And so today we are off. We are scheduled to fly back to Accra later this afternoon via the amazingly luxe Emirates airline. Emirates is based out of Dubai, and their whole image/set-up/customer service thing is beyond compare, at least from my experience. I remember when Delta used to give out little bags of peanuts on short flights from Tallahassee to Atlanta. Emirates, on the other hand, whips out an entire snack/meal in the course of 45 minutes which includes a hot towel, TWO sandwiches, a cup of "fresh" fruit, and a juice box.
Abidjan has been an incredible experience, both professionally and personally. Professionally, I have survived my first circuit ride without any major screw-ups or melt-downs. I've met some strong, determined refugees who I feel are deserving of some sort of a break for Pete's sake, as well as some who could use a crash course in honesty. The refugees I've interviewed have been from Liberia, Rwanda, and Congo. OPE is scheduled to make another circuit ride in early December to Dakar, Senegal. As most of my co-workers will be off on holiday at that time, I've been told that I am most definitely slated to go on that ride, so we'll see how time in the office in Accra improves my interviewing and processing skills, and my overall understanding of how OPE operates.
Personally, I feel I've taken as much advantage of the sights, foods and culture Abidjan has to offer as possible. Our heavy work loads and long hours--and my bad French--prevented me from doing a whole heck of a bunch, but again, I think I did okay in getting to know the place. I've eaten plenty of attieke, which is the typical Ivorian fare. It's basically grated cassava that has a texture and consistency like cous cous, served with chicken, fish or beef (goat? I don't know. I just had the fish and chicken). It also comes with a heaping of pimon, or pepe, or pepper, which is flipping delicious and can clear out the most oppressive of sinus stop-ups.
(shout-out to Seester: I hear you are suffering from sinus problems! Come visit!)
I've been to the artisan and local markets, as well as the beach. The beach was super nice, although the vendors were a bit annoying. Alexis (a co-worker) and I managed to find a local spot where all the Ivorians were hanging out, and we settled ourselves there for a few good hours and enjoyed a few good Flag--a West African beer. The more Flag we had, the bolder we were in practicing our awful French. It amused some people there, and they bought us more Flag in appreciation for the entertainment.
I'll have to close here because I need to pack up my stuff. Before we leave today, some co-workers and I are going to take the water taxi around the lagoon that pushes in and around downtown Abidjan. We're also going to hopefully get a peek at the Cathedral St. Paul, designed by some Italian dude and boasting a huge, strange, blocky stylized figure of "St. Paul" in the front of the place. I always thought the figure looked like an abstract elephant, but whatever.
More later! LOVE YOU!
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Okay so it's 5 somthing AM in Florida.
ReplyDeleteI stumbled on here - then I see you write interestingly and I'm a travelicious dude and curious by nature. I've looked at 5 or 7 posts but where do you work? You don't say. SO...I figured it out.
Because you said OPE. Overseas Processing Entity? So you do something with this fiasco: Refugee admissions processing in sub-Saharan Africa is overseen by Refugee Coordinators at U.S. Embassies in Nairobi and Accra, with the assistance of an Overseas Processing Entity (OPE) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in each location. Processing takes place during “circuit rides” originating at the regional OPEs in Nairobi and Accra and is the result of careful coordination between the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) (for identification of refugees and provision of logistical support on site), OPE (for case preparation and post-DHS adjudication processing), the Department of Homeland Security/ US Citizenship and Immigration Services (DHS/USCIS) (for refugee claim adjudication), and IOM (for medical screening and travel arrangements). Nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) that have received training from the Department of State may also play a role in the identification and referral of refugees for U.S. resettlement.
You are brave because that sounds like a clusterf-word-uck at a snake farm WAY far away.
Very interesting. What a brave lady. BTW. I have a multi-tool that you made that comes in handy. Nuff bout you, let's talk about me.
(as if you cared)
The doctrine of Quid Pro Quo dictates that I must divulge what I do in an acronymical manner I suppose. See up there where you say "Delta". See my fake name? Tada. Not actually Delta, I'm home every night. Think....Florida....Flight Instructor Capital Of The World. Too nerdy for ya? Too much info?
I have a blog too. It's distributed all over the comments of other people's blogs. That way I always have something to blab about.
BTW. That Italian dude was a tad Frageee-lay in the ol' partybubble (his pineapple) and thought
St. Paul was the/is the patron Saint of abstract elephants. See? One learns a lot from other people's blogs. I don't know you but please be careful over there. No really. Here I am (never been) telling you (who is there), all about it. Most ironic. HAHAHAHA. Sometimes I just think funny things.