Thanks, John. Don’t think we ever met, but I remember hearing your name often in pcv circles. Brings back memories of well digging projects (did some w Bob McGurn) during la secheresse. But, Pink Floyd, Far side of a the moon, in the bled?
Awesome. - cheers, Frank Donovan (aka Doudou Diallo)
What a magnificent story. A lot had changed in the 20 years since you were in West Africa, but I was a PCV in Benin in the mid-90s. My weird-connection-back-home story took place on a long train ride, in a remote rail yard outside Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. We had traveled overnight, either heading to or coming from Victoria Falls on our "close of service" trip, before returning home. A young child was running alongside the train, waiving a newspaper at me that had written in enormous font as the headline "OJ Innocent". It took me a moment to realize this was in reference to OJ Simpson, who was on trial at the time in the US - we later determined that 19 hours had passed since the verdict was issued. The world was already getting smaller!
My introduction to that album was a similar revelatory experience, but that was only psychedelics speaking (kidding. At a party at my girlfriend's house, I stopped everything I was doing or saying and listened intently. Her family thought I was nuts).
_Dark Side of the Moon_ was a kick in the head the first time I heard it at Frank's house. I can't imagine what it must have been like in the middle of the desert after months of withdrawal from Western media.
Wonderful story, John! Can’t believe I stumbled across this. Reading it made lots of Sahel memories flood back. I actually met you once in Podor in ‘75 or ‘76. I was the English teacher at the CEG and we must have met on the road as I was walking home past the post office. We were talking and you said something in Pulaar to one of the bystanders and I never heard the end of it because you spoke so well! But it was a good thing because if one American could learn Pulaar, they thought, there was hope for me. Best regards, Karen Fisher aka Coumba Thiam
Thanks, John. Don’t think we ever met, but I remember hearing your name often in pcv circles. Brings back memories of well digging projects (did some w Bob McGurn) during la secheresse. But, Pink Floyd, Far side of a the moon, in the bled?
Awesome. - cheers, Frank Donovan (aka Doudou Diallo)
What a magnificent story. A lot had changed in the 20 years since you were in West Africa, but I was a PCV in Benin in the mid-90s. My weird-connection-back-home story took place on a long train ride, in a remote rail yard outside Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. We had traveled overnight, either heading to or coming from Victoria Falls on our "close of service" trip, before returning home. A young child was running alongside the train, waiving a newspaper at me that had written in enormous font as the headline "OJ Innocent". It took me a moment to realize this was in reference to OJ Simpson, who was on trial at the time in the US - we later determined that 19 hours had passed since the verdict was issued. The world was already getting smaller!
you are fucking kidding me...that's amazing
My introduction to that album was a similar revelatory experience, but that was only psychedelics speaking (kidding. At a party at my girlfriend's house, I stopped everything I was doing or saying and listened intently. Her family thought I was nuts).
I loved this story. Thank you, John.
_Dark Side of the Moon_ was a kick in the head the first time I heard it at Frank's house. I can't imagine what it must have been like in the middle of the desert after months of withdrawal from Western media.
Wonderful story, John! Can’t believe I stumbled across this. Reading it made lots of Sahel memories flood back. I actually met you once in Podor in ‘75 or ‘76. I was the English teacher at the CEG and we must have met on the road as I was walking home past the post office. We were talking and you said something in Pulaar to one of the bystanders and I never heard the end of it because you spoke so well! But it was a good thing because if one American could learn Pulaar, they thought, there was hope for me. Best regards, Karen Fisher aka Coumba Thiam
Great story!
Two typos, one in the song was / wash
And one in the before last sentence recored / record.