📍 Location: Merel’s Village and surrounding chiefdom, Sierra Leone📝 Episode NotesGood day — November 9th.After staying overnight in the village, I spent the day exploring more of the chiefdom. Every time Merel introduced me, it was as her “uncle,” because in Sierra Leone everyone is considered family. No further questions are asked — it’s just how things work.We visited the healthcare facility again, where most of Merel’s work takes place. The clinic focuses on preventive care, malaria treatment, and prenatal care, given the many children in the village. Merel’s work is always at the clinic, not at individual homes.We also took time to walk around the village and take in the surroundings. There are many nearby villages, and most children walk a long distance to attend school every day. Wells are scattered throughout the village, though not all function properly, so improvements are needed in the future.It was time to say goodbye. The visit was extremely worthwhile, and I felt immense gratitude for the experience. People in the village are incredibly friendly and resourceful. Some work in the local gold mines, which are reportedly not legal, while government workers often go unpaid.As I made my way back to the main highway, children called out “Apato,” which means “white man” in Creole. It wasn’t meant offensively — they were just having fun. Merel speaks Creole fluently, so she translated speeches and helped me communicate with the local people when I spoke a few words in return.I also had the chance to see little Meryl, Merel’s namesake. She was born as part of triplets during Merel’s absence. Everyone in the village is incredibly warm and welcoming.The return journey to McKinney was smooth, with a couple of small stops along the highway for greetings. The first nine kilometers were on a paved road, which allowed for faster travel. I arrived back at the Woosam Hotel to catch up on administrative work and spend the next two nights resting before hopefully continuing on to Freetown.Another unforgettable day in Sierra Leone.⏱️ Key Moments00:20 — Walking the chiefdom and being introduced as Merel’s “uncle”01:00 — Visiting the healthcare clinic focused on preventive care and malaria01:45 — Observing village life, schools, and wells02:30 — Saying goodbye and reflecting on the gratitude of villagers03:00 — Children calling out “Apato” and language translation by Merel03:40 — Meeting little Meryl, Merel’s namesake born as part of triplets04:15 — Return journey to McKinney, highway stops, and reflections on the day04:50 — Back at the Woosam Hotel to rest and catch up on tasks

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