only snapshots

October 17, 2011 · 4:17 pm

The Camelot of Africa

I found a guidebook that called this city the Camelot of Africa. And it makes sense – the city is full of castles. Well, my photos include zero of these castles…but, see, I needed a title that didn’t specifically state the name of the town, but still reflects the town, so it works fine for me (safety purposes and all…)

These are from my 3rd week here, when I went on a trip to this beautiful old city to visit its churches, high overlooks, and great market. I had coffee on top of a hill looking over the city, almost got robbed in the market, and found my art history textbooks coming to life in the old churches. Overall, I think it was a fantastic day.

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Filed under Food, Market

October 8, 2011 · 7:41 pm

a countryside mother

On my first day visiting the Women’s Center that my job here is connected with, I became awestruck with one of the mothers. She is a countryside girl that can’t be older than 20 with a little boy just learning how to walk. I first noticed her bumbling little boy trying to stand up by holding the bench I was sitting on. His little hand-me-down onesie was ripped and dirty; a once white and fuzzy pajama now a brown worn out daily uniform. But standing behind this snotty, dirty, little unstable boy was a very proud mother. She wore a composed and almost regal look, even though she was obviously very poor and maybe without family. I could not take my eyes off of her face. She is probably one of the most beautiful women I have every seen. Here jaw cuts a beautiful line, while the angle of her nose makes the most balanced profile. Traditional cross tattoos circle around her neck, jaw, and chin adding even more character and distinction. I have seen her twice since then and just happened to have my camera with me the last time. Surprisingly, the shy girl let me take her photograph. Because of our language barrier, I don’t know her name or her story. But by photographing her, I was able to communicate with her; form some sort of connection.

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Filed under Portraits

October 6, 2011 · 4:47 pm

view from the falls

This was my first trip outside of the city. And I cannot express how much I needed to see something besides the city. I was having a hard time finding something beautiful about my new home. But to stand on that hill and look at that site was like stepping back in history. To think about how important the Nile is and was to so many civilizations. How many travelers for thousands of years have stood where I stood? Goodness.

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Filed under Nature

September 28, 2011 · 4:24 pm

New Years in September

A week after I arrived in The Horn, everyone asked if I had my special New Year’s Day Outfit. New Years? Wait, you mean in September? Yup. And there was a special outfit! The tradition is to wear all white. Boys wear white suites, girls wear a white dress with a white scarf. The day before the celebration, we went to the open air market to look for dresses – and I mean there were 8 white women looking for traditional dresses – we definitely drew a crowd. Though it was an overwhelming experience, it was lovely to participate in something special to that culture. The dresses come in a few different styles (from very traditional to very modern) but most have an embroidered design down the front that matches your scarf.

It was not only a day for dressing up, but for eating special as well. Animals were being sold for slaughter all over the city. The day before the holiday, we saw piles of sheep and goat carcasses all around the city. But there were feasts to be had by all, and we were so lucky to be invited to a national friend’s house to eat and celebrate. This consisted of eating some choice ethnic food, drinking homemade special-drinks, a coffee ceremony, and socializing. We also had the privilege of being photographed around town, seeing as how we were the Americans-in-traditional-clothing oddity.

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Filed under Holiday

September 18, 2011 · 11:46 am

Afraid of taking photographs

For the first time in my life I am afraid to take pictures. At first, I told myself that it was because I needed to experience this culture without being concerned about artistic interpretation. While that may be partially true, it really just turns out to be fear. So what is it that I am worried about? Being culturally irresponsible. I don’t really know how these people view photography. No one else has a camera out all the time. The average person I meet is not used to some white person taking pictures of them and where they live or work or play. In America, I fit in. People are used to cameras and photojournalism. I stick out in Africa and my giant camera does too. I have got to get up the courage and I need to get some more information. But today, I feel comfortable taking pictures of where I live, inside of my walls, where no one can see me. So this is what I will share with you – my new place of residence. And boy, is it sure different than my last.

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Filed under Uncategorized

September 1, 2011 · 4:31 pm

Somebody’s gotta live here

Oh Bowling Green…you will always have a special place in my heart. And as Banjo Bill once sang, “Bowling Green, Bowling Green, Somebody’s gotta live in Bowling Green. Jesus lived in Galilee, so I guess it might as well be me. And here I walk the streets of Bowling Green.” He then goes on to say that “It is hard to break-up with Bowling Green.” I have done it once before and it was pretty darn hard. It is no different now.

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Filed under Bowling Green, Friends

August 26, 2011 · 12:56 pm

What I will miss the most

Well, actually, it is probably third, right behind sitting around front porches/ fire-pits with friends, and Sojourn. Okay, so what comes in third for what I will miss most about Louisville….The Food. There are restaurants everywhere, and they are locally owned, and there are so many great ones. Simply Thai, Vietnam Kitchen, The Fish House, Smoketown BBQ, Butterfly Garden, Highland Morning, Ramsi’s, Clifton’s – I could go on forever. You can find any style – ethnic, American, locally grown, highbrow or down-home. And what could make a visit to one of these great Louisville treasures better? The company of great friends. Before I left, I wanted to try a few of the restaurants I had heard great things about but never visited. Peake, Curtis, and I headed down to Butchertown to visit the critically acclaimed Blind Pig and it definitely lived up to its reputation.

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Filed under Food, Louisville

August 23, 2011 · 10:22 am

Mr. and Mrs. Jennings

There are just so many great people that I am leaving behind in Louisville. Brittany and Darren are two of the best.

Living in Community

In all the craziness that has been the last year of my life, I have had a group of people that have come around me and given me wise counsel, solid support, and much needed laughter. This group is a mishmash of different backgrounds, philosophies, and life stages. There is just something awesome about sharing your life with people that are so different than you. But what we do have in common is the most important thing. Community Group sure is beautiful.

the diesel train

They work as a trio. Three distinct personalities, one specific mission: to have fun. You know that if Alison, Jackie, and Courtney show up, it is going to be a good time.