Still Traveling: Travel Adventures Around The World

Oh, Malila...

2011-01-28T06:05:00.000-07:00

After my marathon trip to get from Colorado to Bamako, I didn’t really leave my hotel room until it was time for lunch. Wandering down the street to The Relax, I sat down at a table in their outdoor patio. Moments after sitting down, I glanced up to see two old friends walking in. Casey and Steven had lived in Segou for about 6 months(?) until December 2007 before moving

So... I’m here. Again. In Mali. Yep, I came back and what a long trip it’s been to get here.

2011-01-25T09:57:00.000-07:00

After multiple changes, I was finally scheduled to leave on Sunday, the 9th of January. Not finished packing as of the morning of my 4:30pm flight, I was scurrying around my house finishing up when I got the call from United at 1:45pm finally canceling my flight. It had been dumping snow all day and, knowing my flight was bound to be cancelled, all I could think about was being out on the

Your assignment

2010-12-24T16:01:00.000-07:00

Anything you do from the soulful self will helplighten the burdens of the world. Anything.You have no idea what the smallest word,the tiniest generosity can cause to be set in motion.Be outrageous in forgiving.Be dramatic in reconciling. Mistakes?Back up and make them as right as you can, then move on.Be off the charts in kindness.In whatever you are called to,strive to be

Facebook fanpage for yurihorowitz.com

2010-09-17T18:25:00.001-06:00

Don't forget to become a fan on my Facebook page for Yuri Horowitz Photography - my FB fan page is here: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Yuri-Horowitz-Photography/141055895911425.Leave your comments/suggestions there too!

Launching Yuri Horowitz Photography's offical website!

2010-09-17T09:12:00.000-06:00

It has been a long road to get here but I'm finally ready to launch my photography website! While I'm sure I'll be polishing it up as time goes on, the site is ready. Please, take a moment to visit Yuri Horowitz Photography at www.yurihorowitz.com. I'd love to get some feedback too, so please send me your comments and suggestions if you have any!

Panama Photos

2010-07-15T17:03:00.001-06:00

Here is a sampling of my photos from my time in Panama, 2009. (Best when viewed full-screen: click on the bottom right icon)

CouchSurfing - what it's all about plus when to and when not to

2010-06-05T14:04:00.002-06:00

In response to an article titled: “Are couchsurfing networks legitimate local travel?” (from the website Local Travel Movement) discussing the merits of CouchSurfing (CS) and how it fits into the industry. The debate was started by a few comments with negative opinions about CS and I would venture to guess that the comments in the original article against Couchsurfing are from people who have no

Dambé - The Mali Project documentary

2010-03-05T19:28:00.000-07:00

When you find some time, I highly recommend watching this documentary, Dambé - The Mali Project, about two traditional Irish musicians who travel to Mali (where I spent my two and a half years in the Peace Corps). It has some great footage depicting typical Malian life/scenes (albeit sometimes inaccurately - but that's a minor detail)... Most of the popular places are represented, many where I

Utah Photo Album

2009-10-31T18:29:00.002-06:00

Ok, so not exactly Central America but I've finally gotten around to uploading some photos from a road trip to Utah back in April of 2009. I'd edited the photos and created an album but for some reason never got around to uploading them to share. Pretty much all over Utah including Zion Canyon National Park, Bryce Canyon, Monument Valley, Valley of the Gods, Escalante, etc. Click here to

Leaving for Panama

2009-10-17T17:22:00.000-06:00

Well my 17 days in Costa Rica are coming to a close. Tonight, I board a bus to make the 15-18 hour journey down the Interamericana Highway to Panama City. I'm only online for a bit now but will say that Costa Rica has been a great time traveling around with Ramona. We started in Dominical for a few days on the Pacific Coast, down further south to Drake Bay and Corcovado on the Osa Peninsula

Don't know if I've ever hopped around this much - next destionation: Central America

2009-09-30T16:48:00.000-06:00

And the travels continue... I've neglected my blog for a while and to all you eagerly awaiting an update, I apologize. So much going on (both present, past and future) that I won't get into too much detail but here is the short version: I got back from traveling through Asia on my way home from Peace Corps in December. Went home to Colorado for the holidays (with a quick trip to FL to visit

Thailand and Cambodia photos!

2009-02-08T14:41:00.001-07:00

Still working on the photos. Almost done... I just finished going through my photos from Northern Thailand and Cambodia. Take a look at them on my picasa album!I should have Vietnam up by the end of this next week and then start typing up my stories... :-)Enjoy!

China photos!

2009-01-28T17:10:00.003-07:00

I'm gradually whittling away at my figurative stack of photos - I just finished uploading all the ones from China for your viewing pleasure...My picasa online albumEnjoy!

Photos from India!

2009-01-07T01:21:00.003-07:00

Sorry to have been MIA for so long. I've now been back home in Aspen for about two weeks and after the holidays been trying to go through the thousands of photos I took on my journey through Asia. I'm done editing India and have most of them online in my picasa online album. Go check them out and please leave comments!I also have a lot of stories I plan to type up and get on here. I wrote in

Quick update

2008-11-14T02:41:00.002-07:00

I'm just online for a few minutes but being as I've been neglecting my blog and have a few minutes before my hour is up at this internet cafe...A few things I find it hard to belive - I can't believe I haven't written since India! Wow. I left Mali almost 3 months ago??? Which means I've been traveling for as long... all equally unbelievable. Mali seems ages and worlds (in some ways is) away

Photos from Northern India

2008-10-05T05:16:00.000-06:00

Ladakh, India

Last days in India

2008-10-03T05:39:00.002-06:00

Let’s see – a lot has happened since I last wrote an entry – I’ve criss-crossed this country and then some. I’m writing this off-line so may repeat a few things as I can’t remember exactly where I left off. I had an amazing ride down the mountains from Leh in Northern India (this is back on September 16th) – both the scenery was amazing (amazingly beautiful) and the ride itself was amazing

It's snowing!

2008-09-15T00:18:00.005-06:00

Well first, I'll bring you up to where I am and how I got here...Writing from Leh, Ladakh, Northern India at almost 12,00o feet...The rest of my trip out of Africa and onto my first plane in over two years (a bit of a feat for me - in fact might be the longest stretch I've ever done in my life) went well. I left Kumasi the next day (after my last post) and travelled by bus down to Accra with one

I'm not in Delhi

2008-09-13T08:48:00.002-06:00

Just a quick post to let you all know I'm alright and was not in Delhi today. I'm up northern India in Leh in the Ladakh region and should be heading south in a day or two.I don't know many details, but there were a series of bombings around Delhi today. Click here to read an article.My trip is going well and will try and put up a full post about my travels before I head south.

Elephants!!!!

2008-09-03T07:16:00.002-06:00

I'm going to have to interject into my story about my trip last may and come back to that later.Right now, I'm in Kumasi Ghana after going to Mole National Park. I spent three days traveling from Bamako, Mali (oh by the way - I'm done with the Peace Corps... minor detail I'll come back to later). I made great time (if you would consider 3 days on African transport tolerable) and got in late the

Peace Corps to Pare Ranks of Volunteers

2008-08-25T09:06:00.002-06:00

Thought you might be interested in this Washington Post story about Peace Corps' financial woes. I might note that the annual Peace Corps budget is equivalent to what amounts to a rounding error in the calculation of the overall US federal budget...Despite Bush's Goal of Doubling Program's Size, Tight Budget Forces CutsBy: Christopher Lee Washington Post Washington, D.C.The Peace Corps, the

Pictures from our hike to Telimeli

2008-08-15T03:59:00.000-06:00

Walk from Doucki, Dongol-Touma to Telimeli

Hot Season Trip – Guinea (Part Deux)

2008-08-15T03:21:00.002-06:00

As things tend to, I keep saying I’ll come back and write the continuation of a story, post, etc. but I always get consumed and carried off by whatever and wherever life takes one here in Africa. I will stop apologizing – it’s just the way things are. Now let’s see if I can start where I left off: Getting off the beaten track of the touristy Fouta Djalon (beaten and touristy is actually a

A little note on Plastic Bags that we can all relate to...

2008-07-10T06:39:00.004-06:00

I can say from my experiences over here in Mali and through my travels everywhere - this is an issue that needs some attention. People often ask what they as an individual can do to reduce their impact on the environment: You don't have to wait for our municipalities, states, countries etc. to ban them - make a choice not to use them. Simple.Be the change you want to see in the World. By Joe BavierWed Apr 23, 1:07 PM ET Police in Congo have arrested 13 suspected sorcerers accused of using black magic to steal or shrink men's penises after a wave of panic and attempted lynchings triggered by the alleged witchcraft. Reports of so-called penis snatching are not uncommon in West Africa,

To Timbouctou and back… almost

2008-04-19T11:10:00.001-06:00

After lots of planning and changing of dates, my brother and parents left Bamako early the morning of January 8th heading up country. We made a quick pit stop in Segou to drop off some fantastic goodies they brought over – enough to fill an entire suitcase between them – before continuing Northeast towards Mopti. There, we met up with my good friend Hassimi who would be our guide over the next

Good to be a gangster

2008-04-19T10:40:00.002-06:00

A friend sent me this and I thought you all might enjoy...

Another point of view

2008-04-17T06:20:00.003-06:00

Here is a recent article from the Economist about one of their journalist's travels through Mali...Mali High livers Apr 17th 2008From Economist.comThe Dogon find safety in altitude Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday Thursday THE Dogon, a Malian tribe best known for their ritualistic wooden sculpture and the unusual architecture of their villages, live primarily in the Falaise de Bandigara

The New Year

2008-03-22T08:34:00.000-06:00

Finally, New Years capped what seemed to be a marathon of holidays starting with Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas – sure, they’re spread out over two months but they strung together like a never-ending procession of fêtes. While each one is individually fun and a great opportunity to catch up with distant volunteers, they also tend to be cumulatively draining with a sense of relief

Video from mass

2008-03-13T09:11:00.001-06:00

Sorry, couldn't get this to load on the last post...

Long overdue Christmas post

2008-03-13T09:04:00.002-06:00

For Christmas, another volunteer from the Segou region invited a bunch of us to her village – a small uniquely Christian village in a sea of Islam. She stayed there for Christmas last year and had a wonderful time so thought it’d be nice if 10 toubabs decided to show up.To get there however, Kathy and I decided we would take the opportunity to visit another volunteer along the way – Emily. We’

Photo album from Dogon trip #2

2008-03-13T07:22:00.000-06:00

Dogon Country - Chris's village

Dogon visit #2 last December... (I know it was a while ago...)

2008-03-10T09:33:00.002-06:00

Wow… so it has been over three months now since an update. Sorry about that – I feel like I am always saying something about how long it’s been when I write a post... Anyhow, here goes. Overall life has been good and in fact, now that I’m reflecting on the time since I last wrote, I’ve stakeholders in the area for a three day meeting to set individual, sector/organizational, and universal goals

Festival sur le Niger

2008-02-09T05:26:00.000-07:00

Please visit my photo gallery and watch the videos below from the Festival sur le Niger last weekend. I also just uploaded all my photos from my family's visit in January. I will hopefully get a chance to add some text to go with them soon... Enjoy!

Missed some photos?

2007-12-19T11:11:00.000-07:00

I've made all my photo albums public so you can check out some photos you may have missed. Just click on the link to the left "My photo albums" and select the album of your choice!

Diafarabe Cattle Crossing

2007-12-19T10:35:00.000-07:00

Finally! I'm posting an entry!Sorry for being MIA for the last while - not too much been going on here/I just haven't gotten around to writing anything. Regardless, I recently went up to Diafarabe (about a 4 hour drive north of Segou on some back roads) where there is a huge cattle crossing every year. Essentially the rainy season is long over and the herders (mostly from the ethnic group '

Official Launch of Segou's Tourism Website!!

2007-10-12T17:02:00.000-06:00

After many months of hard work, I am proud to announce that the website I've been working on has officially been launched! For those that don’t know, I have been working with Mali 's Ministry of Tourism in cooperation with CPEL, a local NGO, to develop an informational website for tourists. If you were ever curious to see a little more about where I live in Mali , now’s your chance! Go to http

Bogolan bags from Mali at Hallmark stores...

2007-10-12T16:40:00.000-06:00

I just wanted to pass along a quick note about a really exciting project Peace Corps has being working on here in Mali. I imagine you have heard of the (Product) Red Campaign - Hallmark just launched a product made not far from me and in a traditional style famous to Segou where I live. Go to Hallmark's website and check them out!Initially, they are only distributing 20,000 to their 3,500 "Golden

Dogon Country!!

2007-10-08T11:31:00.000-06:00

I didn't want to overload you all with a bunch of long posts all at once so have held off on putting this one up...Here is the post about my - somewhat - recent trip trekking around Dogon Country in the Mopti Region, courtesy of Dom Cronshaw.I have some really exciting news to put up later this week and am just waiting for it to be finalized - so stay tuned!And without further ado...The

Timbuktu Hopes Ancient Texts Spark a Revival

2007-09-27T06:28:00.001-06:00

This article is a little old but interesting none the less... Candace Feit for The New York Times Ismaël Diadié Haïdara with collected family manuscripts. He says Timbuktu has a "second chance" to become a great city again.By LYDIA POLGREEN Published: August 7, 2007 TIMBUKTU, Mali — Ismaël Diadié Haïdara held a treasure in his slender

Final Boat Trip Post

2007-09-25T05:31:00.000-06:00

Go to Dom's Blog and read up on his final post about the trip. As always, great prose... enjoy!!!Summary: We arrive in Gao, not 10km from our final campsite and experience PCV life in Eastern Mali.

Continuation of our gallivanting around Mali...

2007-09-22T13:02:00.000-06:00

Here is the link to Dom's 3rd (out of 4 - one still to be written) post about his trip here: http://dominiccronshaw.blogspot.com/2007/09/gao-ho.html. Summary: 7 days, 6 nights on the Niger River from Mopti to Gao proved to be an experience that me and 13 PCVs earned. From swimming in one of Mali’s largest public toilets to surviving two sizable storms, our excursion to Timbuktu and beyond was

Mali's dismal health care system

2007-09-05T10:00:00.000-06:00

I'm much better after my bout with food poisoning (most likely salmonella) which brought me here to Bamako where I'm recovering. My confidence has been reassured as to the Peace Corps' ability to deal with health and security emergencies and horribly unnerved at the Malian systems ability to do the same.I'll provide two examples: The first occurred a few months ago at my regional office of the

Cool photo of Mali

2007-09-05T08:08:00.000-06:00

Click on it to see the full image...

Stories!!!

2007-09-04T10:34:00.000-06:00

Ok - so I have been sick for the last week and on top of that am a bit lazy to write up a story about my recent adventures... specifically the ones with my friend Dom Cronshaw who just came to visit. So...Check out his website for even more photos (in addition to the ones I posted below) and some great prose about our voyage. Click here and go to read the first addition.His summary is this: Dom

Some photos

2007-08-28T11:10:00.001-06:00

Here are some photos of some excursions I've taken around Mali. For now, I've uploaded them to my Picasa webalbum. I'll get a story to go along with them hopefully tomorrow. In the meantime, check out Kathy's blog and Dom's blog for their versions least I take too long...Niger Boat TripDogon

Tuareg rebels attack Malian military in Kidal Region

2007-08-28T10:59:00.000-06:00

Here is a story I just got emailed to me. This area is pretty far off but thought I'd pass it along just to keep you all informed. No immediate threat is posed to the limited region of Kidal in the North East.Tuareg conflict spreads to Mali There's been a second attack within two days in northern Mali on a military convoy by Tuareg rebels.Reports from the Kidal region say insurgents attacked

Political Transparency

2007-07-21T06:37:00.000-06:00

Just a short comment on some of the sentiments referred to in the previous post:Mali is praised for being politically stable and trustworthy - generally there isn't too much graft and corruption. I said generally. Recently, I had a blatant reminder of just how fragile that line is - my counterpart, the director of the regional tourism office - a pretty coveted and respectable position - was

Millennium Development Goals

2007-07-18T05:51:00.000-06:00

Here is article recently published in the economist... I live just a few kilometers from one of the MDC villages and Segou has recently been choosen as an MDC city (not sure exactly what that means and what it will entail yet).Enjoy and let me know what you think!The eight commandmentsJul 5th 2007 | DHAKA, KOLKATA AND TIMBUKTUFrom The Economist print editionPanosIn 2000 the world set itself goals

360 view from the top of my house and local rain storm

2007-07-10T02:22:00.000-06:00

Here is a view from the roof of my house. I took this video back in November after I first moved in with the hope to put it up here. Only I didn't figure out how to upload videos until just now, so here it is. Here is another video I recently took from the door of my house of a passing rain storm.

East through Togo and Benin before heading north for home

2007-07-01T04:16:00.000-06:00

The Final edition on my trip south - taking me through five countries: Mali, Burkina-Faso, Ghana, Togo, and Benin.After a leisurely start from Accra, we made our way to a bus station and were on our way east. The plan was to take the few hour trip into Togo and spend a few nights on purportedly not-so-special beaches. By the time we arrived in Lome, the capital of Togo, we decided to continue on

Vote for Timbuctou for one of the "New 7 Wonders of the World"

2007-06-27T15:13:00.000-06:00

In line with my effort to promote tourism here in Mali, please go to this website (http://www.new7wonders.com/index.php) and vote for Timbuctou to be included in the new list of Seven Wonders of the World.Thanks so much! I'll try and get that final post up about my return trip through Benin from Ghana soon...

Important article about the dire situation in Darfur

2007-06-27T15:06:00.000-06:00

Please read this article written by a close friend of mine about the situation in Darfur, Sudan.Summary: This post is as distilled a version of the conflict in Darfur as I can adequately produce without trimming critical detail. Genocide, despite vows of the developed world to act, continues today. Take copious notes and bare witness.Read the full article here.

Very belated videos from Festival sur le Niger

2007-06-27T12:33:00.000-06:00

I'm getting the hang of this [video thing]...Here are two videos from the Festival sur le Niger last February. The first one is an assortment of clips of some local dance groups and what not (sorry for the sideways part, I couldn't figure out how to rotate it). The second is of Habib Koite singing Abana - he was my favorite performer of the festival. From what my mum tells me, he just played

Some video from Ghana

2007-06-27T12:27:00.000-06:00

I'm trying something new with YouTube - adding videos!I think you'll have to be signed up for YouTube and signed in on the computer you're using to be able to watch the video.Below is a video I took at a party in Accra, Ghana. My friends were taking me around and this was one of the stops... Not the greatest video but I'm just getting used to this and will try and upload videos more often as

Accra and West...

2007-06-13T09:38:00.000-06:00

My long journey to the coast was over and before I get to the Nut Rehab Center, I must get through the story of Accra and all my experiences leading up to this interesting twist to my trip.My first activity upon arriving in Accra was a two day intensive seminar on exporting artisan handicrafts and textiles put on by WATH (West African Trade Hub) which in turn is funded by USAID. The entire

Ghana. What a difference...

2007-06-08T17:37:00.000-06:00

The coast!! Yay! I’m finally to the coast. After three full nights and days on a bus, I finally arrived in Accra, the capital of Ghana. Even though it would still be considered poor by most of you, Ghana is worlds apart from Mali in so many ways and oh, what a relief it was to go there!Just as a little reality check for myself, every now and then I go back and read my post about the

Bamako, Mali overland to Accra, Ghana (and what a long road it was...)

2007-06-05T04:44:00.000-06:00

Ok, so I'm back in Bamako, Mali now about to head to Segou this afternoon but thought I would try and at least start a little updating on my trip over the past month or so.Let's see where to start...On Monday the 14th of May, I hopped on a bus with Kathy headed for Ouagadougou, the capital of Burkina-Faso (any of you having trouble pronouncing that city? Don't worry, I didn't have a clue myself

Malian music Notes from the Niger

2007-05-12T16:04:00.000-06:00

Ok, this is the last one for now. I was browsing around the Economist and found this one too...Malian music Notes from the NigerAug 18th 2005 BAMAKO AND TIMBUKTUFrom The Economist print editionThe quiet influence of Lobi TraoréMOST Saturday nights, when he is in Mali, Lobi Traoré plays the Espace Academia club in the old airport district of Bamako. The club is

Festival in the Desert

2007-05-12T15:30:00.000-06:00

I just found another article in the Economist about a festival similar to the one held where I live. I am hoping to go to this next January. While the two are quite different in their locations within Mali, they are, however, quite similar with the music performed and general atmosphere. Habib Koité played at the Festival sur le Niger in Segou too and was

Junior Achievement is coming to Mali

2007-05-12T10:15:00.000-06:00

I just came to Bamako for a training on how to be a trainer of trainers for Junior Achievement. JA is a non-profit based in Colorado Springs, CO focused on teaching kids fundamental economics so they are able to fully participate in the global economy. The curricula are focused at the specific age level of the students starting in elementary school through middle and high school. JA currently

Swathes of desert but oases of progress

2007-05-05T11:49:00.000-06:00

Here is an article recently published in the Economist on Mali. We just had an election here which seems to have gone over with only limited protests in the capital. I don't have much to say now, but just thought you might all like to read the article.Mali and MauritaniaSwathes of desert but oases of progress May 3rd 2007 | BAMAKO AND NOUAKCHOTTFrom The Economist print editionTwo dirt-poor

Segou, Mali versus Aspen, USA

2007-04-23T09:31:00.000-06:00

In my continuing effort to communicate my experience here in Africa, I am going to describe some of the differences between here in Segou, Mali and where I last lived in the states – Aspen, Colorado. You would be hard pressed to find two more opposite places on earth.I am adjusting - but being that I came from such a different environment, it hasn't always been easy. Aspen and Segou are worlds

Film festival in Segou

2007-04-05T16:15:00.000-06:00

I am currently assisting Malians in the very initial stages of creating a film festival here in Segou, Mali. Essentially, the mission of the festival will be to provide an opportunity for Africans to watch films either made by African film-makers or on subject matter related to Africans. While attending the Festival sur le Niger in Segou, this past February, it

FESPACO

2007-03-27T12:06:00.000-06:00

Such is life over here that I'm finally getting to write this down after three full weeks of being back in Segou. But alas, I will hold back no longer, without further ado, the last let of my grand journey...FESPACOThis is the biggest film festival in Africa - occurring every odd numbered year in Ouagadougou, Burkina-Faso (alternating with a sister festival in Tunisia). It is huge! In the

WAIST

2007-03-15T10:52:00.000-06:00

After Festival sur le Niger, I had a week to recuperate before my first chance to travel around since being here. This opportunity was WAIST, the West African Invitational Softball Tournament, in Dakar, Senegal. WAIST takes place every year over President’s Day Weekend and is a chance for all Peace Corps Volunteers and other US ex-pats to get together. This year there were teams from Mauritania,

Festival sur le Niger

2007-03-12T09:18:00.000-06:00

Right, so I am always a little delayed with bringing you all up-to-date on what I’ve been up to – sorry. I can’t remember what I wrote in the post before “Transport” (when I put up all those pictures of my January training in Bamako, Festival sur le Niger, etc) so I hope I am not apologizing again since I think I may have done something of the sort in that last

Transport

2007-03-07T10:25:00.000-07:00

Well, It’s about time for another Epic – one within the massive epic of my being here and for that matter within the ultimate epic of what is my life. This epic is such largely in part because of the rigorous transport that, believe it or not, I choose to get on. My voyage was extremely exhausting at times (really throughout its entirety): I was sore and bruised – sore on my tailbone from a

Festival sur le Niger and photos!

2007-02-12T15:39:00.000-07:00

I just uploaded a bunch of photos from the festival and a random assortment I've been meaning to upload for quite sometime now... I had great internet access for a full day this weekend. I'm going to try and add an actual posting to describe the recent Festival sur le Niger last weekend in Segou (www.festivalsegou.org) but I at least wanted to get up these photos!Enjoy!SegouSikasso

Gone to Mali

2007-01-19T14:45:00.000-07:00

Gone to Mali

Great video from an RPCV about Mali

2007-01-17T14:04:00.000-07:00

A RPCV (Return Peace Corps Volunteer) from the early 90s just came here and showed us a trailer for a film he is working on. Take a look at the trailer and short version he has on his website: www.gonetomali.com. There is a fair bit of footage from where I live here in Segou and even of some people I know and see every week when I walk around town. For instance, when he is at the big mosque here

Holidays Africa Style

2007-01-08T11:21:00.000-07:00

I'm back in Tubaniso south of Bamako for a few weeks to do some training and thus have an opportunity to update my situation a bit...There is so much to tell I'll start with the Holidays and hopefully come back and give a little update on all the other goings on a little later.I had a wonderful Thanksgiving. It was hard to believe I was in the heart of Africa for all that we had. Honestly, it

photo of me...

2007-01-02T05:05:00.000-07:00

Pasta Challenge

2006-12-03T11:48:00.000-07:00

I wrote about this in an earlier posting and wanted to follow up and see if any of you had tried this out. I'd like to get some feedback (ie leave a comment on this posting) about what you think.I challenge all of you to do this: cook up some regular long noodle spaghetti al dente, mix in some tomato sauce and a bunch of oil so that it is nice and greasy, put in a large mixing bowl (the size you

FInally an update!!! (with lots of photos!)

2006-11-29T15:24:00.000-07:00

Hello from Africa! I am so sorry it has taken me so long to update this. So much has happened since the last time, I don’t know if I will be able to give a full and proper update to everything that has been going on here, but I’ll try! I have a computer at my ‘service’ (what is essentially the office of my counterpart organization that I

10 down, 106 to go for the Belushi stage.

2006-10-03T11:30:00.000-06:00

I'll start this post off with two photos that should have gone up a while a go. I have a fast connection here and am taking advantage to upload these photos.This first one is on the morning when all of us trainees were leaving for our homestay villages for the first time in early Aug. (I know that was a while ago, but time is relative, especially here in Mali). Part of the Mali top ten includes:

My thoughts on the eve of my swear-in to become an official Peace Corps Volunteer

2006-09-26T06:21:00.000-06:00

Hopefully I won’t have to keep apologizing for it being so long since I’ve last update all you folks on my comings and goings, there is so much to cover but here goes…I am back at the PC training facility near Bamako finishing up the last few sessions and making the final preparations before swearing-in this Friday the 29th. Everything I have been working towards with my language, cross-cultural

Munna n ye Kōr de la pε daminε

2006-09-26T06:18:00.000-06:00

Here is a little sample of Bambara, the local language I have been learning. It is a description of why I joined the Peace Corps.N nana sababu caman bε n ka doņi na kōr de la pε la. N tun b’a fε ka Mali denw yiriwa. N tun b’a fε ka n tubabukan sabati ni n tun b’a fε ka kan sabanan kalan. N tun b’a fε diņε taama. N tun bε yaala n tun bε mεn n ka sō. Kabini san fila ni kalō wōrō temenen fō

How a simple bike ride turned into a swimming trip

2006-09-25T19:40:00.001-06:00

This story starts off a bit flowery and I haven't edited it much, rather just took it right from my journal. Hope you enjoy! I'll try and post a more general update as to what I've been up to and where I'm headed in the next while.The bike ride started off just like the two previous endeavors – early in the morning with the fresh smell of rain from the night before still lingering in the air. The

2006-09-14T04:36:00.000-06:00

To: All Peace CorpsFrom: Gaddi H. Vasquez, DirectorSubject: Peace Corps Volunteers Justin W. Brady and Matthew S. CostaIt is with great sadness that I inform you that we have lost two members ofour Peace Corps family. On Sunday afternoon in Mali, Volunteers Justin W.Brady and Matthew S. Costa died as a result of a boating accident on theNiger River in Bamako.Justin W. Brady was 27-years old from

Some more photos

2006-09-06T13:12:00.000-06:00

Here are some photos I've take over the last while. I'll post an update in a few weeks about what I've been up to but so many of you were asking for photos so here they are...A pic of me and some of my family in our concession.Out on a bike ride in the middle of the African bush.A little Malian girl hanging around... My favorite photo I've taken so far. This was taken at the ceremony for the

Fellow volunteer's website's/blogs

2006-09-05T17:18:00.000-06:00

Kathy's websiteTim & Michele'sChristopher K.Beth E.Peter L.PatienceMichele L.I'll add more as I find them out...

Quick update

2006-09-05T13:20:00.000-06:00

Just an FYI: I don' t know if I will be able to write a complete update for before I leave Tubaniso for three weeks (and thus might not get a posting up until after that). I have tons of stories to tell.I imagine you may hear something in the news in the next short while, so I also wanted all of you to know that I am alright. Two volunteers died in an accident two days ago (none from my stage and

Some photos of me in Segou on the edge of the Niger River...

2006-09-05T11:52:00.000-06:00

Here is a picture of the all the new volunteers in the Segou region. We're at the end of our site visit watching the sunset over the Niger River.A pic of the sunset...AnotherA view out the front door of my house/apartment into my concession in Segou. I have a screened in porch! Another view of the Niger.

Who has been viewing my blog...

2006-09-05T11:37:00.000-06:00

The Future

2006-09-05T11:35:00.000-06:00

The future is not a result of choices among alternative paths offered by the present, but a place that is created - created first in the mind and will, created next in activity. The future is not some place we are going to, but one we are creating. The paths are not to be found, but made, and the activity of making them, changes both the maker and the destination.

New Site!!!

2006-09-05T11:25:00.000-06:00

This will now be my offical new site for while I am here in the Peace Corps. I am sorry to change the address once again, but I am unable to fix the problems I was having with the other site.

Last posting for a few weeks...

2006-08-26T23:45:00.000-06:00

I don't think Ill get internet for at least another two weeks when I come back here to Tubaniso. I'll then find out where Ill be for the next two years and what exactly Ill be doing. On the 26th or so, were all going to do some site visits and go spend a week surveying our sites and acquainting ourselves with the what well be doing, the resources well have, seeing the house/apartment/mud hut

The new life of Djiné Moussa Doumbia

2006-08-26T11:40:00.000-06:00

I dont even know where to start Mali I am now back in Tubaniso from two weeks at my homestay in Sanankoroba, a big town south of Bamako. Honestly, I really dont how to begin describing how my life is here. Unless youve been to Western Africa or somewhere in the middle, I dont know if you can realistically imagine life here. And when I say life, I mean life of a local. Life how Malians live it

Where I've been in the world

2006-08-04T09:32:00.000-06:00

Below is map showing all the countries I've been to.35 countries or 15%create your own visited country mapor write about it on the open travel guide

Leaving for my homestay

2006-08-01T11:32:00.000-06:00

Today marks our final day here at Tubaniso before starting our homestays. It is time to leave our refuge of Camp Peace Corps. Sure, well be back here in two weeks, but were at a turning point in our journey. I imagine it will be a time people who havent experienced their reality punch-in-the-face, this will be the time. Whether it be when were first dropped off with our host families,

I’ve now been bitten by mosquitoes on six continents

2006-07-31T11:33:00.000-06:00

Luckily they gave us all our anti-malarial, Larium, as it is commonly referred, the morning before we got on the plane. Dont mind that it is supposed to be taken at least a week better still two weeks in advance. In addition to my Larium pill, I was given a cocktail of Yellow Fever, Polio and MMR (Mumps, Measles, and Rubella) and remember this was all the morning before all 75 of us boarded our

Well here I am. I'm in Mali.

2006-07-30T11:30:00.000-06:00

Well here I am. Im in Mali. Wow. I always felt that at some point I would get a punch in the fact type feeling that really let me know that Im actually, really, truly, doing this. Well, that has yet to happen. Three days ago when I arrived and stepped off the plane into the humid heat of , the Capital, I got a tap, perhaps. I didnt get the full on knock me down punch; sure, the crazy

I'm here!!

2006-07-29T11:27:00.000-06:00

I am only on the internet for a second, but wanted to write a quick note and say that I made it!My trip so far has been great and I'll post a photo of where I am soon...YuriA fellow PCT, Kali, gave me this quote:Great ideas, it has been said, come into the world as gently as doves. Perhaps then, if we listen attentively, we shall hear amid the uproar of empires and nations, a faint flutter of