November 29th Reflections
Good day. November 29th. The biggest thing from yesterday is something I need to fill you in on.
My First Time in Aberdeen
The first time I was in Aberdeen was 52 years ago. I was 19 years old and didn’t even have my driver’s license.
At the time, I was traveling with Wim Davestein, Ben Barentse, and Lambert Munders. Together, we were part of a team that made it all the way to Abidjan, starting in the Netherlands in a Citroën HY—one of those corrugated metal vans most commonly used as French fry stands.
From the Netherlands to Nigeria
That vehicle somehow carried us all the way to Nigeria. By the time we got there, it would only drive in reverse. We decided to leave it behind and continue using public transportation.
That meant a small pickup truck, followed by a train from Bobo-Dioulasso in Ouagadougou all the way to Abidjan.
Looking Back at the Journey
There’s a photo from that trip, along with part of an article that was written about it. Seeing it again brought back a lot of memories.
Ben is no longer with us, but Wim and Lambert are—both now in their 80s. It was meaningful to reconnect with them and commemorate that we made this journey together 52 years ago.
The Green Hot Pepper Incident
One memory that stands out clearly is my first encounter with a green hot pepper. I had no idea what it was, took a spontaneous bite, and then tried to drink everything within reach to put out the fire.
It was a memorable experience, and I’m still cautious around hot peppers to this day.
A Quiet Day and Visa Planning
Looking at the photo and rereading part of the article brought back a lot of memories.
Today itself was quiet. I mostly stayed at the hotel and worked on organizing the visa for Ghana, which is turning out to be a tall order. Everything has to be uploaded online before you can even apply or schedule an appointment.
Anyhow, thanks for being along, and I’ll catch you next time.
