I am on a short vacation after Cote d'Ivoire and my first destination was LONDON. The main reason is because I have friends here that are super chill / relaxed during the day and then party like rock stars at night!
I will be here 4 days. I don't have an exact itinerary but I do plan to relax, take my time getting out of bed and then finding a "surprise" destination via the tube. I have 20 GBP on my oyster card (the UK version of the "smart trip" card on the Metro) and so the world is literally my oyster for these few short days.
Every time I am here there are a few things I absolutely MUST do while here: sip on mulled wine (if it is cold), have a flap jack (these are not pancakes my American friends. See the recipe here: How to make a flap jack), walk around Oxford street while sipping on a pre-mixed drink of some sort, dine on Indian cuisine (any Indian restaurant you eat at here is AMAZING), find my way to my favorite small pub, The Globe, and have one (maybe 2) Sailor Jerry / Cokes
and finally, at night, when everyone is bundled up to protect themselves from the chilly weather, I, too, will bundle up, pick a final destination on
the tube map and walk around for hours.
London at night is absolutely gorgeous. The lights, the scents in the air, the echo of laughter, the jolly "cheers" you hear as you walk past a pub, the coziness you witness between a couple walking past you, holding each other tight to keep the other warm and even the silence you experience as you stare at something that you have only read about as a tourist i.e. the London Bridge, the Tower of London, Shakespeare's The Globe or a walk around the Thames River and Pier.
There are only two things that bother me in this city: the lack of consistent sunshine and how the Great Britain Pound molests my US Dollar. 200 GBP = $322!
Take THAT USD! muhahaha
When you put my trip into perspective:
Dinner for 3 last night which included 1/2 bottle of wine and 2 desserts: 65GBP = $105 (my Brit friends actually made the comment "Wow, not bad huh? That was cheap!")
Pap smears SUCK! Any woman that has had one knows this. We also know (and appreciate) the kind doctor that warms up the speculum they insert in us to ensure "comfort". Any doctor that inserts a cold metal tool speculum inside of you is an asshole. I'm just sayin' ...
But why is this procedure so important? "Pap" smears are exams to look out for the Human PAPilloma Virus) or HPV. There are various strands of HPV. One strand can cause genital warts, another cervical cancer while other strands cause no issue at all. The fact is that HPV is a sexually transmitted disease that can be avoided with a condom in the case of cancer causing strands. However, genital warts are caused by skin to skin contact so ladies BE CAREFUL, BE SELECTIVE, BE MONOGAMOUS! More information on HPV here: HPV Facts.
Cervical cancer starts in the cells on the surface of the cervix. It usually develops very slowly. It starts as a precancerous condition called sysplasia. This precancerous condition can be detected by a Pap smear and is 100% treatable. That is why it is so important for women to get regular Pap smears.Most women who are diagnosed with cervical cancer today have not had regular Pap smears or they have not followed up on abnormal Pap smear results. Please, ladies, find the money and / or the time for your annual exam. Cervical cancer, worldwide is the #3 cancer affecting women today! Get more information on pap smears here: Pap Smear.
Undetected precancerous changes can develop into cervical cancer and spread to the bladder, intestines, lungs, and liver. It can take years for precancerous changes to turn into cervical cancer. Patients with cervical cancer do not usually have problems until the cancer is advanced and has spread.
It was put on my heart weeks ago to do this post but I needed to find the time and energy to write it. A friend close to my heart was recently diagnosed with cervical cancer. She openly admits that not taking annual pap smears is something she wish she could reverse. She only advises women to not rely on your general practitioner (GP). Do the research - find a highly recommended GYN in your area. You can do this by searching your health care providers website, the yellow pages or even talk to female friends who are happy with they GYN. Your GYN is all about your "girl parts" ... let your GP worry about everything else. As my friend stated, "we have to manage our doctors just like we manage everything else in life and understand that we are in charge." This is a lesson which was sadly learned too late for my friend as she "took charge" and saw her GP three times only to hear that nothing was wrong. It was not until she decided to seek the specialized care of a GYN that she was properly diagnosed.
My friend has started a blog and is documenting her experience, physically and emotionally. She has given me permission to share her blog: Nita's Living Strong. Even after having to experience the pain of surgery (hysterectomy) the cancer is still present. Now she must also endure radiation and chemo. This is my colleague, my friend, my confidant, parte de mi corazón ... to hear her say these things scares the shit out of me. So I can only imagine what she and her family are going through emotionally. I can only imagine how scared she is, the pain she is enduring physically and emotionally. I have prayed for her healing and comfort and the comfort of her family. I can only be here, stand by as a friend for when she needs me. But I feel absolutely helpless. Please let the lessons that she learned AFTER being diagnosed teach you ladies the importance of way to ensure the prevention of this disease. I must say again that cervical cancer is a curable disease if detected early. Have you had your pap smear this year? If not, GET ONE! (and ask your GYN to warm up the speculum).
Kizi and I leave Cote d'Ivoire tonight at 9:50pm via Air France.
The first week was filled with getting to know the country, culture, food and lecture based training.
The second week was filled with enjoying the company of those family and friends which have waited for Kizi's return (it has been 10 years since she was last in the country), enjoying foods that I marked as my favorites the first week, enjoying more of the culture and warm hospitality, ass rashes (the victim will remain nameless but it wasn't me with this issue LOL), a buttocks pimple, live reggae performance, hot sweaty dancing to zouk and coupdecale (a local form of dance), a malaria scare which resulted in a shot in the derriere covered by a bright orange band-aid (again, err it wasn't not moi that thought I had malaria lol), file review, intense and frustrating moments in learning French, emotional dinners and goodbyes.
Week two was intense to say the least. Week two ensured that this country and the memories made here will be talked about for years to come. Week two satisfied my curiosity of what this country may be like and what it would be like traveling / working with someone from Cote d'Ivoire. Week two has come to an end which also brings this trip to an end.
"Shout out" to Kizi N'Kodia. She not only documented our entire culinary experience here in Cote d'Ivoire (see her blog: CHIC~FOOD~SAVEUR: Ivorian food diary) but she also worked hard in assisting me with the training and file review, she provided hours of laughter, she ensured we took advantage of all photo opportunities and most of all it was her family and friends that opened up their hearts and homes to me as an extension of her. This trip would have been a completely different experience without her presence. For her presence I am immeasurably grateful. And now my favorite photo of us:
If you are my friend on Facebook then you have seen most of these photos but I wanted to add photos which captured some of my favorite moments here in Cote d'Ivoire.
We mean business!
Breakfast every morning. Cost 375 CFA (approx 81 cents a day)
Business card of our "Business Man" ~ exchanged our USD in CFA
Peaceful Phoebe as a guest in the home of Mr. Michel N'Kodia
Kizi and I with our driver Alphonse. Our driver and our alibi when Kizi daddy insists on giving us a curfew "Time Out." LOL
My look anytime I attempt to pronounce a dish in French. This language is ridiculous LOL
Kizi, Yasmine and I ~ a day at the beach
Sibi and Kizi (this is the woman that makes my taste buds so happy with her poulet yassa)
Kizi and I ... this photo makes me happy. We laughed quite a bit on this trip so I thought this photo to end this entry would be appropriate *smile*
I do not know what the US Government and the State of Virginia are up to, but they are both killing my photo first impression!
I remember a time when I could look my best in a passport photo. The photo I took in 2000 in preparation for my first international trip (Costa Rica) I had on my new wig (a black bob cut named "Bonnie"), green-brown contact lenses, purple lipstick and a huge smile! This photo was gorgeous!
Fast forward ten years later and I am forced to renew my passport as it has expired and now we are not able to crack a smile - show a single tooth - appear to be happy that we are traveling abroad. How did this photo come out you ask? I look like a Black-Asian mime. No, really. Don't believe me? See for yourself:
Can we discuss the discoloration between my face and chest area?! I mean really passport office, really?! Ever since I have had this horrendous photo on my person crossing borders has been embarrassing. I am so ashamed to show my photo and have even been asked for another form of ID to confirm my identity. I would like to think it is because the usually male officer is thinking "This CANNOT be the attractive young lady that stands before me. This is a photo of a Afro-Vietnamese woman who clearly pretends she is in a box on the streets of Miami during the tourist season -- NOT this young lady." I say he may be thinking this because the reaction to the photo is always the same: look at the photo, look at me, look at the photo again, confused eyebrow and twitches lips, look at me again and ask for a second form of identification. Not to mention that the lack of a smile makes us United States citizens look like criminals. OK OK they say it is for security reasons and for facial recognition since "You do not walk around smiling..." But I surely do not walk around looking like a Polynesian-Negro which may perform with white gloves on my hands, climbing silently on an invisible ladder on a sidewalk in California!
Speaking of mugshots, this brings me to the great state of Virginia and their GENIUS idea to change the identification to that of a mug shot from the "roaring 20s". Not only is the ID no longer in color (they have selected the ever so complimenting color of "bleak beige") but again, you are unable to smile. I was recently made to update my information and photo and viola I have a proud mugshot sample which I carry around in my wallet:
Let us take a moment to comment on on the great state of Virginia ensures that while this state may be for "lovers" I wouldn't have had a chance in hell in finding a lover if this photo was used:
The runaway slave mugshot is just not "sexy"
To have it twice on the ID - see that lovely hologram - make it not sexy times two!
What in the hell is that on my cheek?! They photo shopped a rash on my face! REALLY VA, REALLY?! Now I look like I have scabies on my face! *gracias VA, gracias*
You laughed when I said I looked like a runaway slave, didn't you? But I was so serious, so serious. Secretly you know this photo fits perfectly in a WANTED: RUNAWAY SLAVE poster. Just to prove my point and for those who may need a visual:
Tell me my expression does not resemble the expression of the faces of this freed slave couple...
I have to show this photo practically on the daily basis: anytime I purchase alcohol, anytime I want to enter a place with an age limit, anytime I am pulled over for speeding, anytime I need to pick up a package from the post office and the damn thing is on file with my employer! Maybe I can practice my Harriet Tubman mugshot pose in the mirror for a few months, "accidentally" lose this one and then re-take with my perfected Harriet Tubman mugshot pose? Hmm I may be on to something ... I need to fix my photo first impression, at least for the State of VA, quickly! For those who have not had to take a passport photo yet or have not had to renew your license with this new photo -- START PRACTICING NOW! I have yet to see one that "compliments" the subject. Don't be a victim ~ prepare in advance for your smile-less, bleak beige identification!
If you are my friend on Facebook then you have seen in photos what week 1 has included: lots and lots of food, relaxation and lots of laughs. What you are not able to see is what I have truly learned about the culture, the country and about my colleagues.
In the previous entry I included information found on the state department website. What I have learned since I have been here has been fascinating.
In being in this country I have learned to value quite a few things:
1) My relationship with William.
William and I, July 2011
Talking to William every day on skype, seeing him on video, having him "tuck me in" every night with a kiss on the webcam seems to not be enough. Everything has been a complete 180 from my last trip and I truly believe it is a result of prayer, hard work and a true determination to not give up on "us." Don't worry family ~ I miss ya'll too haha but it's a different kind of miss. What it has taught me is to appreciate the time I have with William so that I have memories to keep me company and to make me smile for no reason in the middle of the day when I am away ...
2) The value of a dollar.
One of the things I am most curious about when I am in another country is the economy. Not because I want to stick my chest out and think "ha! I make tons more than they do!" But because I want to remind myself that people live on way less, make ends meet and have a good quality of life. In every country I have in the Caribbean, Africa and Central America, one thing remains the same: what they value in life. When asked this question the answer is always: God, Family, Work. I will not disclose how much I make in this blog because it is not the point of this section. But in speaking to a new friend here in Cote d'Ivoire I found out the average income for various positions, cost of rent and other fun financial facts here in Abidjan:
** 475 CFA = $1 **
Minimum wage:
driver: 70,000 CFA/month
nanny (this woman watches your children, cleans your house and cooks): 25,000 - 50,000 CFA/month
security guard: 100,000 CFA/month
Basic food:
Bread: 150 CFA / loaf
A croissant: 275 CFA / each
Chicken: 2000 - 2500 CFA / an entire uncooked chicken
A meal in a basic restaurant which consists of grilled chicken and a local side dish made of plantains: 5,000 CFA
A pastry: 1850 CFA
Other "luxuries":
Tennis shoes: 50,000 CFA
Buy a house (small): 15M CFA
Land w/o the home: 50M CFA
To build the home: 100M CFA
To rent an apt: 250,000 - 300,000 CFA / month
If you take what people make a month and compare it to what things costs, you can imagine how hard it may be just to afford what we Americans consider "the basic" i.e. a roof over your head, shoes on your feet and bread. It is no wonder you see small children on the side of the road selling oranges or trying to clean your windshield to assist with helping their family versus being in school to obtain the basic education to ensure the cycle of poverty ends with them. Yet, how can you end a cycle of poverty if one has to choose between school and contributing to the family? This is a question that can be asked in any developing nation - not just Africa - this is a worldwide problem, which as an educator, saddens me to no end...but if you ask them, the answer is always God, family, work. Their worship first, time with the family second and stressing over money third...quality of life. It is amazing how the value of these and the order in which they would appear vary in every country, household and person. I asked this question once of a man who had given up on finding work for the day in Dominican Republic. I stopped at a gas station to buy a bottle of Brugal and he said [translated] "God will provide, my family will love me and tomorrow there will be work." I paused and then walked into the gas station to buy what I came for. When I came out this man had pulled up his beaten up Ford truck, turned on his stereo and was blasting merengue and bachata. I spotted him dancing close to his truck with huge smile on his face, enjoying the music. This man was out of work and had been on the corner for 6 hours and yet he found the energy to smile and dance -- to enjoy his day. What was I to do? I went back into the gas station and purchased another bottle for rum and some beer and joined the gas station party! It was the most fun I had that trip and it is something I have never forgotten. God, family work .. quality of life.
3) The French language.
Please do not judge me for saying this but I remember a time when I was asked if I would ever learn French and my reply would always be "Hell no!" I thought it a useless language as I had no plans to ever spend a significant amount of time in a country that would speak this language. Furthermore, I never thought it as sexy as most say it is ... call me biased but I definitely think Spanish is way sexier and its a phonetic language so it sounds as it looks making it WAY EASIER to learn.
There is a saying, "Want to make God laugh? Tell Him your plans..." Well when all of the aforementioned was said I am sure God was guffawing thinking, "Wait until you see the plans I have for you mademoiselle! muhahaha"
And laugh He did -- the first time was in a simple conversation I was having with a colleague from Rwanda. We were simply unable to communicate a simple point which was pertinent to training. I was forced to find a French speaking colleague ... never thought about it again. Until ... October 2010 when I was in Haiti for two weeks to do a training. Again, French slapped me in the face. And while I felt lost it was not too bad because as it is so close to the Dominican Republic I was able to speak Spanish and get by a wee bit. Until I was drop kicked with the language here in Cote d'Ivoire. I have found myself lost and silent and feeling like an absolute idiot unable to communicate. I hate it! I finally had to do something about it. I am now taking free lessons on http://www.bbc.co.uk/languages/french/ I have completed stage 1 and stage 3 (I had to jump to stage 3 since it deals with ordering FOOD haha). I have also learned a lot of the introduction basics to ensure I am polite when meeting. I am able to greet people, say goodbye (i.e. see you tomorrow or see you later) and order the basics (i.e. "I would like ... with or without..."). My pronunciation of food and drink are not perfect but its getting there and while I am still not able to understand or join in any conversations I am hopeful that if I return in 6 months, God willing, I will be able to hold a small conversation and understand a "oui bit" more of what is going on. Wish me luck .. or join me! *WARNING: this language is not phonetic and is hard hard hard* FYI Spanish is still my first second language love*
I close this blog with the appreciation for the food. Everything together has allowed me to enjoy and appreciate my time and experience in this country. I look forward to week 2! Au revior for now ...
4) Finally, the food.
Good lawd the food is AMAZING! If you want to know everything my colleague, Kizi, and I have enjoyed in Cote d'Ivoire, follow her blog: CHIC~FOOD~SAVEUR: Ivorian food diary
I can tell you my FAVORITES which have remained in my heart, on my mind and haunting my taste buds have been:
“WHAT do you do Phoebe?? You are never in the country!” Let me provide an answer: I am a Training Specialist on a USG funded project which procures HIV test kits, ARVs, OIs, lab commodities, etc. and then donates them at no cost to the focus countries under PEPFAR (President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief). Want to know more? http://www.pepfar.gov/about/index.htm
As with all things funded by the USG they would ultimately like to see sustainable change which means decentralizing the procurement of these commodities to the staff in the aforementioned focus countries. It is my job to train these staff members on USG Regulations – the FUN FAR and AWESOME AIDAR! I am not going to provide links to these to ensure my readers remain awake. Anyha, I 100% love my job. I love working with people, I love traveling and I love everything that is involved in being a trainer. It has taken me to places I never thought I would ever see in my lifetime: Haiti, Vietnam, Japan, London, Amsterdam, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Tanzania, South Africa, Mozambique, Zimbabwe and now Cote d’Ivoire. I am blessed beyond words: I am working in a field that helps saves / improves the quality of life for those living with HIV / AIDS, I am traveling at no personal cost and I am blessed by those I meet – learning about them personally, their traditions, their culture, enjoying their savory foods and sweatin’ it out to their vibrant, soulful dances. This is definitely an appropriate time to say “Praise Him!” (reference When NOT to thank Baby Jesus in swaddled cloth ... ).
I leave in less than 24 hours and here we are on a cold and rainy Friday early morning (about 2am) ... and have procrastinated beyond belief! I JUST literally finished unpacking from my ATL trip, did laundry and begin packing for this trip *shame on me* I am very excited about this trip because Cote d’Ivoire is a new country to me! I am looking forward to getting to know a new culture, a new dance, trying a new dish and maybe expand my French vocabulary. Right now my French vocabulary consists of “oui,” “bonjour,” “champagne”, “bon a petit,” “ménage a trois” and of course the chorus to Patti LaBelle’s “Lady Marmalade”.
If you are a person who does not travel much and rely on the news to determine your opinion about a country then allow me to “open your eyes” to facts beyond the civil unrest that has been replayed over and over again on the news:
FACTS about Cote d’Ivoire
Abidjan is NOT the capital of this country. It is considered the “principal city” as it is the economic and political capital of the country.
While French is the official language there are over 60 native dialects spoken.
35 – 40% of the country worships as Muslim while another 25 – 35% worships a form of Christianity.
Cote d’Ivoire gained their independence from France on August 7, 1960.
The country is rich in natural resources such as oil, gold (INSERT ANGRY BLACK GIRL COMMENT: that explains why the Whites invaded – always tryna take something that ain’t theirs *smh*), cocoa (I can look forward to some yummy chocolate!), timber, rubber, rice and corn.
But for anyone who knows me, you know I am looking forward to learning a new dance, lots of eating and lots of ice cold drinks er preferably with alcohol in them. I always try the local beer and only in Nigeria was I disappointed in the local beer (I was quite a HUGE fan of the beer (Prestige) and rum (Barbacourt) in Haiti). Well on the social front I have several “contacts”: I have two past training participants who know I love to dance and then there is my colleague with whom I am traveling. She grew up in this country and as she is in her mid-20s I expect to sleep very little, dance and sweat very much. In preparation I will be packing the following:
Over 30 Tryna Party with a 25 Year Old Packing List
1.Gummy vitamins with energy and immunity support
2.8 12oz sugar-free redbulls
3.Airborne
4.Fiber One granola bars
5.Core Rhythms Program DVD (20 minute and 60 minute workout)
Throw in the necessary toiletries, some work clothes, some booty poppin’ jeans, some cleavage complimenting shirts, work shoes, sandals and sexy wedges and viola I am packed!
It seems so easy as I type it out … and yet I have barely started …
I must bring this entry to and end so that I can finish packing or go to bed. Either way I leave tomorrow - destination: Cote d’Ivoire.
There is something very special about attending an HBCU (Historically Black College University). While there are 105 HBCUs in the country there is only ONE that stood out to me: the illustrious Clark Atlanta University.
In 1996, a junior in high school, I had taken the SATs and scored "low" with a score of 1020 (damn math section). My mother was pretty insistent on having me stay "local" and "wholesome" so she had me apply to Mary Washington (Fredericksburg, VA), Hood College (an all female college), George Mason University (Fairfax, VA) and Marymount (Arlington VA). I was accepted into every one except for Mary Washington. My mother was furious! How could they not offer me admission when my grandmother and her 3 sisters put in 100 years of service at this institution! So what did she do? Called the office of the President, of course ... my parents and I were allowed to meet with the President to discuss my letter and in short I was not offered admission as the average GPA was 3.3 (my average was 3.1) and SAT score of 1100 (clearly I did not make the cut by the numbers). I understood and was ready to go. THEN my mom hit him up with "Her father's family has put in over 100 years of service at this institution ..." and then he looks at my father and I could see it in his eyes *damn* ... after brief family tree introductions the President offers me admission - FREE - just pay for the cost of books. My mother was in the corner raising up hands of praise to baby Jesus. I kept the straight face. I then asked him about activities on campus as I am on the step team at my high school (FACT: Gar-Field High School in Woodbridge VA had the FIRST step team in Prince William County). His face brightened up and he eagerly says, "While we do not have any African-American social groups on campus (i.e. Black sororities and fraternities), we do have an excellent water polo team and frisbee football is quite popular on the campus." WHAT IN THE HELL IS FRISBEE FOOTBALL?!? And WHERE is the water polo team playing (do they play in water)?? I kept the straight face. My dad saved me and said, "Thank you, can we think about it?" The President looked at me again and said, "College is an important time of your life. If you enjoy your experience it will be one of the best times of your life. But if you do not, if you are not active on campus or not interested in campus activities, it could also be the worse. So yes, take your time and think about it." I thanked him and we left the beautifully carpeted office.
While my mom continued to praise baby Jesus for such a blessing I was silent and thinking "I am going to be miserable if I attend this lack of Black school ..." On Monday morning I went back to school and discussed the meeting with my principle, a white man whose name slips my mind this morning. Anyha, he suggests an HBCU bus tour. For those Caucasians reading this blog, HBCUs were founded after slavery to educate the newly freed black men and women now runnin' loose as a goose throughout the south and east coast. Most of them started off small and humble in a train car or in churches. I take him up on his offer and we visit the following schools:
Johnson C. Smith -- nope! Too hood
North Carolina Central -- it was aight. EVERYBODY stepped instead of walking. I was like "Wow this campus has some rhythm.
North Carolina A&T -- A WINNER! This school offered me a bowling scholarship! ** Yes, in my hay day I was an avid bowler, on a league for 9 years ... but I digress ** This is the school I was going to attend! I got on the bus excited but knowing we had one more stop in Georgia.
Atlanta University Center. This included Spelman, Morehouse, Morris Brown and Clark Atlanta University. I already knew Spelman was a HELL NO, Morehouse was NOT APPLICABLE and Morris Brown was BLAH. Then I walked onto the campus of Clark Atlanta University. It had just been remodeled for the upcoming Olympics (yeah the ones in 1996). Seeing this campus was like seeing the love of your life for the first time. My heart skipped a beat and I knew come hell or high water THIS was where I was going to go
But Clark Atlanta was not cheap -- $20k / year + fees + books. My mother was like "Hell naw!" Then I got the lecture of how dare I look a blessing of FREE education in the face and turn it down blah blah blah ... but I am a daddy's girl. I looked at him with the puss in boots eyes - you know the ones:
"Daddy, please ... I would be miserable at Mary Washington. Please daddy ... please" and I let tears fly and ran away in the most dramatic way.
Clark Atlanta University is a private, HBU in Atlanta, Georgia. It was formed in 1988 with the consolidation of Clark College (founded in 1869) and Atlanta University (founded in 1865). Our mottoes are "I’ll Find a Way or Make One" (Atlanta University) and "Culture for Service" (Clark College). And dammit since I was set on attending CAU, I was going to "find a way or make one" to make sure that happened!
I walked onto the campus of Clark Atlanta University in August of 1997. I was home. I was on the campus on which notable men and women had walked, taught, studied and graduated. Notable people such as Ralph Abernathy (Civil Rights Leader alongside Dr. Martin Luther King), James Weldon Johnson (poet, author, Civil Rights Leader most known for penning the National Negro Anthem, "Lift Every Voice and Sing"), Marva Collins (renowned educator) ... in "pop culture" students included, Bobby Valentino, Ma$e (he loves Ms. Pac-Man in slow draw "Can I get some qwaaaters" ROFL and *smh*) and Eve from Americas Next Top Model ... notable faculty includes none other than W.E.B DuBois and Whitman Mayo (known as "Grady" on Sanford and Son) ... my sophmore year I lived in Pascal's. Pascal's "back in the day" was a hotel which became the "unofficial headquarters" of the civil rights movement - Dr. Martin Luther da King (in my Coming to America voice) ate at this hotel, slept in this hotel and met with other civil rights leaders to plan / strategize at this hotel. This hotel was now my dorm. This hotel is where I ate dinner - in the same restaurant he ate, chatted, laughed and planned.
My parents, to this day, remind me of how much they paid and as I paid for my 5th year (decided to get a second degree at the last minute) I too am reminded by Sallie Mae of what Clark Atlanta cost me financially. But I have ZERO regrets! How could I? I was shadowing famous Black men and women who have shaped our present time. Secondly, I met life long friends, have memories that happened 14+ years ago that still crack me up when I think about them. I was on our Freshman step team and then able to coach our Freshman dorm girls to a victory the next year. I was on a campus that was overflowing with beautiful blackness. Yeah there was a rack of females (we are 25 females to every male) but those men were lookin' good too! And then there is Homecoming.
Homecoming at an HBCU is like a Black Cookout for an entire weekend. You spend the weekend sippin' on your favorite beverage, hugging people you havent seen, meeting people who have always wanted to talk to you but never had the nerve, dancing - sweatin' out the weave, laughing, creating new memories at which I will laugh at for a lifetime. Nobody watches the game, because we are never sure our team is going to win (we love them all the same) ... naw we go to the game to see the band. We go to the game to see our friends. We go to the game to hop from tent to tent and nosh on yummy soul food and sip on a different color punch. We go to the game to socialize. And if at the end of the game, someone notices we won they shout out, "Aw damn, we actually WON!" And then we cheer: CCCCCCCC AAAAAAA U-U-U-U Mighty Panthers! Yeah our spirit is flaky. But its a consistent flakiness haha
Finally, the parties. Now, if you wanna know what is gonna get me and my girls out on the dance floor droppin' it like its hot in our 30s - please see the videos below:
What makes KK Singleton aka Popcorn aka Big Sister Soul Glow drop her drink and RUN to the dance floor?
Dawn aka Abyss aka One Roll Wonder gets hype to:
What makes Phoebe aka SOB aka Big Sister Wheat n Cheese put her drink down and RUN to the dance floor:
So please MOVE B*TCH, GET OUT THE WAY if one of these songs come on ... cuz you WILL get run over by one of us runnin' to the dance floor.
Time to stop bloggin' and prepare for DAY 2 of CAU Homecoming 2011.
London at night is absolutely gorgeous. The lights, the scents in the air, the echo of laughter, the jolly "cheers" you hear as you walk past a pub, the coziness you witness between a couple walking past you, holding each other tight to keep the other warm and even the silence you experience as you stare at something that you have only read about as a tourist i.e. the London Bridge, the Tower of London, Shakespeare's The Globe or a walk around the Thames River and Pier.
