Posts tagged Africa
Jon’s Early perceptions of Lisbon
Jun 2nd
There are fifty-seven varieties of people here. Different skin colors, languages, body types, clothing. The people are generally poor except for the tourists.
We saw an old replica of a giant Portuguese galleon and the carcass of an old submarine in a river near the train station in downtown Lisbon.
Africa is not that far away. Black people from Africa are much darker than American negroes. Someone told me that Portugal started the slave trade.
Many people here smoke cigarettes and drink Coca-Cola. Many women have tattoes and some piercings. There aren’t many pretty ones. People are poor and not so healthy-looking except for the tourists. There aren’t many public toilets and some of the streets smell like urine.
There is a US Embassy that might have information about places to live and where the English-speaking people are. I might be able to teach English somewhere, but I’ve read employment doesn’t pay much and finding employment is difficult, coming from the USA.
People from the European Union (EU) have advantages here over US citizens, like getting extended visas. The Portuguese government runs most business. Not much free enterprise. In government buildings and banks, you take a number from a machine and then wait for your number to see an agent.
Millenium banks have the most ATM machines throughout Europe. If you use a credit card from the US, there is a considerable surcharge at the ATMs. There is a conversion fee from US dollars to euros.
There is a lot of tile here. There are many apartments and few houses. Streets are narrow with cars parking on the street and sidewalks on both sides. Most have one-way traffic, often with roundabouts at major intersections. Many of the cars are quite small and there are tuk tuks and tour buses downtown.
Tuk tuks are small carriages with a lawnmower-type of engine. Petrol efficiency is important because the price per liter is similar to the price of a gallon in the USA.
The term America, referring to the United States, seems like a misnomer to me. Americans could also be from Canada and South America.
One lady commented that everything is better in the United States, but we don’t know how to choose a president. She said she was afraid of President Trump. Presumably because billionaires don’t have much in common with ordinary people.
Jon Graham’s Travel Journal : Lisbon, Portugal
“Channel 1 Networks Jon Graham has moved from Boulder to Florida and now Portugal. Jon will be sending dispatches from Portugal, Europe about his travels and impressions of European life compared to American Life.”
News from Flagler College – October 29, 2012
Oct 29th
After studying African history at Northwestern University, Caitlin Kelley realized just studying history wasn’t enough: she wanted to make some.
Her path took her to Tanzania where Kelley learned Swahili and worked at a grassroots non-governmental organization, learning the world of local NGO’s and meeting many passionate locals hungry to find ways to make a positive impact in their country.
In 2009, Kelley founded Africa Volunteer Corps, which aims to foster homegrown leaders for African development and strengthen ground-up social change in Africa.
“I will discuss my personal story starting Africa Volunteer Corps, the work we do, along with our vision for the future and the impact we have already seen as well as the challenges I have faced and how I overcame them,” said Kelley, who will speak at Flagler College on Nov. 8. “I’ll also discuss what it means to be the change you want to see in the world and the lessons I have learned along this journey.”
Kelley’s lecture, “Becoming the Change You Want to See,” will take place at 7 p.m. on Nov. 8 in the Gamache-Koger Theater in the Ringhaver Student Center at 50 Sevilla St., St. Augustine.
For more info call Holly Hill, Assistant Director of College Relations, at 904-819-6282.
Miller’s “Ideas and Images” lecture postponed due to storm
Due to Hurricane Sandy, J. Michael Miller’s Nov. 1 “Ideas and Images” series lecture has been postponed. The event will be rescheduled in the spring semester.
The “Ideas and Images” series will resume with acclaimed writer, producer and director Helen Whitney who will speak on “A Life in Film; Spiritual Landscapes,” a retrospective of the last 40 years of her life and work, with an emphasis on the defining spiritual themes.
Whitney’s lectures will take place at 7 p.m. Nov. 6-7 and 13-14 in the Lewis Auditorium at Flagler College, 14 Granada St., St. Augustine.
“Ideas and Images: Visiting Scholars and Artists Program” will feature an international composition of artists and authors, introducing a fresh and creative component to the greater St. Augustine community.
Each event is free and open to the public. Call (904) 819-6282 or visit www.flagler.edu/our-community for more information.
Source: Flagler College
Students to host Refugee Awareness Day at Flagler College
Oct 5th
“For a project in the class, we worked with World Relief of Jacksonville, who resettle refugees,” said Carr. “After we put together a documentary about African refugees, Dr. John Young suggested we put on an event with local refugee organizations.”
And that is just what they’ve done. On October 18th, Carr and Cogley will host a series of events in the Gamache-Koger Theater in the Ringhaver Student Center at Flagler College for a community-wide refugee awareness day.
“Very few people realize we have significant refugee populations here in north Florida,” Carr explained. “They are becoming our neighbors and fellow American citizens. Their stories are incredible and they are part of a greater American story.”
Through the event, Carr and Cogley hope to provide Flagler the opportunity to build relationships between the college and local organizations that reach out to refugees.
“As a college, we should devote our time to bringing people out of crisis and into new lives here in Florida,” said Carr.
The events in the Gamache Theater will be as follows:
1:30pm – Administrative leaders and refugees from Catholic Charities, Lutheran Social Services and World Relief will speak and share problems of refugee resettlement with Flagler students and the public
3:30-6:30pm – A screening of the documentary “The Last Survivor,” will be featured, along with an exhibit of Flagler clubs such as Model UN, Political Guild, Phi Alpha Theta/History Club and Human Rights
7:30pm – A faculty panel on accountability in the global refugee crisis, with Dr. Vanden Houten (mediator), Dr. John Young, Dr. Brenda Kauffman, Dr. Rachel Cremona and Dr. Tina Jaeckle
The event is free and open to the public. The Ringhaver Student Center is at 50 Sevilla St. For more information, contact Ron Carr at RCarr146@flagler.edu.
Source: Flagler College