MORE JOURNAL ENTRIES


 
Logo of the political party of the country's president

This woman was working on her plantation of bananas. When asked to take her photos, she left
and returned changed into her best. 

May 26th, 1981  Two years ago today, I graduated from UMASS. I'm  dreaming. I could use some mail right now. Gabon sucks! I'm ready to leave. That's how I feel today. My work is going slow and so is my motorcycle.  I believe I am having bad piston compression, so it is a pain to go anywhere with a very slow moto and after taking so long to get to a village, only to see no progress or the farmer isn't there. I have been working 4 hours a day recently. Worked on the motorcycle again this morning. I have had the house to myself for the last 4 days. It's nice.

July 14th, 1981  Poured another monk foundation and made cement pipes. Carried woven baskets of mixed cement on top of my head while walking barefoot in a cool stream to the site where we were pouring the foundation. Sometimes, I can't believe where I am, what I am doing, and how I am doing it. It freaks me out, will I ever do something like this again? Mom and dad, if you could see me now.   My farmer tells me that when he hunts monkeys it is a dangerous outting.They live in groups and have killed some of his dogs while hunting. They can snap a dog in half, according to the villager and are meaner when wounded.  Once he ran out of shotgun shells and he had to fight off  his fellow primates with the butt of his gun. Sounds like he needs to stick with fish culture, healthier for man and his best friend.

August 9th, 1981 It's that season again-"retraite de deuil"(end of mourning). A weekend or week of celebrating the spirit of those that have died in the past year. They are dancing their bodies into the ground. The hypnotic drum beats are just about everywhere I travel. Villagers shaking their bodies as if they are in a trance. Where do they get their energy to do this so long? I'm in love and spellbound by their movements. The drummers are mesmerizing with the rapidity of their hands and the stimulating beat. The villagers love it when I dance with them. A white man that appreciates and enjoys their music and dance, puts a smile on their face and mine. They ask me, how did I learn to dance? I've been watching you, that's how. A woman saw me wrap up some food with a leaf and a cord. She ask, "how does a white man know how to do that with his hands?" I have learned from you, my friend.

October 12th, 1981  Life in the big city of Oyem, go to a bar and get a cold beer. Merideth McGregor,  another PCV, and I went next door to the photo studio and got our picutre taken. The name of the place was Safari Ambiance run by Disco Martino