Days 20-23 in Africa

It's very difficult to face the fact that only one week from now I'll be boarding a plane and leaving this beautiful spot and heading home. How I've changed! I can't imagine life without morning bonjours and ca vas from everyone we greet. Our kind fruit man and veggie vendor, the children playing soccer, and the women balancing laundry in their heads and a baby on their backs--I will miss them terribly.

The weather has been absolutely perfect the past few days. After mass and a celebration of the fete of pentacost at the local Catholic cathedral, we headed out to the beach for a little R n' R. We were provided with lounge chairs and seaside drink and food service. It was a wonderful little break from our usual hustle and bustle.

The usual hustle and bustle:
5 interviews over the past 2.5 days all recorded on 3 different forms of digital media--film, stills, and audio. Equipment carried primarily by yours truly over the dusty pedestrian un-friendly "sidewalks." Completely worth the shoulder ache! The women and bijoutiers we met with were wonderful, and extremely knowledgeable. The info. we gathered will be invaluable to the exhibition.

Hosted dinner for the young people who have helped us and who I've become rather close to after this trip. It's amazing what a couple of women can produce on a stove you have to light each time you use it, and a propane tank literally 6 inches from the oven! It's been wonderful to employ the "always at hand is the thing needed most" momwah adage so often here. It's true too--we really have everything we need and then some in this fabulous residence hotel.

Poured over research material and photos at the National Archives for more support for the catalog Dr. Johnson is producing for the exhibit.

Photo shoot with models we paid at a local boubou couturier's atalier.

Time is whipping by, and Dr. Johnson's worried she won't be able to complete all of the research she's hoping to get done.