A Journey to the Commune D’Alunguli
These photos capture a recent trip across the Congo River from Kindu to its counterpart on the other side called the Commune D'Alunguli. I say "counterpart" because, in essence, the city/town of Kindu rests on two sides of the river. That causes problems for the...
Duty Station Kindu
The Congo River is the source of green in middle Africa. Sure, there are other rivers, but if you look at a map of Africa that shows where the jungle is and where the deserts are, the Congo River defines where the big green patch is in the middle of Africa. Most...
My Neighbors–I will be fine
(this is a photograph that was published in Psychology Today in a story by Vanessa Woods, who clearly studied our closest cousins, the Bonobos-- only found in the DR Congo)These two are at the only Bonobo sanctuary in the world, which is near Kinshasa.Where Bonobos...
Notes From the Field
Just before I go to strange countries, my thoughts tend to focus on obscure things.These are a few bits of thoughts I have collected on raggedy bits of paper from different places at different times: mostly before stepping into the unknown......... #1This would be the...
Kinshasa View
This is the view from my hotel room in the heart of the capital:But if I take a step back, this is what I see:I wonder who shines the bars on the prison windows.I wonder who ignores the calls from those inside. Will some day someone listen?Or will it be endless days...
Sunday Walk–Part the Second
From the DR Congo all things are difficult.To the DR Congo all things are difficult. Inside the DR Congo all things are difficult. Yet there is an optimism here that far surpasses all the problems. I expect to learn from these people. Already I have learned how to...
A Sunday Afternoon Walk in Kinshasa
At this first opportunity I decided to go for a walk. This place is rough, but not so rough.People smiled and said "Bon jour." I still have to say, though, that it was one of the strangest walks I have taken. This is usually the case when you first arrive in any...
Photos From the DR Congo
On the ground now. Here is the view from my current office in KinshasaMade a trip to the Congo River today, which is the second largest in the world. This is Yellow Bird by the river.
Not Everyone Loves A Soldier
Not everyone loves a soldier.Yet they continue.Sometimes knowing why,But mostly not. The pride, the action, sureThose are easy. The sacrifice, the monotony,Not so much. Somewhere out there is a perception.There are enemies at the gates.Or more accurately,They are...