Immersed in H20

It has been nearly a year since I have fully immersed myself in water. Sure a bucket bath takes the body odor off and a shower is ideal for washing hair but there is truly nothing like fully immersing your body.

Yesterday, a group of PCVs fled the Conakry house to the islands only an hour away via boat. Today I am asking myself how it is that I have never visited the islands before. Then reality hit. Why would I think the ocean in Guinea could be swimable. PCVs frequently visit the beach bar only a minutes walk from the house scenically located on the ocean and surrounded by sewage lines leading into the ocean and large piles of garbage smattered about.

However, just a boat ride away is paradise. Granted we had to pass through the ship graveyard on the way but the white sandy beaches of the islands complimented by the green palm tress and jagged rocks surrounding the beach easily erase that image from the brain. After a satisfyingly exhausting day of swimming, body surfing, attempted chicken fights, football and a small amount of hiking we were piloted back to Conakry.