The majority of students in Africa today have access to at least the most basic of ICT communications, e-mail. With the arrival of 3G phones and the rapid diffusion of mobile telephony on the continent, in the near future there will be few barriers to communication among students worldwide, other than language.

The mango and the banana

I am sitting now at the restaurant Palmeraie on Ponty street in Dakar. I am feeling a little bad, but mostly fantastic and I should explain this and the title. It's a little bit of a long story, and very, very rambling, just to warn. Like a taxi ride in Dakar, it is a road that is messy, chaotic and full of life!

Today I went to meet the friends from yesterday to play music. I took just my guitar and fit the things I needed into its pockets. I'm speaking better and better broken French! Mon ami Amadou (very common name here) wanted to meet at midi (noon), but I spent the morning cooking a Polish stew that I had learnt from a fellow treeplanter way back in 95. It's called something like 'Gewedge', but I made it without meat and rice instead. Excellent!!

My second weekend in Dakar, and I've been helped by my hosts to get to know the city and how to do commerce and keep out of trouble!! So, I went out a couple of times by myself last few days. I've haggled, I think fairly successfully for some gifts and things for myself. I worked really hard on my presentation, which was behind, and for my summer job which is actually full-time, to meet a deadline. Up all night, and saw the sunrise over the Atlantic before sleeping. Here's a pic of me hard at work The Forum is on the 27th, you can view the programme here.

My first blog from Dakar, Senegal, unfortunately is short and will test my feed to facebook etc. I am setting up with hope to find time to blog in the next few days. Tomorrow I visit Cheikh Anta Diop University in Dakar, and IFAN - google it!!!!!!

Arif

In between research on ICTs, access to knowledge and global development (see www.stratongina.net/ICTA2K4D), my new contract researching social housing and marking papers, Stratongina Unlimited designed www.morphysfallspub.com for the new owners at 12 Bell Street formerly the Leatherworks. That's why it's called unlimited!

Great people, and a fantastic location. It is actually stumbling distance from my house, though I don't get around to much stumbling these days.

Good food, great beer and on the banks of the Mississipi River. If you're in Carleton Place, Ontario, drop in.

Thank you Drupal once again, and the designers of the Four Seasons theme.

Arif

Jinha family page here.

Family photo gallery.

Stratongina is also a simple drink recipe.

Take 1 can of frozen fruit drink.

Instead of following the directions like a mindless drone, substitute Club Soda or Perrier for the water.

The result is a dazzling refreshing sparkling drink - the Stratongina, all rights released hereabouts under a 'Dowhatchalike' open license. Dowatchalike, but don't reserve the rights exclusively!

be good!