Blogs from Zinder, Niger, Africa
November 29th 2007
Hello Folks, Happy Canadian Thanksgiving! (Was in Niger then) and Happy American Thanksgiving (was in South Africa then) I went to Niger for work in Oct and was able to get out to Zinder for the first time since leaving the Peace Corps in 1999. I've had a hard time getting motivated to write this blog; no idea why - just a bit overwhelmed with everything else I suppose. I just got back from South Africa and am in the middle of writing a ton of proposals and abstracts for upcoming conferences. So, since many of you really just want to see Dengui and family, I decided to post the photos and wait and see if the inspiration for text hits me! It was a whirlwind trip. You would not believe the road! It is so ... read more
August 21st 2006
The ceiling was black; or was it white? Or did it actually change colour depending on the time of the day? That was all that I could grasp as I lay in bed with Miss Malaria, munching medicines. In the hallway outside my room - high-heeled prostitutes “clicketi-clacketed” back and forth with their new and old customers - and outside our questionable hotel - unenthusiastic independence-day celebrations took place. Slowly my strength returned and I ventured out into the flooded streets of Niamey - the city of flies - the capital of Niger. Always poor, dirty and hot, and at most times it’s also very dusty. Now - thanks to the heavy rains - with all its dust fixed into pools of brown sluggish liquid - we waded through the city. At times the pools were ... read more
