tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-206982862011-06-07T23:08:04.787-06:00This web log has been established to share pictures and information as Lisa departs for Guinea, Africa on a Peace Corps Assignment, January, 2006.Nancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00149576625187514447noreply@blogger.comBlogger421100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20698286.post-58649629588150572882008-08-14T12:10:00.003-06:002008-08-14T12:15:57.708-06:00

Lisa has just returned to Dinguiraye after attending a very successful Girls Conference with a young girl that she had the privilege of sponsoring for this event. Here is a photo of the attendees. The Girls Conference is sponsored each year by Friends of Guinea. Training, education, and information is shared with the girls, usually ages 13-20, on topics that help to empower them to take

Nancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00149576625187514447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20698286.post-64281294072923594872007-11-23T16:56:00.000-07:002007-11-23T17:15:20.829-07:00

Hope you had a great Thanksgiving, ours was great! (That's Monica, my nearest neighbor in Lansanaya, holding the plate of food.) I successfully ate myself into a food coma yesterday evening. Who says you can't do Thanksgiving in a third world country. Our director Steve had 4 turkeys, 2 pigs and our Doctor brought the most georgeous giant deep sea fish I've ever seen in my life. The volunteers

Nancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00149576625187514447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20698286.post-6570450801711731372007-09-03T19:31:00.001-06:002007-09-03T19:43:18.506-06:00

Recently, we received this email from Lisa:"Greetings from Kankan, Today I've officially been in Guinea for one month again, but it feels more like a week. I'm doing well, I'm healthy and all my friends and especially Cherif & his family were really happy to see me back again. I thought it'd be a readjustment to go from the hectic Bamako life with traffic pouring down every street and multi-level

Nancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00149576625187514447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20698286.post-42277415920367403632007-07-31T15:41:00.000-06:002007-07-31T15:42:48.620-06:00

-by Lisa WhiteI never expected to serve in two different countries before my original two year contract with Peace Corps was up. I never imagined two experiences in bordering West African countries could be so completely different. I never dreamed I would be fated to write (what is sure to become the most celebrated and acclaimed) food critique on American food in Mali.As you probably know by now

Nancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00149576625187514447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20698286.post-89503169190867291302007-04-13T12:12:00.000-06:002007-04-13T12:21:16.615-06:00

Hot season, still in Bamako, Mali. Today it's 106 degrees, and we're just beginning hot season. The extreme dry heat continues just until the rainy season starts and kills off the heat which usually happens sometime around the end of May, but some optimistic Maliens have sworn that sometimes it starts as early as mid-April.So, last I left off I was still writing regular emails from the Peace

Nancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00149576625187514447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20698286.post-37301153365503087592007-03-17T21:36:00.000-06:002007-03-17T21:38:36.955-06:00

If anyone is interested - I put together a short video using some of Lisa's picutures from two of the schools she was working with in Guinea. The first pictures were from a preschool that she was hoping to find funding for --you will see that they attend classes in a very run-down, dilapitated building. The final set of images are from the school that Lisa arranged a Peace Pals exchange with a

Nancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00149576625187514447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20698286.post-26618573578093065622007-03-03T10:36:00.000-07:002007-03-03T10:38:51.678-07:00

Here is the latest bit of news from Lisa:"I got the job doing business consulting in Bamako, including marketing advising for artisan groups, so I'm super excited. I start language training and orientation tomorrow afternoon, it'll be nice to actually be doing something instead of saying good bye constantly."I'm sure she will appreciate hearing from you! Her address for the remainder of these 3

Nancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00149576625187514447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20698286.post-78777062188652183012007-02-21T20:30:00.000-07:002007-02-21T20:34:32.559-07:00

More news to come soon...Lisa has been in regular contact with us these last few weeks. She has decided to accept a temporary 3 month assignment in Mali in the hopes of returning to Guinea aftwards. She will find out this week what project she will be assigned to work on. This has been a heart-wrenching decision. All but about ten of the Peace Corps volunteers are departing this week, some

Nancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00149576625187514447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20698286.post-1171128036613659092007-02-10T10:19:00.000-07:002007-02-10T10:20:36.616-07:00

Today there were “manifestations” in Dinguiraye. All throughout the last strike, the Prefet had managed to keep the town calm by asking the religious leaders, the imams, to ask the populations at the mosque not to riot or violently protest, or even to go out. As some of you may have followed on the news (if you’re seeking it out, otherwise, I’m not sure how much attention Guinea’s getting yet)

Nancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00149576625187514447noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20698286.post-1170549549592459472007-02-03T17:31:00.000-07:002007-02-03T17:39:09.593-07:00

Lisa is still in Mali -and had an opportunity to attend a cultural festival this weekend - The Festival on the Niger: Things seem to be settling down in Guinea, though a new prime minister has still not been named. Click here for the latest news article - I've found Google News to be a good source of information since the local papers in Colorado don't seem to have any interest in these affairs.

Nancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00149576625187514447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20698286.post-1169913419063588702007-01-27T08:56:00.000-07:002007-01-27T08:56:59.076-07:00

“In Service Training”, that’s what they’re calling our evacuation to Mali, anyway, since everyone is expecting that we’ll return to Guinea, as what we hope to be the worst of the strikes are over. So it’s been a while since my last blog, I’m writing this from the computer center at the PC training center in Bamako, Mali.Last I wrote I was getting exited for my trip home to the states, to see the

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10434657989570994742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20698286.post-1169784289626373542007-01-25T21:00:00.000-07:002007-01-25T21:04:49.636-07:00

According to an article from the Associated Press, Peace Corps has begun to evacuate volunteers from Guinea. We spoke briefly with Lisa and she confirmed that she would be evacuated sometime this weekend. The primary reason is because with the market closed, there is no way to get food. Amy, a friend of Lisa's who is living in Siguiri, is already evacuated and relays an emotional account of

Nancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00149576625187514447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20698286.post-1169581285128555882007-01-23T12:37:00.000-07:002007-01-23T12:49:24.603-07:00

Just a note to let everyone know that we've heard from Lisa and she is doing fine. Other than the market being closed down as of yesterday, there are no signs of the strike impacting her in the town of Dinguiraye. We will keep you posted. For news of the strike, the best source (with links to other news sources) is the FOG Blog.

Nancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00149576625187514447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20698286.post-1168055913539770022007-01-05T20:57:00.000-07:002007-01-05T21:01:48.133-07:00

Nancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00149576625187514447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20698286.post-1164399775009129632006-11-24T13:21:00.000-07:002006-11-24T13:22:55.023-07:00

Hey everybody, apologies for the let down on the written mail the last few weeks, as the time to go home approaches, I’m saving my stories for in person, also I’ve been pretty busy the last few weeks. In a short news recap, for those of you too busy to read the whole blog, unfortunately, I lost my new site mate, Life Skills was a great time, and the Solar Cooker Conference was a big success. Keep

Nancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00149576625187514447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20698286.post-1162315487331713492006-10-31T10:24:00.000-07:002006-10-31T10:24:47.346-07:00

So, I didn’t think I’d get another chance at the internet until after next week when I go to Mamou for life skills, which is the specialized training for HIV/AIDS at the 9 month mark- I know right, have I really been here for 9months already? Anyway, had a good birthday yesterday in Kankan, everybody was still in town from after our Halloween party which was also rockin (I was rainbow brite) and

Nancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00149576625187514447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20698286.post-1162218251334739092006-10-30T07:21:00.000-07:002006-10-30T07:24:11.346-07:00

okay- i just wrote this awesome blog, right as i was 3 sentences from the dramatic conclusion, the power shut off and i lost everything. seeing as how it's my birthday, i refuse to spend another frustrated minute in this hot internet "cafe". so, to my loyal fanbase, please wait until next time i have internet access, which will actually probably be sometime next week when i go to mamou for the

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10434657989570994742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20698286.post-1158795090732877612006-09-20T16:37:00.000-06:002006-09-20T17:31:30.856-06:00

Okay, it's near 11pm my time here, i'm a little tired but will try to catch you up on the highlights of this last month. Well, if it wasn't obvious before that it was rainy season, the rainiest month of the year (September) is making it loud and clear. The 80km dirt road to Dinguiraye has been part submerged, and I made my record longest trip EVER Dinguiraye Dabola, the 100km took 10 hours.

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10434657989570994742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20698286.post-1155505220612893082006-08-13T15:31:00.000-06:002006-08-13T15:40:20.626-06:00

Well, I left off with something about wanting to share stories about diseases I've gotten so far in Guinea, such as amoebas, giardia, but after careful deliberation, I've decided that there are few differences between these two diseases and that probably no one cares to read about my exciting bowel movements. So, you'll forgive the absence of those anecdotes. I will, however, continue to keep a

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10434657989570994742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20698286.post-1153163891315818862006-07-17T13:03:00.000-06:002006-07-17T13:18:11.336-06:00

Hey everyone, hope summer is treating you well, taking some time for vacations and whatnot. I'm writing from Mamou again, we finally hit the half a year anniversary of our stage being in Guinea, and here my stage mates are again in Mamou at the compound INITEF with the dorm like atmosphere for our In Service Training. Now that we've completed 3 months of stage, and now another 3 months at site,

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10434657989570994742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20698286.post-1151778013781112172006-07-01T12:20:00.000-06:002006-07-01T12:20:13.793-06:00

Lisa's told us about traveling in Guinea --here is another PCV who posted a short video clip of a PCV trip to the beach!Devan's Latest Adventures: Beach Trip#links

Nancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00149576625187514447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20698286.post-1151097493028722542006-06-23T14:57:00.000-06:002006-06-30T20:05:03.766-06:00

Guess what! The big computer lab in Kankan is back up and running! (hooray) So I think I left off last blog with soy and peanut crops.. So, In two of my surrounding villages on the mountains, Dougowulin and Topsirla (I'm sure I spelled those wrong) I have been making the long hikes up to talk with the village chief and feminine farmers co-ops, and they came to the decisions to start a crop for

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10434657989570994742noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20698286.post-1150927137675628182006-06-21T15:41:00.000-06:002006-06-21T15:58:57.686-06:00

I´d like to start by saying hi to everybody at Copper Mountain! (my Mom tipped me off my blog would be on display) Hope you´re enjoying the conference, and that it´s not as hot there as it is here. Mais c´est la vie en Guinee.Hey everybody, sorry it´s been a good while, as you all probably know by now there is no internet connection in Dinguiraye, trips to Kankan are limited to once a month, and

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10434657989570994742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20698286.post-1149434919367322082006-06-04T09:12:00.000-06:002006-06-05T22:59:39.096-06:00

Hello all - just received a letter from Lisa - in which she describes in great detail a Fish Festival she recently attended in Haute:"I attended a traditional fish party in Baro - an hour outside of Kankan. Thre are 5 or 6 huge fish fetes, villages where the dry season has left a sizeable lake/pond from where the river usually flows through during rainy season - no one fishes these special lakes

Nancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00149576625187514447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20698286.post-1149192224014423362006-06-01T13:56:00.000-06:002006-06-02T07:17:09.450-06:00

Just wanted to let everybody know that my parents received a letter from Lisa at their house in Virginia yesterday addressed to me. Don't know what she said in the letter yet, but my Dad said the letter was stamped May 24 and written on the back was:"I feel like such a bad ass signing from West Africa on my envelopes."I guess we can infer that she is doing well. I'll be at my house tomorrow and

Erichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17112534204533200227noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20698286.post-1146792473764176702006-05-04T19:25:00.000-06:002006-05-04T19:28:56.373-06:00

Just a note to let everyone know that Lisa is doing well - she is in Kankan this weekend with other PCVs from the region. We received an e-mail today. She is without access to phones and internet in Dinguraiye which explains the long period of time without contact. She's enjoying her assignment - making friends and apparently involved in some interesting projects. I'll post more information as it

Nancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00149576625187514447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20698286.post-1146331523213519332006-04-29T11:20:00.000-06:002006-04-29T11:26:34.580-06:00

No word from Lisa since she departed for Dinguriaye - but Amy has posted some new messages since she arrived at her new site in Haute. She also shared some pictures including this one of the PCV group at the ceremony. (Click on photo to enlarge) If you've heard from Lisa - let us know! -Nancy

Nancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00149576625187514447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20698286.post-1143779414021325372006-03-30T21:27:00.000-07:002006-03-30T22:01:08.400-07:00

Just tracked down a couple of pics of Lisa in Guinea, posted by her friend and fellow PCV, Fai. Thanks, Fai - for sharing these pictures! Here is a picture of Lisa & Fai. Also, I believe this is a picture of the mural Lisa talks about designing and working on. Wow! Scroll down for Lisa's latest posting and more information on these pictures!

Nancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00149576625187514447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20698286.post-1143769022252928612006-03-30T18:08:00.000-07:002006-03-31T14:15:01.223-07:00

So, the last two weeks in Forecariah were so busy they were a blur! I owe everybody at least 2 letters, sorry I've fallen behind. Here's what I've been doing: attending local language classes (Pular for me), technical sessions, and medical sessions (i'm such a pin cushion now, I'm no longer afraid of needles) from 8am-5pm m-f, two weekends before the last weekend went on a 8Km hike up a mountain

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10434657989570994742noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20698286.post-1141875176065154762006-03-08T20:29:00.000-07:002006-03-08T20:32:56.086-07:00

Good News - According to this news story, the strike has been settled peacefully in Guinea. Here is the news story: GUINEA: Trade unions claim strike victory as government promises higher wagesChris heard from Lisa on Thursday and she is fine. We look forward to more news from Lisa soon!

Nancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00149576625187514447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20698286.post-1141233829636712772006-03-01T10:22:00.000-07:002006-03-01T21:44:32.440-07:00

I just received this information from the Guinea list serv about a strike in Conakry. Hopefully, this won't have any impact on Lisa since she is currently away from the capitol city. Check out this Reuter's news story:Capital slows to standstill on first day of general strike

Nancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00149576625187514447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20698286.post-1140822201698203472006-02-24T15:33:00.000-07:002006-03-21T13:49:45.396-07:00

Hey everyone, thanks for reading these- here's the latestet update: So my official site is Dinguiraye, in Haute Guinea, and I'll be moving there during the first week of April. Basically, there are four regions of Guinea, the Bas Cote which is where Forecariah and Conakry is, they speak mostly SuSu there and it's soooo humid. As you move East across Guinea, you come to the Foute, the mountain

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10434657989570994742noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20698286.post-1140371460527667452006-02-19T10:46:00.000-07:002006-02-19T11:18:22.100-07:00

We received an early morning call from Lisa on Friday! All is well. Check out the new link to view pictures and information posted by a former PCV in Dinguraye - Lisa's assignment. Here is some more news from a recent e-mail:"Sorry this will be short, the electricity is about to go out. I'm in Mamou for 2 days so hopefully I'll get another chance at this. Just wanted to let you know I'm safe and

Nancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00149576625187514447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20698286.post-1139067777773824452006-02-04T08:40:00.000-07:002006-02-04T08:42:57.783-07:00

Fellow PCV Volunteer Yaymee has shared another picture of Lisa --looks like she is maintaining a good sense of humor!

Nancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00149576625187514447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20698286.post-1138510834639918122006-01-28T21:56:00.000-07:002006-01-28T22:00:34.640-07:00

WOW! Check out Lisa's long new post below! Just found a blog of a fellow PCV - and she has a group picture with Lisa! Check out her blog from the link on the right.

Nancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00149576625187514447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20698286.post-1138457760859495122006-01-28T06:50:00.000-07:002006-01-28T07:16:00.890-07:00

okay, i'm not in Forecariah at the moment because they don't have internet, i'm actually visiting Conakry for the day and i'm sitting at the PCV compound upstairs, which is so strange. it's strange in general to be back here after only a few days with no running water and very spotted electricity- the compound that seemed milataristic and intimidating on my first day now seems HUGE and luxurious.

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10434657989570994742noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20698286.post-1138079174009539642006-01-23T21:55:00.000-07:002006-01-23T22:06:14.020-07:00

Lisa - We are thinking about you constantly - hope all is well. We went skiing at Keystone this weekend and wanted share a couple of snapshots with you.

Nancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00149576625187514447noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20698286.post-1137506322672063602006-01-17T06:27:00.000-07:002006-01-17T06:58:42.690-07:00

so we are all at the training site in momau in the mountains of guinea, it gets about 80 degrees during the day which is as cool as we will be here. after the longest flights ever we arrived in the evening in Conakry and were hit by humidity and the fresh an indescribable african smell, the airport was only one long tar strip and an old nearly roofless building with a wooden sign. we heard this

Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10434657989570994742noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20698286.post-1137433893420593452006-01-16T10:40:00.000-07:002006-01-16T11:14:24.206-07:00

(Click on photo to enlarge)Dear Family and Friends of Peace Corps Guinea's newest training class:Greetings. My name is Steve Peterson, and I am the Country Director for Peace Corps Guinea. All 37 trainees, who comprise what we call our 'G11' training class, have arrived (with all their baggage!) and are doing fine. Presently, they are in a 4-day orientation at a site 4 hours drive from Conakry.

Nancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00149576625187514447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20698286.post-1137342791697613952006-01-15T09:32:00.000-07:002006-01-15T09:33:11.703-07:00

Hello Mom, Dad, Loved Loved Loved Ones,Others are waiting to use the computer, just wanted to write that I arrived in Guinea safely, we're staying at the Peace Corps hq in Conakry and leave for an orientation site in the mountains tomorrow for 4 days, I think we will have internet access there too. I'm so exhausted, and this place is nothing I could have ever imagined. I can't believe I'm In

Nancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00149576625187514447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20698286.post-1136950335366409082006-01-10T19:51:00.000-07:002006-01-16T11:15:52.613-07:00

(In picture left to right: Jake, Tara, Lisa, Nick & Chris) This morning a small group assembled to see Lisa off on the first leg of her journey. We left for the airport in plenty of time to allow for parking lot construction, baggage check-in and security screenings. You'll be impressed to know that Lisa did indeed fit all of her items into the two bags plus a backpack carry-on! The official

Nancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00149576625187514447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20698286.post-1136749016937356832006-01-08T12:19:00.000-07:002006-01-10T20:36:25.053-07:00

Lisa has been busy collecting items as she prepares for the adventure of a lifetime. She is about to depart on a 2 year assignment to Guinea, Africa for the Peace Corps. Her assignment: to provide help and support for small business development.With a weight limit of 80 pounds, the task has been challenging for both mother and daughter. Christmas gifts looked quite different this year - journals,

Nancyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00149576625187514447noreply@blogger.com3