Freedom is...

Freedom is riding a bike around town! That's right - I said riding a bike. Now that it is a new year the Bike Club held orientation for crew members to join. So I joined the Mercy Ships Bike Club and am now a member. I chose the "platinum" membership packet: for a one time fee of $15US I have a 6-month membership. I can sign out a bicycle anytime I want, for as long as I want. We are responsible for maintaining the bikes or reporting problems we can not fix. A lock is included and as members we can check out two bikes to let a guest go riding too.

Now this may not sound like much to most of you. I am sure you have bike and/or a car of your own. But for me this was equal in freedom to the first time I drove my car by myself at 16. Being in Africa and being a woman really sucks sometimes. As crew we are not encouraged to go out alone and as women we are not suppose to go out alone. So everything you do has to be in a group or within an eye's view of the ship. Which doesn't allow for much privacy or alone time. Add to this the fact that you have cabin mates and the ship's crew is always a couple hundred people and you begin to understand my love of bicycle provided freedom.

So yesterday, for the first time in almost 6 months, I went somewhere by myself. I rode down our 2-mile dock, exited the port, and went down the boardwalk and back...it was great! I was able to see the city at night and just be by myself. And while riding alone at night will not become a habit and I definitely won't ride alone in Liberia I really enjoyed myself and will probably do it again.

My next shopping expense will be a bike helmet (safety first). But, to be honest, I can't wait to ride through the Liberian market place - that will definitely be an adventure!