A Little Touch of Africa

Paw Paw, Michigan


It was a quick run to Paw Paw, Michigan from the Poconos.

We spent our first night out with our friend Joe in the Poconos. We had planned to spend more time, but ten days of rain kept us at home.

The rain also made us have to hurry to get to Paw Paw in time for the wedding of our friends Sonia and Francis' son. We were also delayed by problems with the power steering unit on the van. The unit had started to go bad several years ago, but was finishing up now.

About 40 miles after leaving a Sears in Pennsylvania for a belt tightening, the belt snapped on I-80. I had a spare belt and, with the help of a state trooper, put it on while parked on the shoulder. Several adjustments later, we were in Paw Paw.

Paw Paw is said, by some locals, to be so nice that they named it twice. I wasn't there long enough to get that feeling, but there are three wineries in town.

We are trying something new. Just before we left we bought a digital camera which also does video and we have attached video clips of the joyous singing and dancing. Even if you don't understand Rwandan, it is enjoyable to watch and hear.

It was a pleasure to celebrate the wedding of Pasteur and Clementine with their family. The church service was mostly traditional, however there was an added blessing sung in Rwandan.



Japhet, Allen, Muchacho (father of the groom), Sonia (step-mother of the groom), and Sarah at the wedding reception.

The reception which followed the ceremony had many songs and dances. Some of them appear below as video clips.

Blessing the Bride and Groom

Introducing the New Couple

The Family Sings & Dances

Sarah Dances




Cutting the cake.


The bride provides sweets to her father-in-law.


Some of the best parts of being here was meeting up with friends from our previous trip here and sharing stories and ideas with members of Michigan's refugee Rwandan community as well as with Rwandans who flew in from Africa for the wedding. Some from Rwanda and others who are currently living in other African countries. The topics ranged from auto repairs to world politics.

Of particular interest to me were the discussions that I held over several days with Pastor Ted, the officiant. What did we discuss? Religion, and motorcycles.

Binder Park Zoo, Battle Creek, MI

Our group at the zoo: Sarah, Sonia, Sada (who flew in from Rwanda for the Wedding), and Allen. Although 'Wild Africa' was almost the only attraction at the Binder Park Zoo, this was the only elephant. Also, we saw no major carnivores, hippos, or rhinos.

The zoo didn't have very many animals.. Their only large display area was Wild Africa, and it lacked most of the major African animals. Wild Africa was a 1+ mile walk designed to resemble a national park.


We all took the opportunity to feed the giraffe. It's got a really long tongue, but doesn't say much.



Sada and Sarah create an electronic work of art at the Kalamazoo Institute of Art.


The Kalamazoo Institute of Art is an art school and museum. Most of the items on display were for sale. Not bad prices, either.


Regards,

Allen & Sarah



July 24, 2006

We're back home.

A combination of uncomfortably hot weather and an injury to my neck caused us to make the decision to come home, keep cool, and recuperate. A therapist (physical) might help.

After the wedding of Pasteur and Clementine, in Kalamazoo, we headed west to the eastern shore of Lake Michigan. The area is well known in ecological circles because of its pattern of biological succession. The well-known film Succession: From Sand Dune to Forest was made here.


We stayed at the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore campground. It was my first opportunity to get half-price camping with my NPS Golden Age Passport. Unfortunately, there are no electric sites and, without electricity, I can't run the A/C. I learned that a lot of people in NYC were having the same problem in their homes. They should have come to my cousins Jared and Carolyn's home in Chicago, too. They are very hospitable.




Sarah cools off in Lake Michigan. We were staying at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore. It was hot.


On the western shore of Lake Michigan in the city of Chicago.
While in the Chicago area we visited the U.S.'s only Baha'i temple. The religion was founded in the 19th century in the Middle East and combines the philosophies of many religions as can be inferred from the columns of the temple.


The only Baha'i Temple in the U.S. is just north of Chicago.


Close-up of one of the columns.

We relaxed a few days in Jolliet, IL soaking in a pool before deciding to return home. There are several casinos in Jolliet and are a major area attraction.


An Egyptian motif casino in Jolliet, IL.


The motif continues throughout the casino.

In Ohio, on the way home, one of the alternator belts snapped off. It was determined that the wrong size belts had been installed in NY and Sears replaced them at no cost to me. Although it's a van, it takes motor home belts, I learned. I guess that they don't do too many motor homes repairs near my home.

Just as we started, we finished our short trip by spending the night with our friend Joe in his Pocono home.


Allen points out a recent modification to the van's running board. The wheel cover flew off on the way to Joe's house due to a pot hole caused by recent rains. I found the wheel cover a few years ago. Easy come, easy go.


Now it's 'summer in the city.'

Regards,

Allen and Sarah