Physically in San Diego but "body time" is still somewhere over the Atlantic.
As chickens in Angola run for their lives (therefore, very skinny and chewy) I bought a pampered American chicken yesterday. Yum!
A very Happy Turkey Day to all.
Monday, November 15, 2010
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Leaving Angola - again
I was able to see the town of Benguela over the weekend as I walked for hours on Saturday. There was a long parade with hundreds of people – celebrating the National Independence Day early! Benguela does not have the ravages of war that are still seen in Huambo. The sidewalks are good and the houses lack bullet holes. I am told that Benguela was “spruced up” before last year’s Africa Cup as it was one of the venues.
The houses in this town are lovely, large and painted in bright colors. I am reminded of the change in Prague’s Old Town Square during the early 1990’s. The buildings were drab until a municipal project turned the square’s buildings into a rainbow of pastel colors. I can make the same comparison between Huambo (very gray) and Benguela.
I went into several shops and saw first hand, the impact of the Chinese merchants in Africa. Consumer goods of all kinds are for sale – all made in China – all sold by Chinese men and women. The shops are crammed from floor to ceiling. However, the only Chinese restaurant in Benguela is now Brazilian food! It still has the red lanterns in the front but no more dim sum.
There is a large well designed basketball court near my guest house. I watched young men (20’s) playing. Angola always has a great basketball team and wins the African championship often. Each club team had cheerleaders and noisy fans! The basketball has some differences from the American game and the refs allowed much more physical contact.
During my walks, I see many women selling produce on the streets. It was a feat to only buy one banana as she was insistent that I needed 6! Great sales technique. I also had marvelous gelato from a small shop. As the weather has been very hot and humid, it was a treat.
The owner of the guest house where I am staying is an American, Nancy. She came to Angola 15 years ago with a NGO and never left. Her business has two parts: the guest house and a school for English. Every evening when I return from work, young adults are in class. I had the privilege of speaking to two classes. They asked me questions about the USA and my life. I asked each one the same question, “When your English is perfect, how will your life change?” The answers are revealing. Most talked about advancement in their profession or a change in jobs but one Brazilian ex pat said, “I will be able to understand the TV!”
I was able to see other parts of this province with Nancy and her friends during some short trips. The coast here reminds me of Baja – the water is warm and the cliffs often go right into the water. I did not bring a suit so just put my feet in. Angolans are good ocean/bay swimmers as well as fisherman.
One last comparison: when I work in Ghana 10+ years ago, I was considered “rich” because I was large. In Benguela, many people are much larger than I. There is prosperity here – people drive large SUV’s, the houses are large, the shops are filled. I have not seen the countryside in this province but the city is prosperous.
My work with CNFA and CLUSA has gone well. The Board of Directors for the two Cooperatives are very attentive. It is hard as the language of financial numbers is very new to all of them. These are very small cooperatives with primary crops of bananas, tomatoes, and onions. None of these crops store well so the issues are different from the Huambo region where maize could be stores and also ground. As each of these Cooperatives has recently received a loan, it was important to focus on the repayment aspects for the cooperative. I calculated the daily interest expense and it was an eye opener. Several Directors said that the bank did not charge interest on the loan on Sunday as it was not a work day! My hope is that I created a sense of urgency in each Cooperative to continue learning the financial aspects of the Cooperative’s business.
CLUSA was an excellent host. I received some lovely fabric from them – “to make a dress”!
I am off to Luanda on Wednesday the 10th – then Joburg SA – Atlanta and San Diego on the 12th. It has been a wonderful but short trip. Too many Angolan holidays!
The houses in this town are lovely, large and painted in bright colors. I am reminded of the change in Prague’s Old Town Square during the early 1990’s. The buildings were drab until a municipal project turned the square’s buildings into a rainbow of pastel colors. I can make the same comparison between Huambo (very gray) and Benguela.
I went into several shops and saw first hand, the impact of the Chinese merchants in Africa. Consumer goods of all kinds are for sale – all made in China – all sold by Chinese men and women. The shops are crammed from floor to ceiling. However, the only Chinese restaurant in Benguela is now Brazilian food! It still has the red lanterns in the front but no more dim sum.
There is a large well designed basketball court near my guest house. I watched young men (20’s) playing. Angola always has a great basketball team and wins the African championship often. Each club team had cheerleaders and noisy fans! The basketball has some differences from the American game and the refs allowed much more physical contact.
During my walks, I see many women selling produce on the streets. It was a feat to only buy one banana as she was insistent that I needed 6! Great sales technique. I also had marvelous gelato from a small shop. As the weather has been very hot and humid, it was a treat.
The owner of the guest house where I am staying is an American, Nancy. She came to Angola 15 years ago with a NGO and never left. Her business has two parts: the guest house and a school for English. Every evening when I return from work, young adults are in class. I had the privilege of speaking to two classes. They asked me questions about the USA and my life. I asked each one the same question, “When your English is perfect, how will your life change?” The answers are revealing. Most talked about advancement in their profession or a change in jobs but one Brazilian ex pat said, “I will be able to understand the TV!”
I was able to see other parts of this province with Nancy and her friends during some short trips. The coast here reminds me of Baja – the water is warm and the cliffs often go right into the water. I did not bring a suit so just put my feet in. Angolans are good ocean/bay swimmers as well as fisherman.
One last comparison: when I work in Ghana 10+ years ago, I was considered “rich” because I was large. In Benguela, many people are much larger than I. There is prosperity here – people drive large SUV’s, the houses are large, the shops are filled. I have not seen the countryside in this province but the city is prosperous.
My work with CNFA and CLUSA has gone well. The Board of Directors for the two Cooperatives are very attentive. It is hard as the language of financial numbers is very new to all of them. These are very small cooperatives with primary crops of bananas, tomatoes, and onions. None of these crops store well so the issues are different from the Huambo region where maize could be stores and also ground. As each of these Cooperatives has recently received a loan, it was important to focus on the repayment aspects for the cooperative. I calculated the daily interest expense and it was an eye opener. Several Directors said that the bank did not charge interest on the loan on Sunday as it was not a work day! My hope is that I created a sense of urgency in each Cooperative to continue learning the financial aspects of the Cooperative’s business.
CLUSA was an excellent host. I received some lovely fabric from them – “to make a dress”!
I am off to Luanda on Wednesday the 10th – then Joburg SA – Atlanta and San Diego on the 12th. It has been a wonderful but short trip. Too many Angolan holidays!
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Mosquitos are eating me alive
My trip from San Diego was uneventful – just several stops: Atlanta, Joburg South Africa, and Luanda Angola. It poured the night I was in Luanda so I was “room” bound.
Nancy’s Guest House is an interesting place. It is/was a home in a very residential neighborhood. Several small buildings were added which have the rooms – mine is the Wood Room as it is entirely paneled in pine – even the ceiling! Nancy is out of Angola until Thursday. She also runs an English School. There are adults of all ages learning English through the Direct Method.
On Monday I went to the CLUSA office with Luciano, the CNFA Program Manager from Huambo. My project in Benguela is jointly managed by CLUSA and CNFA. I am the first volunteer. The SOW (Scope of Work) was to consult and train with one Cooperative, Twassuka in the areas of Cooperative management, Finance, Leadership, etc. At the first meeting with CLUSA Luciano and I were told that a second Cooperative, Camehe would also be participating. The consulting and training will take place in the CLUSA offices as the two cooperatives are very small with no buildings of their own. We are expecting ~10 people. The room has “school” chairs with a flip up writing surface.
CLUSA’s office is quite large – a two story building in the center of Benguela. There are at least 7 staff members: Director, 2 Program Managers, Office Administrator, Drivers and others. As the building was a home, there is a kitchen which will be used to provide lunch for the participants.
Tuesday November 2nd
This is a national holiday in Angola – Day of the Dead. It is for remembrance of those departed. I did go to a nearby Catholic church which was empty. The beaches however were full. It is hot and humid now in Angola and the general population took the opportunity to enjoy a fine day swimming and partying with friends. I decided that an old large white woman on the beach was not in order!
Dinner was in a nearby outdoor pub – wonderful bean soup, bread and a Cuca (Angolan beer.)
Wednesday November 3rd
My class is 8 farmers from 2 Cooperatives and 3 CLUSA employees. My SOW is very broad – financial management to organizational structure to decision making to team building. Our first day included Mission Statements, Vision Statements, Organizational Structure and Responsibilities, and Bank Loan Request.
Thursday November 4th
We continued today with Business Plans, SWOT Analysis, Ansoff Matrix, and the beginning of Financial Statement. I stress that a Cooperative must be a business, not just a social organization but I am not sure that I am being understood
Nancy’s Guest House is an interesting place. It is/was a home in a very residential neighborhood. Several small buildings were added which have the rooms – mine is the Wood Room as it is entirely paneled in pine – even the ceiling! Nancy is out of Angola until Thursday. She also runs an English School. There are adults of all ages learning English through the Direct Method.
On Monday I went to the CLUSA office with Luciano, the CNFA Program Manager from Huambo. My project in Benguela is jointly managed by CLUSA and CNFA. I am the first volunteer. The SOW (Scope of Work) was to consult and train with one Cooperative, Twassuka in the areas of Cooperative management, Finance, Leadership, etc. At the first meeting with CLUSA Luciano and I were told that a second Cooperative, Camehe would also be participating. The consulting and training will take place in the CLUSA offices as the two cooperatives are very small with no buildings of their own. We are expecting ~10 people. The room has “school” chairs with a flip up writing surface.
CLUSA’s office is quite large – a two story building in the center of Benguela. There are at least 7 staff members: Director, 2 Program Managers, Office Administrator, Drivers and others. As the building was a home, there is a kitchen which will be used to provide lunch for the participants.
Tuesday November 2nd
This is a national holiday in Angola – Day of the Dead. It is for remembrance of those departed. I did go to a nearby Catholic church which was empty. The beaches however were full. It is hot and humid now in Angola and the general population took the opportunity to enjoy a fine day swimming and partying with friends. I decided that an old large white woman on the beach was not in order!
Dinner was in a nearby outdoor pub – wonderful bean soup, bread and a Cuca (Angolan beer.)
Wednesday November 3rd
My class is 8 farmers from 2 Cooperatives and 3 CLUSA employees. My SOW is very broad – financial management to organizational structure to decision making to team building. Our first day included Mission Statements, Vision Statements, Organizational Structure and Responsibilities, and Bank Loan Request.
Thursday November 4th
We continued today with Business Plans, SWOT Analysis, Ansoff Matrix, and the beginning of Financial Statement. I stress that a Cooperative must be a business, not just a social organization but I am not sure that I am being understood
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