Culture Experienced

In this final episode the family returns home. Harry, Joan and Ross reflect on their time in Sierra Leone and how this experienced has influenced their lives. If you have enjoyed this season, be sure to check out the blog at www.cultureexperienced.com.

In this bonus episode Kyle, the middle son, reflects on his year with the family living in Kamakwie.

In this bonus episode Mark, the eldest son, reflects on his year with the family living in Kamakwie.

In this last diary entry Harry writes about leaving Kamakwie. Joan and the kids are in Freetown at a beach house preparing return. The adventure is almost at an end.

In this episode the family completes their goodbyes and Joan and the boys depart for Freetown leaving Harry to distribute any remaining possessions. Ross manages to pickup one more major illness prior to leaving. A couple friends are baptized at the local Catholic church and the family makes the rounds to make a final visit to friends before departing.

In this episode Harry reads from his diary as we are in the last few weeks of the trip. Harry takes care of a menagerie of biology specimens for a Peace Corps teacher who left for Freetown. Even though Ross is sick we still manage to have a few celebrations with various westerners. Finally we learn of a Wesleyan Pastor who passed away at the hospital.

As we near the end of our "family fun trip" we have dinner with the nationals who have helped us during our stay. In this last letter we discuss our memories of Ya Marie, Ya Fudya and Pa Surrey. Joan will be traveling to Freetown with the boys as Harry completes school assignments prior to departing. Stay tuned for journal entries over the next month which will complete season 1 of Culture Experienced.

Mark and Kyle get a special treat staying with a Peace Corps friend in Fintonia. It's a bit humid for laundry and we have dinner with a Liberian family.

In this episode we hear a letter from both Harry and Joan. A "rain day" cancels school and we have secured travel from Kamakwie to Freetown when we leave. We have a discussion about the cheating that occurred on the national exams and what impact it may have on the students future.

The national tests are now occurring and cheating is common for the school. Harry vents his frustrations and is sent home. Mary Jean will be leaving shortly so we see her one last time.

In this episode Joan is writing from Freetown. She just experienced Mothers Day in Kamakwie and now attends a football (soccer) game with a fellow American. We begin to pack for the trip home.

In this episode the boxes of books that were mailed the prior August have finally arrived, just in time for us to head home. The Provincial Secretary visits Kamakwie and Joan is back from Freetown.

In this episode Harry writes two letters home on the same day. The family attends a memorial celebration and the other missionary kids are coming home. We learn more about the vehicle accident from the prior letter and we continue to coordinate efforts to return back to the USA.

In this episode we recap Ross' birthday party and learn of another major motor vehicle accident that occurred on the dangerous roads.

In this episode Ross celebrates his first communion and birthday. Harry discusses a problem with the water pump and the family hires a dishwasher to help with school fees.

Joan and Harry both write home in this episode. We learn about a physician who steps on a scorpion and Ross has a big day coming up. Flowers are in bloom and butterflies are abundant.

It's the day after Mark's birthday and we celebrate "Kamakwie" style. The Barkers will be leaving due to some health concerns and will be missed. Harry becomes frustrated with some of the missionaries and has to adjust plans for returning in July.

Harry leaves the family at the beach house and heads beck to Kamakwie for school. We learn about his long journey back up country and his activities without the family.

It is Easter Sunday and the family is still at the beach house near Freetown. We get a short Sierra Leone (and West African) history lesson from Harry.

The family is vacationing at a beach house on the coast near Freetown and are joined by Ila Shea. Harry plans gift shopping in town and pickup up our return tickets back home.

In this episode the family is traveling to Freetown for vacation. On the way we spend time in Kamaloo and Makeni.

In this episode Harry writes about our upcoming vacation plans as we will be picked up the next day. A new physician is in town and the men are over as the women are away.

In this episode Harry discusses plans for our upcoming vacation. We have friends over again and Mark and Kyle attend a play at the high school.

Both Joan and Harry write home in this episode. We learn about the incredible fruit and flowers that are available in the region. Mary Jean is brought back to Medina and has to cross in a dugout canoe. President Regan has been shot and we talk about how often we get information from the US.

In this episode Harry and Joan talk about the peace corps and missionaries who get together to decompress. Rain clouds are on the horizon and Dr. Paine takes a vacation.

Joan goes on a trip, and Harry didn't know where she was. Harry talks about how little schooling occurs with all of the special days off.

In this episode we learn what a typical day may look like for children in Kamakwie.

In this episode Joan writes home about some of the activities that Harry covered yesterday. We discuss native medicine and how it impacts the local residents. Joan also talks about the family that we support at the hospital.

Sports days have concluded and guess who is on the winning team? A movie is made and shown for late missionary from the town. Joan prepares for a trip with Mary Jean and we make plans for spring break.

Sports days are about to begin as preparations have occurred all week. Joan is taking a trip with Mary Jean and Harry makes plans to spend his days off with the boys.

Harry and Joan explain the process of tie dye clothes in town and Harry writes about a dinner gathering to welcome the new doctor. It is still very hot as the school continues to prepare for sports days.

Joan writes home about helping at one of the primary schools in the town. We have a discussion about how the school system is setup in Kamakwie. Joan also writes about the new physician and the lorry accident from previous episodes.

In this episode the boys are busy with their friends building huts and in the Boy Scouts. Preparations continue for the much anticipated sports days and the newest physician must learn fast to make due with the local resources.

In this episode we learn of a tragic accident that strikes a local community. We also learn about transportation in the local community and how locals transport their goods.

In this episode we learn what happens when the septic tank is blocked. Farmers are beginning to burn their fields to prepare for the next planting season and the boys help out.

In this episode another physician comes to town to assist the hospital. Harry and Joan explain how patients are fed and why it's important to have family around to help while you're in the hospital. Finally, Ross and Kyle try their hand at farming.

The family visits a Peace Corps friend in the village of Fintonia, Bob Barad. To this day Bob is still involved in supporting Africa and is involved in the World Food Program. We are also visited by Geza Teleki who is worked to establish a wildlife refuge. Follow this link to learn more about Geza Telecki and his efforts in Sierra Leone's Wildlife Conservation Movement.

In this episode students are away at an agriculture fair. The family buys meat from a cow brought to the house. Joan helps deliver twins and we make plans to visit a peace corps friend. We learn about a book "THE REDEEMED SAY SO Stories of Witnessing Christians Sierra Leone by Marie Lind" which had been written about Kamakwie.

In this episode Harry talks about covering detention at the school. He also describes the celebrations from the female secret society.

In this episode Joan helps to run an under 5 clinic and we learn what happens when the Doctor is not in town. Harry is frustrated by sports practice while the school prepares for a major event.

In this episode Harry finally receives his pay. The family has dinner with missionaries on the compound and learn that Father Vincent is headed to Liberia.

In this episode Harry talks about dry season agriculture and how the school provides their report cards to students. Joan writes home and discusses going to the market while Ya Marie recovers. Both Harry and Joan have enjoyed their African weight loss program and are down considerably from when they departed.

School is starting back up but it takes time for students to arrive. There are celebrations in town as young women are prepared for the tribal version of "womanhood" where they go off to the bush for female genital mutilation and training. Finally, it's time for Joan to make the doughnuts.

Harry writes home and describes our New Year's eve activities. Ross reads his letter to the Tooth Fairy.

Joan writes home to her parents about our holiday travels and adventures. The family travels to Medina where we eat with over 20 members of the village.

Harry writes home with detail of our experience with the Christmas holiday in Freetown and Kamakwie.

Merry Christmas from Culture Experienced. In this short episode Harry writes home with a Christmas message.

The family has traveled to the beach for some holiday rest and relaxation. Joan and Harry describe the trip down and arriving at the beautiful Sierra Leone beaches. The family also gets to see the national dance troupe at a local hotel.

Harry writes home about giving blood during a C-Section. School has ended for the semester and we are preparing for our trip to Freetown. We continue to receive groups of carolers, often dressed as dancing devils, from the village in preparation for Christmas. Harry describes how we plan to travel to Freetown and the beginning of the dry season.

In this episode Joan writes home about creating Christmas decorations and we get visitors from the the village. She describes our extraction "plan" as there is rumor of government trouble.

The ophthalmologist are heading home after a months stay. Mary Jean visits for the weekend and takes the family swimming in crocodile infested waters. Harry hires a local carpenter to build a couch, which turns out to be a pew.