Looking Back - Unpublished Post Written 30/1/2015

Hello lovely people.   Prodigal Baindu returns...  I can't believe I have been away from this joint for  two weeks ( Note to self: Child you can't be giving up on my resolution so early into the new year).   I know it is too early into my resolutions for me to be pulling a disappearing stunt like this. I promise to do  better (pinkie swear and fingers crossed). Moving on...
These days I am withdrawing and spending most of my time alone... but I am still going for my therapy sessions.

  My week has been  a bit all over the place with regards to my emotions and my health.   It is third  week of my last semester of grad school and work load is already becoming overwhelming especially with all the group work, assignments and projects  piling in.  



There is no doubt group work training is necessary for public health professionals,  I mean public health is all about working with people, but my oh my can they get draining and exhausting. Setting meeting times for working students with very different schedules,  setting the work agenda and pace, making sure everyone is on the same page, managing different personalities and the whole shabang makes it challenging for me personally. Don't get me wrong I have worked in amazing groups and delivered solid results so while it may be difficult and tedious sometimes, I am grateful for these opportunities



Then there is my capstone thesis which I  really need to wrap up my by now if  I am to graduate in June yet it is moving at the space of a snail  on  sedative :-(

Talking about graduation, I have been  thinking a lot about what lies ahead after I walk across that stage come June. I am sincerely nervous about life after grad school, I am so used to being a student that the though of being a full time working adult  and the responsibilities that come with it scares me a bit. I have always wanted to back to Sierra Leone after completing my degree and I still intend to do so.
The question remains whether I should relocate right away or whether I should stay back in Canada for a  year or so to get my permanent residency.  With a Sierra Leonean passport you are constantly  treated like a leper and made to jump though gazillion hoops at visa offices and immigration ports of enternce thus making  a Canadian PR wonderful asset  for my future career and my sanity in general.

But then staying back in Canada when my heart is in  Sierra Leone and when I know deep down there is a greater need for public health workers right now more than ever following the Ebola epidemic; just makes my staying here feel so wrong.

Hmm decisions decisions..



Well folks, that's it for today, I just wanted to pop in and share what was on my mind.

New Music Video Alert! Confidential - Shadow Boxxer, Dbanj and Idriss Elba

The highly anticipated CONFIDENTIAL video is out. Check out the video below and commentary on the controversy surrounding the song and the video.

Early Last year in Sierra Leone, Confidential was the it song. I mean no party, wedding, club or chilling  was complete without playing this hit song several times.
Confidential was a hit not only because of its catchy beat and lyrics but also  unlike many of the hit songs in the country at the time, it was Sierra Leonean! Produced by a Sierra Leone producer Bonxx, for a popular Sierra Leonean artist called Shadow Boxer  who featured popular Nigerian Artist D'Banj and Hollywood Heart throb Idriss Elba who happens to be half Sierra Leonean. Well so we all thought.  Mid last year there was controversy arounf who the producer was, with Ejino coming forward as the producer of the song.  A audio version of the song on YouTube credited him as the producer of the song and Shadow Boxxer the owner of the song.

Fast forward to August 2015, the video drops after much anticipation and teasing from Shadow and DBanj. To my disappointed the song is now credited as D'Banj featuring Driss (Idriss  Elba) and Shadow Boxxer.  Compared to the original song last year, the order in which the artist sang was also switched with Shadow Boxxer moving from first to last.
I mean how did the original artsit of the song end up being the second "featuree" of the song? Whether it is because DBanj has larger global fan base or some other reason, I still think the song is dope even though I prefer the Salone 2014 version. Shadow Boxxer still remains by favorite Sierra Leonean rapper at the moment and hope this video brings him more success and global recognition.





 

Tribute to my Daddy - Dr. Andrew Kosia

Younger years of  Dr. Andrew Kosia, check out the fro!  Sierra Leone-1970's

 Four years ago, on July 28, 2011, I lost my beloved father and mentor, a family man, a dedicated doctor, a diligent public health servant, a patriotic Sierra Leonean, a proud African, a global citizen and a beautiful human. To many he was Dr. Andrew Kosia, the hardworking, well respected, kind professional but to me he was simply daddy. The gentle, loving but no nonsense dad who wanted the best for his children and worked hard to make every opportunity available to them. The dad who would crack jokes with his children, chit chat with them,  encourage  them  to express their  view points and critic his on subjects ranging from politics, football, fashion or whatever the discussion was about. Yet, when I or any of his children got out of line and slacked on our school work he didn’t hesitate to correct and discipline us followed by a nice gesture to make sure we knew it was coming from a place of love. He was one who believed in the power of education, the duty of giving back and the rewards of hard work. That was the dad I was blessed to have for 22 years of my life, one I would forever be grateful and proud to be called his daughter.

The irreplaceable father- daughter bond

Every year on this day, I write a note to my dad giving him updates about my life. This has been a therapeutic outlet that has helped with my grieving and one I hope to continue for as long time I can. I have decided to share this year’s note and previous notes on the blog.  I am dedicating this blog to the memory of my father and all my readers out there who have lost a father.  May their souls rest in peace.

July 28, 2015

Last photograph with my daddy in Sierra Leone, January 2011

Hello daddy, 

 I woke up this morning and the first thing I did was go through old pictures of you. I can still remember the last picture we took together at Augustine’s wedding in January 2011.  You were teasing me and telling me I could only red drink wine which you were sipping on and claiming was good for your health, when I turn 25 and have completed my degrees. Well guess what? I am over 25 and as of a month ago, completed my second degree. Yes, your youngest daughter now has a Master of Public Health degree just like her daddy. The graduation ceremony was a bitter, sweet event in the absence of the person who influence of my career choice, goals and aspirations, nonetheless I know you would have been proud of your ‘Mama Baindu'. So on that day, I celebrated with a bottle of red wine and toasted to us both.  I didn’t become a medical doctor like you always hoped for but I  intend on perusing a PhD and becoming the third Dr. Kosia in the family. Angela remains the family’s medical doctor for now, who knows maybe one of your grandchildren will follow in her footsteps.

I am currently looking for a public health job and intent to go back to Sierra Leone and hopefully get to work in the same area of public health as you did. I must say, you raised the bar really high, everyone I have spoken to that knew you, have nothing but good things to say about your work ethics, efficiency and tenacity. So I guess I have to live up to your  standard because if there is anything you made clear to your children especially  your three girls it was the fact that women can do anything just as good or even better than men.

I really do miss you daddy and want you to know that the family hasn’t been the same since you left. You were the glue that kept us together, yet despite the loss of your physical absence I know that God has assigned you as an angel to watch over us, which explains why things haven’t totally fallen apart and  why me, Angela, Christina and Junior are doing good despite the odds. Continue to rest in peace. Love you always.

My birthday celebration with the family in Eritrea-  October 2005

July 28, 2014

Daddy's doppleganger ( ar fiba me papa bad bad wan)  D R Congo- July 2010

Daddy it has been three years since you left us. The hardest part about losing you is dealing with the void and emptiness your departure created in my heart and life. They say time heals everything but no amount of time can erase the effects of your departure because in my heart you hold a place that can never be filled. I am reminded of you every day I look at myself in the mirror and see more of you in me with each passing day. Similar face, similar smile, similar laughter, same passion for reproductive health of females, similar demeanor and way of talking. I am proudly and undeniably my daddy’s daughter.
Love and miss you so much.

July 28, 2013

Daddy's hilarious but empowering toast to me on my 17th birthday. Eritrea 2005

Daddy, I cannot believe two years has gone by since you left us. Words cannot describe how much I miss you and wish you were here with us. Things have been tough without you and I won’t lie there are days when I wanted to give up but then I think about what you would have wanted for me and that keeps me going. Wish we had spent more time more together because now more than ever I need your advice wise counsel and that love only a father can give. Nonetheless I know you are up there looking out for me in every situation.
I am now in graduate school daddy, getting an MPH degree just like you (sorry I didn’t go to medical school like you wanted), and hopefully I will end up working for the same organization you did. You are, and will always be my role model. Can’t believe I am saying this but I really do miss our silly arguments and you scolding me about not setting my priorities right, now I fully realize the importance of it. Most of all I miss our little gossips and the laughs we had from them.

MISS YOU SO MUCH! Rest in Peace Daddy. Love you always

Cracking us up with jokes as usual, don't know where he got the walkie talkie from

Sierra Leone Independence Celebration in Vancouver

Today April 27, 2015, marks the 54th Independence anniversary of my beloved country Sierra Leone.  Happy Birthday Mama Salone! 

The Sierra Leonean Community of British Columbia Canada came together on Saturday April 25th 2015 to celebrate our country, culture and experiences. Like every Sierra Leonean event, it was a celebration that transcended political affiliations, tribal lines and religious beliefs. This was my first Salone event  since moving to BC almost three years. Boy was it fun to be around fellow Sierra Leoneans, eat delicious traditional food, and dance to good old Salone music! 

It may seem there is not much to be happy about considering  what is currently happening in the country, ( I will delve into this in another post) and all the  nation has gone through since her Independence. Nonetheless I remain hopeful that Sierra Leone will rise from the ashes. I am confident that my generation of Sierra Leoneans will bring about the change for our ascent to glory. There is a reason to celebrate because there is hope.

Check out some pictures and videos of the event below 

Getting ready and very excited  for the big event! Had to represent in my Green White and Blue.

Green white and Blue everywhere!

 Group Selfie with my Salone brothers

Posing with the gorgeous Christina

Everyone getting their cameras ready for the traditional dancers

Making my way to the stage to take pictures!

Click the link below to watch the Sierra Leone Independence Day celebration cultural young stars performance  Posted by Rachel Kay on Saturday, 25 April 2015

Yes, these young Salone girls rocked that stage 

My favorite part of the evening was the Mende Goboi performance. This bad boy came out and stole the whole show. The crowd went wild. I LOVE MY CULTURE! Check out the videos below.

Click on the link below to  watch the Cultural Dance Salone Independence Video

Posted by Rachel Kay on Sunday, 26 April 2015

Here is another YouTube video 

Goboi doing his thing

Dancing with the Goboi 

More dancing

It is wrap, yours truly is tired and sweaty after a great time!

Mourning with Kenya

 



On Tuesday April 2nd 2015, The Al Shebaab militant group  burst into Garissa University College in the Kenyan  town of Garissa and killed nearly 147 students.

Al Shebaab is a Somalian Ismlamic extremist group that is one of the most violent franchises of Al Qaeda.  With the town of Garissa is about 90 miles from the Somali border  with  high population of ethnic Somalians,making it an easy target for the group. 

Barely two years ago in 2013,   this same group held siege of one of Kenya's fanciest malls killing 63 people. They have since then killed hundreds of Kenyans on country buses, in churches and in remote coastal towns.

Yesterday's senseless attack  took the lives of  young Kenyans, who were aiming to get an education.  My heartfelt condolence and prayers to my Kenyan brothers and sisters especially   those who lost loved ones in the attack. 

The Inspire Series- Sheroes on the Ebola front Line by Hannah Foullah

Nurse Samantha Mansaray and Dr. Valrie John-Cole

                                                               

In celebration of International Women's Day/Month, today's Inspire Series  high lights and acknowledges the courage, dedication and selflessness of women on the Ebola front line in Sierra Leone. These women are   shereos in every account.
     Be inspired! 

Since the outbreak of the Ebola epidemic in Sierra Leone, women have been in the front-line as healthcare workers and caregivers in their communities. This has meant that they face a greater risk of contracting the Ebola virus. The role that women have played as first responders in the fight against Ebola brings to mind the story of the Italian doctor Carlo Urbani.

International Women's Day 2015

Happy International Women's day to all the amazing women and girls out there

 As we celebrate all women around the world today, never forget you can do anything you put your mind to. You face adversity and still walk tall. You are stronger than you are credited for. You are beautiful no matter what people or  the media say. You are Phenomenal!