Tuesday, January 4, 2010

This morning, Joe and Dan were going to take the paperwork to the Ghanaan Embassy to get our visas.  Joe did some passport photos for the Posts, but the printer did not do a good enough job.  So, they needed to get photos.  They went to a place in Bassam, but they were out of ink.  So, they needed to go to Abidjan to get their pictures done.  Instead of doing school, we all decided to go to Abidjan.  

On the way into town, we saw some people reading the newspaper.  They weren't sitting at a table reading the paper though.  The newspaper stands hang one of each of all the different papers on some boards.  Everyone stands around and reads the headlines.

We passed a big pile of trash.  Gilbert was holding his nose.  When he got over the smell, he said, "Mom, there was a statue back there.  Do you know what his name is?"  I said, "No, what is it?"  He said, "He is the king of the trash statue."

We went to the Ghanaan Embassy first.  The Posts had gotten their pictures made and were in the visa line just in front of us.  They waited for Joe to get our stuff turned in. Then, we all ate lunch at Akle.  It is a restaurant that is owned by some Lebanese people from Quebec.  They have delicious chicken strips!  That was our first time to eat there since we've been back since we don't live on that side of the bridge any more.  We had a good time.

On the way home, Gilbert and Danny were having a discussion about the oceans.  Gilbert had learned the names of the oceans in school, but he couldn't remember them.  I reminded him of the names.  Then, he asked Joe, "What is the name of our ocean?"  Joe told him that it was the Atlantic Ocean that we were driving beside.  Gilbert went on to explain it all to Danny.  "Danny, there are four different oceans.  Our ocean is the Atlantic.  It's called the At-lan-tic, Danny."  Danny wasn't too concerned about the name of the ocean.  His question was, "Are their fish in that ocean, Gilbert?" To which Gilbert replied, "There's probably lots of fish, like Bland Lake.  There may even be a hunchback whale, Danny!"

Bonnie fell asleep on the way home.  Danny fell asleep for about the last five minutes.  So, none of the kids took a nap when we got home, but I did.  We called my dad first to wish him a Happy Birthday.

At the embassy, they told us that they had to have a letter requesting a one-year visa because they usually only give a three-month visa.  Joe went to work on that when we got back.  Then, he had to find a place in Bassam to fax it to the embassy.  He got that done.  So, we should be able to pick up the visas tomorrow afternoon.  

The visit from the other African presidents did not resolve anything.  Both presidents said that they are done with discussion and that they had won.  So, we still have two presidents.  There are talks of war, but no one is wanting to go up against Gbagbo's military.  Gbagbo and Ouattara agreed to meet, but then Ouattara changed his mind.  

While supper was in the oven, I was working on making cookies.  I was out of eggs; so, I borrowed an egg from Jennifer.  As I was cutting up the chocolate bar to use for chocolate chips, Danny came in and asked, "What are you doing, Mom?"  I told him that I was making cookies.  He said, "What kind of cookies?"  I said, "Chocolate chip."  He said, "With no eggs?  You're making cookies without eggs?"  I told him that I borrowed an egg from Jennifer.  He said, "Oh, can I have a piece of chocolate?"  Just after we finished that conversation, Joe came in and asked the same exact questions that Danny had just asked.  They are definitely alike!

This evening, Bonnie was "cooking" on the rug in our living room.  She had her pots and pans all spread out.  Then, she brought some food to me and Joe.  After that, she had to keep checking to see if it was okay.  She would come to me and ask, "Okay?"  I would tell her yes, and then she would go ask Joe the same thing.

A demain,

Joe, Laura, Gilbert, Danny, and Bonnie