Tuesday, November 23, 2010

FATUMA HITS NEW YORK!

From the foot of Lady Liberty to the heights of the Empire State Building, from Central Park to Chinatown, from the Bronx's Grandparents Apartments to the World Trade Center Memorial Site -- Fatuma Gwao of Mbagala, Tanzania has "done" New York City!

Her reason for taking a bit from the Big Apple of course, was to present on a panel at Global Forum 2010 on our GRANDMA-2-GRANDMA program. But we also had time to sightsee.

We were even treated to a fine meal at an African restaurant and to front and center seats of "Lion King" by Bibi Jann supports Louise Root-Robbins and husband Ken. What a thrill that was!

Plus, Fatuma sampled different kinds of foods, including Italian and Chinese After visiting the Tenement Museum on the Lower Eastside, she noted that America's past (outside toilets and water taps, crowded housing, etc.) is very much Tanzania's present.

Enjoy the photos!

1 comment:

Pinkali said...

Nice pics and nice to read about fatuma's adventure:)

GETTING THE GOATS HOME

GETTING THE GOATS HOME
Leading the goats to the pickup truck wasn't easy!

The goats are now at home on the bibi farm, with wide open spaces to graze on.

This where the bibis will raise animals and crow cassava to feed their grandchildren and to sell. Fatuma, Dickson and Jann are in front, with pen to left, unfinished farmhouse in middle and neighbor's nyd watle house in rear right.

SMART GIRLS FIELD TRIP

SMART GIRLS FIELD TRIP
Smart Girls Club on a field trip to art center to explore career opportunities.

We picnicked...

...And then we went for ice cream.

Emil of Unique Batiks told the girls about his designs.

The girls learned how the primitive Tinga Tinga painting style began.

Can you believe we got 23 people into this van?

ISGR 4th Graders Donate

ISGR 4th Graders Donate
These students in Goteborg, Sweden raised over $500 for the new Bibi Jann Farm!

DISCOVERING NEW YORK...

DISCOVERING NEW YORK...



St. Patrick's Cathedral

An NYC cop in Times Square



Hors d' voueres at the mayor's Gracie Mansion






Rooftop garden - imagine! with social workers Lysa and Katharine at the4 Grandparent Apts. in the Bronx.

HALLOWEEN

HALLOWEEN
Jann applies makeup

A well-decorated yard

Fatuma and son-in-law Tom in air-filled clown suit

Candy break

Sorting the loot

Fatuma, Jann's son Keith Hess at Eugene Waldorf School

Snow Fun

Snow Fun
Tom captures the first sled ride

Ready to go...

Oops!

Warming up inside the lodge

Cuddled up to a carved critter

A cup of cocoa helps

Renee gifts Fatuma with a souvenir snow globe so she can have snow in Tanzania

Fatuma's first visit to American grocery, shopping for Tanzanian fare

Fatuma's first visit to American grocery, shopping for Tanzanian fare

...But we can't find the Tanzanian aisle!

...But we can't find the Tanzanian aisle!

Kitchen is more elaborate than what Fatuma is used to

Kitchen is more elaborate than what Fatuma is used to

Girls watch Fatuma make chipati

Girls watch Fatuma make chipati

Son-in-law Tom has his hands washed

Son-in-law Tom has his hands washed

Chloe, Eva like eating with their fingers

Chloe, Eva like eating with their fingers

...And so do Japanese visitors Miho, Ruli

...And so do Japanese visitors Miho, Ruli

Fatuma finds the Oregon Coast more rugged than Tanzania's

Fatuma finds the Oregon Coast more rugged than Tanzania's

A new way to dry hands!

A new way to dry hands!

Fatuma, Jeanne, Suzanne enjoy Horn of Africa restaurant

Fatuma, Jeanne, Suzanne enjoy Horn of Africa restaurant

Meeting a sturgeon

Meeting a sturgeon

Watching barge navigate the dam through the lock

Watching barge navigate the dam through the lock

Salmon migrating upstream will die after spawining

Salmon migrating upstream will die after spawining

Multnomah Falls from afar

Multnomah Falls from afar

FANCY FOOTWASH

FANCY FOOTWASH
Fatuma, Jann and Renee soak their tootsies in warm water while rollers kneads their backs.

...While catching it on camera

...While catching it on camera

...Sparkle on the toes

...Sparkle on the toes

...Plus a manicure

...Plus a manicure

...Resulting in fancy footwork

...Resulting in fancy footwork

...After a day in school

...After a day in school

...Including cafeteria lunch

...Including cafeteria lunch

GETTING A GRIP ON AMERICA

GETTING A GRIP ON AMERICA
Nine-year-old Chloe, Jann's granddaughter, teaches the teaches about local currency.

...And it inhabitants

...And it inhabitants
Pirate-themed kids' concert

..Some of whom dress better

..Some of whom dress better
Fatuma with the Heathman Hotel doorman and Miho, the Japanese girl visiting my daughter's home.

And its gadgets

And its gadgets
Testing the $3,500 Brookstone massage chair

Even moving stairs!

Even moving stairs!
Mall escalator

But kids are the same everywhere

But kids are the same everywhere
Chloe, Eva, Alexa and Miho have fun at Gramma's tumbling dominoes