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

mardi, février 13, 2007

Program Suspension

It is with much regret that I have to write about the suspension of the Peace Corps Guinea program. Due to the political unrest and violence that has begun in Guinea, the program has been suspended for a minimum of three months. Currently, Conakry is under martial law with a curfew allowing people into the city for only four hours a day. (The BBC/Africa website is following the events in Guinea)

The last month and a half has been a confusing time of speculation, worry and hope. Through this period, I have not posted much as my thoughts have primarily been focused on hope that the people of my village and throughout Guinea exit this struggle safely and with optimism for the future.

The majority of PC Guinea volunteers are still near Bamako, Guinea. Over the next week or so we will process out of PC Guinea. I plan to begin a Western Africa tour so I will soon begin posting travel stories and photos. Please check in every once in a while as I do not know how often I will have internet access during my travels. Thanks again for all of your support during my short but amazing Peace Corps experience.

posted by Frank @ 9:58 PM