me to find the best words to describe how helpful and enthusiastic all the people are we meet on our way. As Amistad's official photographer and webmaster I had to establish access to internet as soon as possible - we want to be able to keep the website updated with fresh information as soon as it's available. Yet words are not enough to describe our experience... Africa must be experienced with all the senses - vibrant colors, moist, warm wind blowing in one's face, fragrances in the air, sounds of the streets... and  almost palpable, genuine welcome from people of Sierra Leone.  Donald George - Amistad's International Coordinator spent the last few months in Freetown preparing our visit and did a great job.

Since yesterday Amistad America's website is partially operated from our new office courtesy of the National Tourist Board of Sierra Leone. After just one day there I feel like part of a long known group of co-workers.  I was even re-christened with a local Sierra Leonean name - please call me now Amadu Barrie... at least for as long as we will be operating in Sierra Leone.

Sierra Leone is a hidden paradise that we are discovering. We see everywhere the potential awaiting to be developed and people overcoming the obstacles in their work. Trying to do my webmaster's  job here allows me to realize how spoiled I am - working in the USA with a reliable ultra fast broadband Internet connection.  All the international internet traffic to and from Sierra Leone, as well as from most of Africa, is depending on satellite dish technology that has unfortunately its throughput limitations. There are frequent service outages and sometimes the web crawls back to dial-up speeds.  The access to all modern, data-heavy websites is painfully slow. The productivity that we take for granted can not be achieved.  I will allow myself to express here my personal view.  Quite often I meet the opinion: "Forget the Internet... let's first fix access to clean water, secure reliable electricity service, health service... then we can talk about Internet.  I strongly believe that it is not one or the other. In the 21st century, access to the shared fountain of knowledge and global communication is as important as any other primary services.  In my new office I am surrounded by young Sierra Leoneans with computer and IT knowledge equal to their counterparts in America but unfortunately without the same resources. Closing the Digital Divide is, in my opinion, a condition absolutely necessary to allow African countries to participate and benefit from globalization.

We will continue to try to share with the world via our website the unique experience of the Amistad's Atlantic Freedom Tour - however please be more forgiving if the updates will be slower than usual.

Your Webmaster

Amadu Barrie a.k.a Wojtek (Voytec) Wacowski

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