Beautiful Days

Over the weekend the heat subdued and now the days are beautiful with temperatures in the 70's and 80's with a cool ocean breeze. I understand now why everyone leaves during the hot season, because the cool season is very pleasant. Not really any exciting news to share today but am happy to be in West Africa and thankful for God's amazing love in my life. The pics are from this past weekend along the coast near my house.

Riots

Yesterday the buses stopped, the downtown stores closed and the vendors protested against the actions of the government to stop their informal market. In the late afternoon, as I rode through the streets of downtown, I saw the remains of the riots --- the piles of ashes from the burning of tires and the trucks of the gendarmerie standing guard on the corners. Today again the manifestation continued, the people restless with the lack of opportunity to survive as the cost of living continues to augment. The government announced today the reopening of certain street areas to appease the rioters.

Sudden Changes

Part of what makes an African city, Africa, is all of the street vendors selling you everything from perfume to shoes to kleenexes. These income generating activities are not registered with the government but make up a large percentage of the income in West Africa. Wednesday night the President abruptly stopped these informal livelihoods and sent the police and army to clear the streets of the capital. No longer can the women in my neighborhood camp out and beg on the street and no longer can my friend sell bags of juice and yogurt outside the gate of the high-school. Why did this happen? I am not sure there is a good answer to explain ridding citizens of their hope to scrap by in life.

chicken feet, second wife...

You realize you are an American when it's bizare to...

buy a chicken and find two feet (nails included) carefully tucked inside

or

eat lunch at your neighbor's house and have the husband kindly tell you in front of his wife that he would be happy to take you as his second wife. He explains that it's not good for you to be single at 23 and that you should already be having kids. (Don't worry I'm holding out...)