Saturday, November 14, 2009

Part deux (2)

Monday evening: Saw Leanne for the first time since March 23 when we said our goodbyes at the RDU airport. Some young fellow that I thought was with Leanne’s group of about 10 there at the airport came up and started to give me a hard time. I poked him in the tummy playfully and as it turns out he and Leanne did know each other, but he was a Marine guard at the US Embassy. Not the right guy to poke in the stomach!! Met Tim and Meredith Brokopp, the folks in charge of the mission’s office in Libreville where I was going to be staying. Really nice young couple. Afterwards I am still amazed at the efforts that these two put in each day, especially Meredith, who was putting together meals for 6 people everyday and making Leanne’s goodies for her birthday and later feeding the 10 people that were there after our trip out and back to the Bongolo Hospital!! And then in the summer months feeding up to 40 people!!
Also met Anna, a college student who is in Libreville for a semester, and Josh who is planning on staying at least a year.
Flew to Gabon on commercial airlines, Air Canada and Lufthansa, both serve free drinks which include beer and wine. Military space-a did not work out at all. I tried sitting in the Charleston AFB airport for a few hours on the Tuesday before I really left, but the flight was not carrying any passangers, as we were told after 4 hours of waiting. Space-A is good if you have time to sit around in airports not doing anything. As one gets older time becomes much more precious, so I don’t like the idea of sitting...not that I ever did!
Tuesday: Breakfast as with all meals had French bread. That and manioc were the staples of the country, at least it seemed that way today!

Watched and participated in Leanne's English class to 6 Gabonese women. Leanne is teaching by showing objects, not with textbook per se, but with text and everyday objects that one would be encountered.
Her French seems to be pretty good. During the course it was pouring rain for about 4 hours at about 2 inches per hour. The house has tin roofs on the front and back porch so it is REALLY noisy!!! I’m sure her voice went up a few decibels.

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