In Malabo

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It's New Years Day in Malabo. I am loving every minute of this Island. I arrived on Sunday night and was greeted at the aeropuerto by the house director, and we drove to the house in the middle of the city. When I say city, it's more like a large village with cars and slums. The people of Malabo are amazing. The language spoken here is spanish. I have already made some equatoguinean friends who are helping me learn more spanish, in exchange I am helping them learn more english.

The Island is very hot and humid. But I love it anyway. It is a huge change from Gunnison, that's for sure. Right now this feels more like a vacation than school. We have been just hanging out in Malabo and enjoying the amazing climate and culture. Yesterday we walked down to the Centro Mercado(Central Market) where hundreds of street vendors sell very random things. Us white people certainly attract a lot of attention. Most of which is very positive. People always want to shake our hands and show us all of the items they have in their shops. I think that most of it is found or stolen(Hubcaps, Cellphones, Belts, etc.) but that's okay.

Last night for New Year's Eve all of us student went to a Barbacoa(barbeque) and had a great time. The nights have been long. We have been staying out at Discotecas and Cantinas til the wee hours of the morning. The Discotecas(dance clubs) are extremely fun. The only problem is you have to pat down your pockets to make sure your stuff is still in there. The second discoteca we went to last night was really packed and there was a line out the door. The bouncers saw us white people and pulled us to the front of the line, to the dismay of many locals. I was been tempted to bring some of the locals in with me and they would not let go of my arm. In all of this madness some little kid slipped his hand into my pocket and stole my cell phone that was issued to me by the program. I couldn't do anything about it. It's gone for good. My only prayer of getting it back is to buy it back from a street vendor. Not likely.

We are leaving for our expedition across the Caldera on Friday. I am very excited. I just haven't gotten my luggage yet. It was lost in transit and I am going to pick it up tonight from the aeropuerto, hopefully... I have been wearing the same clothing that I put on last Thursday morning in Denver when I left. It's getting a little saturated.

That's all for now. I will post once more before I leave for the expedition. After that I will be way out of contact for a few weeks.
-Joe.
ps. Will put more photos up of the Island soon.

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Comments

[Kalli]

good luck
Loving your blog, makes me feel like I'm there. It sounds awesome!! Good luck on your expedition and take care of yourself. I hope your luggage gets there soon for everyone's sake!!:) Lots of Love from CA