Africa Trek—Couple’s 8,700-mile Walking Honeymoon across Africa now Available in the U.S.

September 29th, 2008 | By Joshua | 1 Comment »

Alexandre and Sonia Poussin took a three-year honeymoon to walk from the Cape of Good Hope to the Sea of Galilee. Originally published in 2004 in France, the Poussins’ story has become somewhat of a European phenomenon and is now available in the U.S.

“Most people,” says Alexandre, “approach Africa with fear, a lot of organization, and little time. We had faith, confidence, and no prejudice on one side; no organization, tour operator, or back-up team of any kind on the other; and no time limit.” One of the extraordinary goals of the trip was to meet people—normal, everyday Africans, “to better understand them, and understand the issues of their lives…. Our approach was anything but sophisticated: one footstep after another, for almost ever…. And let it be. Let adventure be.”

This is sure to be a phenomenal read and a close-up of introduction to the amazing individuals the Poussins met. I’m hoping it will inspire my own extended-honeymoon storytelling.

The result is a stunning collection of Africa Trek books, as well documentary DVDs which have been featured as a mini-series on the Travel Channel and are coming to a PBS station near you.
[LINK]: Official Africa Trek home page — the video is amazing.

Daniela Petrova on the Pitfalls of Volunteering Abroad

August 29th, 2008 | By Joshua | No Comments »

In her recent article for World Hum, “A Tourist With a Shovel and a Hoe,” writer Daniela Petrova “looked down her nose at tourists there to have a good time. But was her own motivation much different?” She hits on the main conundrum that faces short-term international volunteers—the actual effectiveness of such programs. Having been on a dozen such trips, mostly with American Jewish World Service, I’m well aware of this issue. A group might spend nearly $30,000 to visit a village and help build a school that costs $2,000 for a local non-governmental organization whose entire annual budget might be less than $20,000. What’s the point? (more…)

Ghana girls dorm is finished!

April 11th, 2008 | By Joshua | 2 Comments »

Last October, I posted a plea from Peace Corps Volunteer Carl Allen in Northern Ghana, who was raising funds to build a girls’ dorm at a business school in the village of Nakpanduri. We had met Carl two years ago while visiting the palace of his village’s chief, David Kansuk Laari. Today, I am happy to pass along the news from Nakpanduri that the girls’ dormitory has been completed and a new generation of rural Ghanaian young women will now be able to attend the Nakpanduri Business Secondary School. Eighty girls from surrounding villages can come stay in the accommodations and get an education. This is huge. It is widely accepted that one of the quickest ways to bring an entire community out of poverty is to educate its girls and women, so a hearty congratulations to the students, teachers, Chief, and to Carl.

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Help girls go to school in Northern Ghana

October 27th, 2007 | By Joshua | 1 Comment »

Last year, Tay and I met Peace Corps Volunteer Carl “Ka” Allen in Northern Ghana, in the village of Nakpanduri where Carl was living and where Tay and I were guests of Chief David Kansuk Laari. It was a classic encounter in the Chief’s “palace,” where we watched World Cup soccer and drank beer under a starry African sky. Well, Carl is still in Ghana and he — and the girls of Nakpanduri — need your help. For a number of reasons, educating the world’s girls is probably the single most effective way to improve the quality of life and eradicate poverty, so this project will have far-reaching and long-lasting outcomes. Donate Now! or learn more from Carl himself–> (more…)

Ghana Black Stars Goal against the USA sparks mass happiness

September 16th, 2007 | By Joshua | No Comments »

This is video of Ghanaians watching the 2006 World Cup. I was in Accra and every single goal the Black Stars scored throughout the tournament was celebrated like this — drums, parades, song, dance. I watched the big game against the USA with the Young & Wise Youth Group at Planned Parenthood Association of Ghana.

“Don’t cry, Obruni!” they all shouted at me, wrapping me in Black Star flags and saying over and over, “We scored you!” And there was much jubilation in the streets.

Domodah in the Afternoon

October 20th, 2006 | By Joshua | No Comments »

Nothin’ like a rich, cayenne-warmin’ bowl of groundnut stew when one is writing a story about The Gambia. There are as many ways to cook domodah (as the Mandinka call their national dish, or maffe in Wolof), as there are villages in West Africa. I like to mix and match from these recipes, but you might as well go straight for this winner.
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The Gambia from Space

October 13th, 2006 | By Joshua | No Comments »

Just stumbled across this great NASA image of The Gambia River, or as Kunta Kinte remembered it, the “Kamby Bolongo.” Here’s the Wiki page where I found it. The thin black line is the country’s political border separating it from Senegal, and it actually extends quite a bit farther east. Tay’s village of Sara Kunda is on the north bank, toward the right of this image.
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Meanwhile, somewhere over the Rock of Gibraltar…

August 14th, 2006 | By Joshua | No Comments »

Casablanca: Day Two

August 13th, 2006 | By Joshua | No Comments »

Today’s mission is the Palais Royale and the souk in the Habous Quarter, an old, clean, pleasant market of Moroccan clothes and wares. Though there is nothing we need, we are entranced by it all and end up purchasing a pair of his-and-hers flowing djellabas. Mine is very Obi-Wan-Kenobi, with its sandy colors and long hood, and Tay’s is a rough-textured brown, simple with earthy flare. There is also an olive market, an oil and perfume stall, and many, many hats to try on.
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Casablanca: Day One

August 11th, 2006 | By Joshua | 2 Comments »

Expanding our originally scheduled two-hour layover in Casablanca to two days was a no-brainer. We’ve both always wanted to go to Morocco and even if we only visit its largest and least interesting city (according to anyone who has traveled here), we are sure it will be worth it. We are not let down.
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