Dec 30 - Change in Plans

Having problems with my visa so my return to Guinea has been delayed at least a week.  Spending an extra week snowed in in Bemidji.  LOTS OF SNOW!  Sue is looking stronger and doing pretty well.  Pleased and blessed to have the opportunity to spend the holidays with my friends here.

Dec 28 - She's looking better!

My best friend, Sue, has been looking and feeling a little stronger the last couple of days.  What a blessing.  We've enjoyed just talking and being and sharing - an unexpected treat.

But I have visa problems.  Working on a way to get back to Guinea legally.  I had planned to be back there by January 3 because the school year was FINALLY going to start!

Dec 27 - A Blessed Holiday Visit

I made it back from Guinea to Minneapolis just fine - UNTIL we got to Minnesota and were hit by an all-night snow and ice storm.  Tough driving!  But I got to Bemidji about 3:30am.  My best friend, Sue, is doing a little better.  We're still looking for a Christmas miracle!

Picture was from a Coke machine in Brussels airport.  The "mannequin pis" is an unusual landmark/symbol of the city of Brussels.  But does it need to come with a Coke bottle???

Dec 18 - Home for Christmas

I've had an unexpected change in plans with my best friend, Sue, suddenly getting much sicker from the two forms of cancer that she is battling.  I decided yesterday that I need to go home and spend a little time with her and her family over the holidays.  I'm a little worried about my clothes situation.  I may be the only one in the Minneapolis airport wearing sandals!

Dec 16 - Still...

My blog updates are starting to sound like the weather report in Florida.  (Sunny and hot - always the same.)  More drumming.  More waiting.  No news on school starting.  Must be something that I have to learn here before I'm ready to move on to the next stage of my life.  Wish I could figure it out.

I lost a djembe head yesterday at the ballet rehearsal.  Moussa was playing it and the music got REAL intense.  Suddenly, POP!  Another goat is going to have to die on behalf of my djembe. 

Dec 14 - Still waiting

I got all my stuffed packed up and ready to go and then no one showed up to move me to Dubreka.  How disappointing.  I called and they said, "no, no, no, no, no."  Which, I suppose, means that I'll be staying here at the hotel in Conakry for a while longer.  But I'm making great use of my time.  Learning LOTS about the Guinean drums and music and culture.  Headed off again tomorrow to play for the ballet rehearsal.  Far harder than it sounds. 

Sorry about all the DRUM pictures.  But, you come to Guinea to learn to play the drums!

Dec 11 - More Drums + Some News!

When I arrived in Guinea 10 weeks ago I had no idea I'd spend all this time learning about Guinean traditional music.  In my mind I was just going to learn to play the djembe drum.  But I got really excited when I heard the Dunduns/Kankadis/Bahbahs/and the Sangbans.  It's amazing how complicated this music is.  I find I can play any of the parts - UNTIL YOU ADD THE BEAT!  I'm afraid my musical mind is so western-ized that this non-western music really blows me away.  Wow.  Working on it though.  Picture is an example of using bottle caps and a chart my brother made to notate the rhythm.

Did hear that I'll be moving to Dubreka and my teaching job at the Institute of Fine Arts on Monday.  This has been a very long delay to the start of the school year. 

Dec 6 - African Ballet

Had a great opportunity today to become an African Ballet accompanist on my djembe.  My performance wasn't marvelous but it was great fun and worth every drop of sweat.  Man, did we sweat!  We're in a fairly large empty room with concrete floor, walls, ceiling and windows on one side.  The percussionists sat in the front and played the accompaniment for the Ballet rehearsal.  Those dancers REALLY worked!  And the drummers were right with them.  Lots of local people squeezed in to watch the rehearsal.  I was honored and tickled to be a part of the Guinean culture today. 

Dec 2 - New President

Since we had no power and since it was too hot to sleep, I was awake to hear the sudden screams of people celebrating outside on the street about 12:45am.  As I suspected, the Guinean Supreme Court had finally ruled on the challenges to the Presidential election and declared Alpha Conde to be the new President.  A few minutes later the power miraculously came back on.  Hmmmm.  Anyway, congratulations to Guinea's new (and 1st democratically elected) President and thank GOD for electricity and water!