I had one of those mornings recently. The email was from the U.S. Embassy in Togo (already a good sign) and they wanted to know if I was free to come to West Africa next month. Next month is less than a week away. As long as I have no trouble getting a visa, it won't take me any time to pack my bags. Of course, a visa isn't always a fast thing to attain. The last time I went to Africa, the U.S. State Department had to get involved to push along a certain foreign embassy with their paperwork. I got my passport and visa the night before departure!
In my request, the people at the embassy wanted to know if I was interested in a mural project that would include a local artist and some students. If you know anything about my work, you know that falls into place perfectly with what I do. I replied with about fifteen lines in all capital letters screaming, "YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES!" And then, I gave a few suggestions to help them plan. For every other project I've painted with embassies, I've painted two murals over about a two week period. Since they want me along with a local artist, I thought it might be good to paint two murals (as usual) with me designing one mural and the local artist designing the other. I like to share the ownership when I can.
I'm not going to be surprised if none of you know where Togo is located. But, since I was in the Peace Corps in Liberia, I know that Togo is three countries to the right of Liberia. (If you don't know where Liberia is located, well, I just can't help you.) Anyway, the only other thing I know about Togo is that they speak French. That doesn't phase me in the slightest. I've painted murals with people who speak French, Spanish, Dutch, Portuguese, Romanian, Albanian, Estonian, Swahili, Afrikaans, Fijian, Quechua, and Russian sign language. Language is not a barrier.
However, it's been over a week since I sent that reply. I've not heard a peep from Togo.
I still live in hope.
But, some other good things are brewing for me in West Africa in addition to Togo. Like I said, Togo is only three countries away from Liberia. The office in every embassy that I always deal with is the Public Affairs Office. After all, my murals are great for public relations! I may or may not meet the ambassador as I paint my murals, but I always have frequent communication with the Public Affairs Officer in every country.
Well, it just so happened that the current Public Affairs Officer in Liberia is from Columbus, Ohio! Who knew? Sometimes it's a very small world, you must agree. And, it gets even better! The Public Affairs Officer, Sean, was home visiting family this week and suggested we get together for coffee at his favorite hometown coffee shop, Stauf's Coffee.
It was perhaps the best cup of coffee I ever had!
So, of course, we talked about Liberia.
I had to tell the Public Affairs Officer that I once was the most famous Peace Corps Volunteer in all of Liberia. Yep, it was legendary status for a while. I mean, two of my Peace Corps friends and I survived a bus wreck on the first day of our vacation in the Ivory Coast. And, then on the third day of the trip, the two women were jumped by rogues with knives. I had to stop the attack by taking a flying leap into the air like Superman and knocking one of the thieves to the ground. It's always a little grueling to have to be a superhero, but I saved the day that time. Of course, I didn't know that those rogues with knives had a habit of slicing up people who resisted them. However, I'm fairly sure that they never faced Superman very often either.
After talking international experiences, we had a more local conversation about Columbus. I wanted to be sure he saw one of my murals while he was home. My most visible mural is at a food pantry not so far from the Ohio State University. But, another one that is really huge, was in Sean's home stomping grounds of Upper Arlington. I asked him if he knew where Tremont Elementary was located. It was a simple question. I didn't expect to have my sock knocked off. He did it anyway. "Yes, I know where it is. My best friend from middle school days, Tino, teaches music there."
I know Tino!
And then, it was my turn to knock his socks off.
This time, from my backpack, I grabbed a copy of Once Upon West Africa for him. Blown away! Delighted! Shocked to see anything like this existed! Yep, pick any of those descriptions and they applied here. Sean said the best thing he could have possibly said, "I'm going to show this to the ambassador!" Yes, some more copies of my books are going to end up in Liberian hands. Just the thought of that makes me so very happy.
It was a very good West African day for me. I may even have to prepare some cassava leaves (my favorite dish from Liberia) in order to properly celebrate. But, perhaps the best possible news was saved for the end of the meeting. In my travels in Thailand, I once decided to go to Cambodia for the weekend since I was in "the neighborhood". For me, that is just normal behavior. It seems that it might just be normal in Africa as well. Sean said to keep him posted on the progress with muraling in Togo. As long as I'm in West Africa, he wants me to come to Liberia to paint.
It sounds like I need to write to Togo again.