Another Country Another Experience

It sure has been awhile, but, with good reasons. I cannot lie it feels weird to sit down and start to blog again. None the less, I hope all has been well! The blog has been on my mind a lot lately as well as our social media. My awesome under cover friend has been so kind to take time out of her very busy life, and when she can, she keeps up with the social media.

I am not going to take time beating around the bush today. I went from a crazy busy semester of work and classes, to finals, to packing my dorm room to going to Africa on a missions trip, for an extend period of time. Janice, she was out of the country for awhile as well. It is easy enough to say it has been busy, busy, busy.

Now, enough with what has been going on and why we have been so busy! Lets get down to business.

As I have mentioned I was in Africa for awhile. The trip was completely amazing and life changing to say the least. But, I definitely had an eye opening experience while on this beautiful continent. One dark night, the group and I were traveling back to the center where we were staying. As our 30 minute drive, arrived upon main roads, one could see large open areas of people sitting outside. This idea was not an unusual sight for me, we have a place like this by where we are staying. It would be about a 5 minute walk, if I took my time. After all, I could here the music from this place at night on top of the roof.

I looked over at Mama, she was one of our contacts while on the trip, and decided I wanted to know more about trafficking. Mama informed me that there was a lot of trafficking that took place in the country that we were currently in. She also told me that trafficking either happens mostly in the back alley ways or in the open bars that we kept passing.

These open bars, that I mentioned earlier, were generally by a place that sold some beverages. There were nice bars with bright flashing lights and loud music. Others were plastic chairs and tables bunched together in a group. The one by where I was staying had nice chairs and a few television sets to keep the people entertained. On the other side of the road was the other half of the bar. A dark room with loud music and large sofas, next to it was a place to get drinks.

How these places work is the men go and sit at one of these bars and they will wait for the women to come and approach them. I assume you can figure out the rest.

This knowledge to me was shocking and yet at the same time it wasn't. I was shocked at how many of these bars were around the area where we were. Granted this was in a main city, I never stayed over night in a village or went to the bush, so things would be different depending on the development of the area you were in.

I loved my trip to West Africa. It was beautiful, life changing and totally not what I thought it would be. I learned I could be me and I don't have to be perfect. When something bothers me, I don't have to push it to the side and be strong so no one knows what I am going through. It is okay to be human. But, it is different when you have a more hands on experience with a form of trafficking, like prostitution and stuff like that.

I have other stories, but that is for another time, another day.

So, until then,

Nicole

Sex, Lies, and Love

Its Valentine's Day! So, first off I hope you are having an amazing day, whether you are single or in a relationship! Make sure to tell the ones you love that you love them and no matter what make sure and enjoy the day!

Enough with the gooey stuff, lets get down to business.  Now, while you married couples are off being romantic,  and you couples in relationships are spending time with your boo. And all the single people out there are being happy and spending time with your friends (thats what you should be doing, dont be a Debbie downer). Please take the time to remember the people who are being forced against their will into the sex trade.

I am not going to pretend to be ignorant at the fact that there will be people who are going to go to strip clubs, or hire a prostitute or a women from an escort company tonight. With this, it is important to remember that even though on the outside these businesses may look like smiling, willing face, glitter and lust even passion. It is important to remember that THIS IS NOT ALWAYS THE CASE.

"Victims of both sex and labor trafficking may be found in hostrss clubs and strip clubs in the United States. In situations of sex trafficking, a victim may be forced to provide commercial sex to the club patrons by a pimp, employer, or other controller, in addition to his or her work as a dancer or hostess" (Polaris Project).

And if you are wanting to read up more on thr matter I definitely recommend that you do. It is crazy the things that you learn when you research. And after checking out the topic, you should spread the news around. Get people aware.

Have a good Valentine's Day,

Nicole

Work cited:
"Hostest/Strip Clubs-Sex Trafficking." Polaris Project. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Feb. 2014.

http://www.polarisproject.org/human-trafficking/sex-trafficking-in-the-us/hostessstrip-clubs

Heads Up, Catch Up

Hello and happy super late New Year! Everyone seems to start the new year off with a few resolutions. I did my little list of resolutions and have already failed miserablely. So, instead of a resolution, my roommate and best friend, is my accountability buddy. At least that is what I am calling it. We will be doing are absolute best, for college students, to keep this blog and our social media up and running! After all we can't afford not to.

I am so excited for what this year holds instore! And with that, there are some cool posts coming up! I don't want to give too much away! But, I have a post coming up about a little domino effect in sticky notes. (if you dont know what sticky noting is, check out the first post Janice and I ever did! Its called "Lets Explain our Mission")

This year is going to be amazing and I am glad this journey and fight, against such a horrible injustice, will be done with you! The sex trade better be ready for a shift, because it is definitely time for a change!

And with that I want to take a side note and say thank you for being so awesome with the changes that are taking place and will be taking place in the next days to come!

Let's make this a powerful year,

Nicole

P.S. If you want to email us, feel free! If you have questions we would love to help you find answers! And if you are doing something to stop the sex trade email us and let us know your story! We would love to share your story!!
 askmeaboutsextrafficking@gmail.com

So Long Fairwell

Hey Readers! It has been a long time, at least since I last wrote a post. Unfortunately, this post isn't really super happy, and it does have to do with a goodbye. But it still has to do with sex trafficking, kind of.
I've mentioned before that I was starting school this January, well that time has come, actually the exact day is here! Today, I am off to start my schooling and I am SO pumped. With that being said I really feel like its a smart idea for me to step away from the blog while I'm at school for the first six months.
My schooling consist of 3 months in the States and 2 months out of the country to "study abroad." I put quotation marks because its an outreach type thing where I will be helping people and spreading the love of Christ, but still apart of my studies.
Where does sex trafficking come in, you ask? Well, I will be studying social justice with my main interesting being childhood injustices such as sex trafficking, child soldiering, and so on.

So many of our blog readers are so supportive and amazing! I really am going to miss seeing your responses, differences in opinions, and passions on this blog, but I will be back eventually. I just felt that this was the right decision for me during these next 6 months.
My school is a Christ based one and I really want this time to grow, mature, and learn more about myself and my wonderful Father.
Thank all of you so much for your support these past months of blogging. You are in good hands with Nicole and the people who have so kindly decided to help her out so I can follow my passions and better myself as I feel led to.
You all rock! I look forward to the future when I will be writing to you all again!

Can't wait to tell you stories after this time is done!

Janice