Always in the deep woods when you leave familiar ground and step off alone into a new place there will be, along with the feelings of curiosity and excitement, a little nagging of dread. It is an ancient fear of the unknown and is your first bond with the wilderness you are going into. What you are doing is exploring. -- Wendell Berry

The TRIP: GUINEA - wonkifong --> MALI - bamako, djenne, douentza, Dogon Country --> Burkina Faso - ouagadougou, bobo-dioulasso, bala, ouagadougou --> GHANA - tamale, mole national park, tamale, yeji, volta lake ferry, akosombo, accra, green turtle lodge, elmina, cape coast, accra, hohoe and wli falls --> TOGO - kpalime, atakpame, lome --> BENIN - cotonu (transport stop) --> NIGER - niamey, tahoua, agadez, camel trek in aiir mtns, niamey --> BENIN (abomey, grand popo, ouidah, ganvie, cotonou) --> CAMEROON (douala, buea, top of Mt Cameroon, limbe, sangelima, yaounde, kribi, douala) --> MAURITANIA (nouakchott, atar, chinguetti, camels into the sahara, terjit, choume, ride the coal train, nouadhibou) --> MOROCCO (western sahara, dakhla, agadir, essaouira, marrakesh, imlil, summit of jebel toubkal, fes, chefchaouen) --> cross the Strait of Gibraltar --> Malaga, Spain --> fly to Geneva, Switzerland --> Les Grangettes, France
Click for a map. Updated April 30, 2007

dimanche, juin 10, 2007

Nearing the End

It's hard for me to believe that the crazy year I began last July is almost coming to an end. Through learning how to live in a new culture, trying to learn a different language, teaching math in French to classes of over 85 Guinean students, being evacuated from my site in Wonkifong, and traveling through Mali, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Togo, Benin, Niger, Cameroon, Mauritania, and Morocco, I am almost at the end of this adventure. Ahead, I have a few weeks visiting my parents in France before returning home to Portland. Once in Portland I am not sure what the next step will be.

Overall this year has been a fantastic one of experiences and adventures and I thank all of you who have supported me with your love, enthusiasm and ideas over what became a roller coaster of a ride.

posted by Frank @ 4:25 AM