Niamey, Niger, Update #1, 1-7-09
Dr. Kathy Koch on January 7th, 2009 | Filed under International Trip
Ellen’s cell phone rang at 10:00 p.m. All of us immediately knew what she was hearing was important. A group of 10 of us had just arrived in Niamey, Niger, by way of Paris. We were settling in to our guest house.
When she got off the phone, Ellen told us that a friend had just informed her that demonstrations about the Gaza Strip conflict would take place at 8:00 a.m. this next morning. (Today as I’m writing.) That meant that the one major bridge of the one major road through town might be closed. Apparently the demonstrations traditionally take place near the university because the demonstrators have more power by shutting down the one major bridge/road through this huge city.
I find it interesting that demonstrations are announced. I think that makes them legal. All it meant for us is that the group who needed to get to the Christian school to test children had to leave an hour earlier than intended to make sure they made it over the bridge. I was glad that wasn’t me. I slept in to help get over jet lag. In a few minutes I’ll eat lunch and then we’ll all head to the school to tour where our conference will take place. It begins tomorrow. More about that later.
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