Africa from A-Z: Burundi

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When I am putting together these Africa from A-Z posts, I often feel like I am skimping too much on the information.  How do you write one blog post about countries with histories and cultures so rich I probably could devote an entire blog to each of them?  But I only have but so many fingers and there are only but so many minutes in a day.  Nonetheless, I am enjoying the opportunity to hear new languages through YouTube videos and learn a little more about the nuances of the culture - few as I have time to explore!

I like the name of the capital of Burundi, Bujumbura, and the official language, Kurundi.  Here is a quick overview of investments in Burundi and if you are looking for natural treasures in Burundi, look no further!   There are many links to safari sites as well as national parks and reserves such as Kibira National Park.  And if you are looking for unique plants and animals in Burundi- there you go! 

I like this blog's use of the word 'treasure' while talking about Burundi and I appreciate his perspective, as an African, on the way African history is taught to Africans.  What do you think?

I am also finding it difficult to find normal, day-to-day news about the countries I am researching.  Maybe I am not researching properly in order to unearth such news (googling country+good news usually yields a lot of Christian sites).  Any tips out there for finding less sad/depressing information on Africa?  However, I did find an article about a baby named 'Good News.'  Hope she turns out to be a smiler.

Here a few links from around the web and a few videos to peruse:
Public/private sector conference in Burundi
A bar killing of 36 puts 16 people in jail.
Kind of a stretch but this pendant has the edges of a Burundi postage stamp on it! 
Life After Violence: A People's Story of Burundi.
Drummers of Burundi.
No more negative images of Africa from Africa - The Good News.
 

The president, Pierre Nkurunziza, talks about Burundi

Do you have any links to good Burundi sites?  What do you think about these Africa from A-Z posts?

Boston Beauties (and a little bit o' Salem)

Marija took me to the beautiful Bapst Art Library to study.  We got lots accomplished!  And this might be my favorite picture of us together that we've ever taken.  And we've taken a lot.

David is a cousin of mine that lives in Massachusetts with his wonderful wife and family.  The last time I saw him he was getting married in Rockport, MA - look at the beautiful babies he and his wife made since!

Karen and Marija are choosy ladies.  Jukebox music at Tom English's Cottage and literature for Nellie at the apartment.

Suzy and I became pool sharks :)

What a treat it was to visit Boston!  Great food at the likes of The Paramount and The Publick House, and great studying and dart/pool playing at Bapst library and Tom English's Cottage (respectively).  I loved getting the chance to see my cousin David and his wife Natalie and their beautiful children while seeing downtown Salem and eating the best chicken wings I've ever had!  (David is a chef - and a darn good one at that!)   So many thanks to Marija & Chris for hosting me and Suzy for bringing me all the way to Vermont to start grad school!  I'm surrounded by treasures!! 

See more pictures from my east coast ventures here!

Putting in down on paper: Books on Mali

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While checking out some information on the Fulbright, I found this site and the book pictured above (found on Amazon here).  It was written by a woman who completed a Fulbright in Mali on the role of Islam on education.  Looks good!

I was inspired to compile a list of books on Mali - have you read any?  I've browsed through some - I will try to check them off my list this year!
 
Monique and the Mango Rains.

A book used by educators in Virgina written by Andrew Prophett, "the esteemed educator responsible for the development of Virginia’s new innovative elementary-level Mali curriculum."  Go Virginia!

Sundiata: An Epic of Old Mali.

A book about West African empires - Mali included!

A beautifully illustrated children's book about Mansa Musa: "one of Mali's most celebrated kings."

I am currently reading Segu by Maryse Conde and am learning more about the root of the joking cousins tradition.  When I googled 'joking cousins + Mali' this is what I found - neat!  Audra (and Ben) and I were volunteers together!


Waiting for Rain. 

I bet this book on Bogolan is filled with beautiful images. 

Dancing Skeletons - a book by a biocultural anthropologist (never heard of that before!) about working with malnourished children in West Africa.  Anyone read it?

Do you have any favorite Mali/West Africa books?  Any recommendations for my reading list?

Heading North!

had to make this one x-large - I love it!

Mom & Memaw picking me up from Sandy's in October (2011)

Imagine this beautiful trellis surrounded by a few more puddles and heavy rain clouds.

Does this picture make you hungry?

I am making my way up the eastern seaboard (and a little bit inland) on my way to SIT to begin graduate school (the time is finally here!).

On Saturday morning, Mom loaded Memaw and I (and some snacks) into the car and took us to Williamsburg to meet Aunt Sandy for a trade-off and then brunch at the Trellis - what a treat!

Once in Richmond I dropped off my bags and met up with Laura and Jackie (next time, Amanda & Ryan!).  After seeing my cousin Dave's beautiful new home, Sandy, Memaw, Megan, Dave & I headed for dinner at Stella's.  I shared artichoke moussaka and a kale salad with Sandy that were scrumptious.  Later that night Jackie, Laura, Taylor, Seth and I made a late night run to Country Style Donuts for a sweet treat.  Food spoiled much?

It is just the beginning of the journey and I am looking forward to the rest - stay tuned for more!

**And we did lunch at the Franklin Inn - grilled cheese and chili!

Africa from A-Z: Botswana

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I do wonder what it would be like to live and work in a country such as Botswana whose population is the size of Bamako, the capital city in Mali where I recently lived (and plan on soon returning!).  The lady who writes this blog knows!  This one, too!  With the Kalahari Desert, Chobe National Park and the Okavango Delta - there is a lot to explore!
 
Survival International is a not-for-profit that seeks to protect the rights of tribal people around the world - including those in Botswana being displaced by the pursuit of diamonds.   A PCV blog in Botswana.

Botswana has a stock market and this looks like a neat site to follow if you are interested in business in Africa.  There soon may be a railway cutting through Zimbabwe and Mozambique or Namibia.  Controversial sounding but exciting!  The American ambassador to Botswana sounds like a real gem!  She recently made a tour of the country and visited with local leaders and NGOs including Women Against Rape which sounds like a powerful organization.   

Anyone ever visited?  What's your favorite thing about Botswana?

The King & I, Martin Short & the Sandler Center, oh my!

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Last night Dad and Sheri took me along with them to see Martin Short at the Sandler Center for the Performing Arts.  What a treat!  We had dinner before the show at Havana Nights Jazz & Cigar Club
and went back for dessert and a little jazz music afterwards! 

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On January 8th, Memaw invited Mom and I to see the King & I - also at the Sandler Center.  I did not know so many of the songs I had heard while growing up like 'Getting to Know You' and 'Shall We Dance' had come from this production!  While the end of the piece left me a little uncomfortable (the whole 'westernizing' the Siamese people...) - spending time with Memaw & Mom is precisely my cup of tea!

Bono brings down the house in Mali!

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Bono, the co-founder of ONE and front man for rock band U2, recently took the stage at the Malian Festival in the Desert in Timbuktu - not to be confused with the Festival on the Niger to be held in Segou next month (here is my take on last year's festival!).  Bet everyone who cancelled their tickets for security reasons is kicking themselves in the can right now. 

I do hope that the north of Mali, and the whole country by association, will find peace from the recent and continuing acts of terror by known and unknown groups in the Maghreb.  Mali deserves better than AQIM.

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Another post from the web on Bono's visit and a PCV's blog post about meeting him and Jeffrey Sachs at her site which is one of many Millenium Villages. 

Did anyone go to the festival?  How was it??