Long time no blog. Not because nothing has happened to report but because too much has happened. While I want to keep giving some info on where I am, I’m giving up on my original intention in this blog and will just give some brief update...I’ve hit the road since early October doing some wandering (combined with some work-related research visits) through West Africa by car, by foot, by boat, motorcycle...from Togo to Benin, Ghana, and now am in Ivory Coast since last week...this last month has been filled with encounters and experiences with incredible people in each step of my journey. People that were just contacts or chance meetings but after staying with them in their homes and exploring their villages,cities, areas and their lives with them, they have become friends. People who did not know me at all and invited me to stay in their homes with their families, gave me rides, who took care of me, who offered me everything they have even when they had next to nothing.
Right now, it’s Wednesday November 5th afternoon as I’m writing this and I haven’t slept since yesterday; I was up all night crowded around a television along with my Ivorian friends and their families watching the news from the USA elections right up until this morning when Obama gave his beautiful speech in Chicago. I guarantee you that Africa is probably at least as excited as America if not more.(Ghana is getting ready for its own elections in erarly December and in fact I met the NPP party’s candidate at a village rally a couple weeks back, while here in Ivory Coast elections that were supposed to happen right now are being pushed back because of gov’t tensions and instabilities in voter registration) I personally am so happy, relieved, proud, hopeful (more than I expected to be)...a change has arrived in America (a place that I call home but that I have felt a stranger in for some time now) and also for the world. My to vote after faxes, emails, and navigating through markets of Kumassi for a Fed-Ex office to mail my absentee ballot was worth it for this new chance.
ok...December I am back in Togo at JVE ‘headquarters’ until X-mas celebration in Tsiko...and then....well, I’ll let you know then
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hi saskia,
it is wonderful to be able to read about your experiences. It sounds amazing being able to travel some more. Have you got the chance to see some of the amazing West African live music?
Obama caused goosebumps in Istanbul too. I went to the democrats abroad party and stayed up till 5, but wasn't able to see his very impressive speech live. I really hope he can deliver. But just having the US vote for him and his ideas is already a step forward.
Well, I wish you a happy birthday through this virtual channel too. Hopefully you will have a great time, and some people to have a toast with in honor of yourself!
At the moment I am studying for my midterms, but it is going alright, the semester is not too hard.
Well, good luck and much of fun over there,
love, sacha
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