The last day
We really packed it in today! Last full day in Africa! Tomorrow we will pack and then head off to the plane, so this might be my last blog until we get to Sherbrooke.
Marvin & Penny took us to see some of their old haunts in Abidjan. Now Abidjan is a very large city, around 5 million inhabitants (and, according to Wikipedia, the second largest French speaking city in the world). There are many different areas, or communities within the city.
Today we started off with a trip to Abobo. This is much poorer than the areas we have been working in. Marvin & Penny spent a year here. (The area they are in now is more upper-middle class). The streets are worse and the vendors stalls are smaller and everything is dirty – or so it seems by comparison.
We took some time to walk around in the market, but we didn’t dawdle. This area is a little rougher, and you try not to look like a tourist! The only pictures we took were from the car window. But what a contrast from their current territory.
Its interesting how the street shops are all in ‘areas’. I posted pictures of a furniture area a few days ago. But this is true of many things. Plumbing supplies will take up one section, sinks, toilets and everything in between lined up outside. Hardware might be another area. Today we went through about a kilometer or two of car parts, all neatly on display!
From there we went on past the Laundrymen’s area. If you don’t remember the article, it was in the June 2007 Awake! on page 10. Look that up for a better description and pictures than we got from the highway. In any case, its the same place. They pick up laundry from all different houses, wash it by hand, lay it out to dry and then fold and return it. Somehow they never mix it up. Amazing!
Then we headed on to Yopougon, another area of town where they served for a time. At the missionary home there we met Liam & Julie, who are currently in that home. They refreshed us with nice cool water … something we really needed by this time!
By now it was time for lunch. One of Penny’s studies, Nicole had offered (read: demanded) to make lunch for us. Penny requested one of the things we hadn’t had yet: Foutou Banane with Sauce Arachide (both recipes can be found here: http://www.mission.net/ivory-coast/abidjan/page.php?pg_id=1083). Essentially, this is mashed (and severely pounded) plantain bananas. The sauce is wonderful. Peanuts, lots of oil and hot peppers floating around. Yum!
We took this wonderful concoction back to the home and dug in. It is the African way to eat this with your hands (actually right hand only. The left hand is kept for unspeakable things! Speaking of which, never offer to shake with the left hand … very nasty!). Penny, Leslie and I did things the African way. Marvin is just to …. uh … Canadian, and used utensils.
This was maybe one of the best African meals we had. And that’s saying a lot, ’cause they were all stunning! It is however very filling, it swells in the belly after eating. It wasn’t long before we slunk off for siestas.
In the afternoon we went to visit the Bethel (officially, this time). It is small, but beautiful. There are about 45 Bethelites and they do no printing here except Kingdom Ministrys in a few languages.
They have two properties on either side of the road. The main building has the reception, the literature receiving area, the Service department, some rooms, printing and computer department. On the other side of the road are the main residences, the kitchen and dining room, laundry and a beautiful Kingdom Hall. The pictures at the end will give you an idea.
We came home to a magnificent meal of Chicken Cordon Bleu – a Penny specialty. Now … a moment or two of lounging … a few hours sleep … then the packing and the parting. Sniff.
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