Why there are no pictures lately

Wow, It has been many days since I've posted. To answer the coffee /hot cocoa question, it was labeled in Spanish, I just didn't read it. :)

The students have arrived, we have some internet at the house. It only works with Windows and is slow but at least it is something. I have met with two of the three professors I need to meet with to set up courses for the time we are in Malabo.

Tonight we have an invitation to a BBQ from some (US) midwesterners who are working in EG. Two of my students are also keeping blogs so when I get thier addresses I'll link to them.

It is a little tricky to take pictures in the city. There was a law that no pictures were to be taken in the city. The law has changed so that taking pictures of government buildings is not allowed. When I asked how to tell which ones those were, I was told " all the pretty ones." But I have heard it is ok to take pictures of the university, so if that is true, you will see some soon. We go up to Moka soon and while I may not have internet access up there I will be able to take pictures.

Roosters on the sidewalk

Today a rooster accompanied me for about half a block as I was going to the center of town. We shared the sidewalk for a while, then it went in the street.

I was not paying attention when I bought coffee the day before yesterday. I was excited to see a bag in the section of the grocery store with the instant coffee. It was red with gold stripes and looked like a quarter pound of ground coffee beans. It even felt like one when I shook it. It was a bit light, but seemed like coffee. I thought, "Great! No more instant coffee! We have a camping percolater at the house. I can use it on the stove." Yesterday I finished my instant coffe and excitedly went to open the new bag off coffee. I took a deep breath, prepareing to be greeted with the familiar smell of coffe beans and was rewarded with the smell of... hot cocoa. Not such a bad mix up!

Tomorrow we get new locks, with keys that we can have copies made of. And three of the five students arrive!

Found the furniture store

Actually DBM, who will be up in Moka, showed me where it is. I checked prices for a bunch of storage and other miscelleaneous furniture I need to buy for the house. Also cashed a check with SV's help this morning.

meant that it was near the end of the buisness day and it would take a while, or possibly they were jusBelow is the post I mentioned on Sunday. I'm still at the internet cafe. I was able to get phones for the program but the wireless company was out of internet cards. It is possible that justt out.

From Saturday:

I landed in Malabo around 10 last night and had an easy trip through security. I thought the line for passport checking was moving really slowly until SV, who I did not recognize for some reason, came through passport control from the waiting area and told me that lines are optional. Then I noticed that people who had gotten off the plane after me were already picking up their luggage. I pushed my way to the front of the line and got through. DM and M, a research assistant from Germany, were also at the airport to collect me.

We don’t have internet at the house yet. SV and I went to purchase internet cards and telephones today but the mobile place couldn’t take a check until Monday. So, we will try again Monday. For now I am writing at home and using the internet café. Clearly, if you are reading this, I was able to use the café.

Today M and I went to the market for some food which we were able to get but probably paid to much for. We also bought and onion and 5 bananas from a street vendor and probably only paid a little too much for them. We also put up mesh on several of the windows to keep out the mosquitoes and tried out the washer and dryer. Both work.

The house is across the street from the not-quite-finished-Presidential Palace. There are chickens that run through the neighborhood and spend some time in the front yard. There are also roosters that crow at odd hours. There are mango, banana, and yacaranda trees in the yard. The weather is warm and rainy.

Here are pictures of my kitchen and the yard and some pics of my visit to VC, WC and RC earlier this month).

Sunday in EG

I have a post for yesterday all ready to go, but it is sitting in the house on my flash drive. It has pictures of a huge (not sure what the collective noun is) of bananas sitting in my kitchen, ripening, next to the generator. The generator got removed today. It doesn't work and was taking up space. So you will get some updates out of order - and no pictures today!

I am starting to find my way around the city. We are next to the Presidential Palace so I'm not supposed to take pictures in that area. I've sucessfully bought food at the supermarket and from a street vendor and even had some beer in a restaurant. So far, no ill effects. :)

I'm in an internet cafe right now that is about two blocks from the house. I've made IDs for everyone that I have pictures for and will print them to get them signed by a dean at UNGE tomorrow. Also tomorrow SV and I are going to try again to get mobile phones and internet service. So tomorrow, hopefully I'll post those pictures.

Help with transition

I've had a lot of help getting ready to go. My family has helped pack up my apartment and my bags for the trip. LC helped load and unload boxes and furniture and carry them into SP's basement. SP has loaned me a spot in his basement for my stuff and is taking the dog and cat until I come back. I've gotten reminders about insurance, help tracking down vaccination records and promises to mail, on time, every month the one bill I can't seem to pay electronically. And then of course I got a package designed to help me find my way back when it is time to come home. Here are the pictures.


First the package.















And then the picture, so I know where I'm headed, the compass so I can navigate, and a pouch to keep it all in.