Back at the Drexel House

I've been back in the city for a few days but have not had a chance to update the blog. This will be a short update but I promise there are pictures coming. I went up to Moka today with a driver from UNGE, 6 turtle researchers and huge amounts of canned and dried food. We didn't take all of it but it still filled the bus. I returned with 9 students and the driver. We stopped at Arena Blanca, a white sand beach. The other beaches are black sand because they are made from the breakdown of the volcanic rock that makes up the island.
More later
J

Brief stop in the city.

We're in Moka! It is wonderful.
25 September 25, 2008

We have been in Moka for two days and one night. Moka is gorgeous. What a contrast from the city! Last night was clear and we saw the milky way and many unfamiliar constellations. I brought my star book with me, but left it in the city. Next time, I’ll bring it.
The students have started learning how to do their surveys. Last night I went with the group studying chameleons. We found one on our way back to the wildlife center. TS, FF and MW measured, marked and photographed the chameleon under the direction of TB. Similarly, tonight HR and I went with the group studying galagos. We returned early to the wildlife center to finish some work but on the way back we saw a galago for one and a half to two seconds. It was jumping along the ground in some elephant grass under a Trema. I have not gone with any of the daytime survey groups yet.
TS and I went for a run up the hill from the center to the cell tower. It’s about a three km round trip but it’s all hill. I’ll see if I can find the elevation change before I post this. I don’t know how long it took, but it was a nice run, not too fast. We may have internet here in Moka this weekend.
We brought our USB internet key but it doesn’t work up here for some reason. It can’t connect to the remote computer. When people can not use the key with their computer in the city (where it works on some computers) the error message the computer returns is that the device is not connected when clearly, it is. There is no signal strength up here for the USB key. I was under the impression that it operated on the same network as cell phones but, clearly something is different. We get great cell reception up here. Since the generator runs mostly during the night time surveys, I have not yet charged my cell phone. We take our phones everywhere so if there is a problem we can call someone. Luckily since I have not had to use my cell up here much, it hasn’t needed to be charged.
Our group clicked pretty quickly. We’ve had some stress trying to welcome the UNGE students into our group. It is happening, but slowly, as you can tell by my language. I am speaking a lot more Spanish up here, which is good for me. As we ate dinner the night before we left the city, TS suggested we all say a high point and a low point about the day. We have continued this here in Moka, with the addition of saying our highs and lows in English and Spanish. It reminds me of pow-wow at EYA. It is a good way to include everyone and it shows us all that we all have a difficult time speaking in which ever language is not our native tounge. The bonus of seeing each other struggle publicly with unfamiliar language has been that during the day we are all more willing to take the risk of appearing foolish or saying something wrong in the language we are trying to learn. It is becoming easier to switch languages during a conversation and it is very comfortable to ask how to say words.
There is so much greenery here. I am starting to learn the names of some of the plants. Some that I was familiar with like datura, ficus and morning glory are easier to remember. Also elephant grass, because it is the only thing that looks like it. I haven’t seen any monkeys yet but I will go with the monkey survey group soon. They saw one troop today and did seven hours of surveying.
I am much more relaxed here than in the city. Also the people who live here seem more relaxed than those who live in the city. It doesn’t matter here if I smile at strangers in stores or on the street. People stare but so do I. I am as curious about the people I see on the street as they are about me. I was prepared for women carrying huge loads or baskets on their heads but today I saw a woman carrying a single can of condensed milk on her head and her toddler on her hip. Although a can of condensed milk is not hard to carry in one hand, this freed her non-toddler-ed hand for things like opening doors.

1 October, 2008
Wow, time flies! We have no internet access in Moka, but maybe this Sunday we will. I have loads of pictures which I will upload after posting this text.

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.