Abidjan Report- March 2011

Now for the news about Abidjan. Like the preceding months since the election, March has been one of continual decline. Ivoirians have had to struggle to lead normal lives. Many businesses and schools have closed and people are hesitant to stray far from their homes. Our ward's Relief Society President reports that there are many members (of the LDS Church) who are homeless because they had to flee the violence in their neighborhoods. These people are currently being housed in ward buildings or in the homes of friends or family members. They are more fortunate than some. There are many displaced Ivoirians who have no where to go.

The Jeune Patriots or Young Patriots (a group of hoodlums who back Gbagbo) have been causing trouble since the beginning of the stand-off: setting up roadblocks and inciting violence against civilians and UN troops. This month they began looting the homes of Ouattara's ministers (who are holed up in the Golf Hotel). For some reason, Gbagbo recently started to get some sympathy from South Africa. Then, on March 3rd, Ivoirian troops opened fire on a group of peaceful female demonstrators. Six women were killed. South Africa has since revised its position.

Charles Ble Goude (leader of the Young Patriots) at a rally.

Jay was fortunate to get out of Abidjan when he did. The day before his departure, there were several skirmishes in and around the city and some people were killed. Then, there was a week or so of sporadic fighting before the opposition made its big push.

Forces backing Ouattara (the democratically elected leader) began moving south from Bouake and quickly overran the rest of the country. The Ivoirian army put up almost no resistance and as many as 50,000 soldiers, police, and gendarmes abandoned Gbagbo. As of April 1st, the troops were preparing to enter Abidjan.

We are relieved! It appears that Gbagbo will soon be ousted. We hope that Ouattara will live up to his campaign promises and make changes which will help Cote d’Ivoire. Just be forewarned that the Gbagbo propaganda machine is still churning out lies, so don’t believe everything you hear or read...unless it is verified by a U.N. official. We don’t know exactly what this new development means for our family and our future plans. There is a small chance that we will remain in Abidjan, but a lot would have to change in the next 2 ½ months. We’ll see.

Back in Utah

So, now we’re back in Utah. Fortunately for James and Simon, there are lots of cousins around at present (Ange and company are in town). It has made the transition from five live-in cousins to zero a lot easier to manage.



The weather has been pretty nice lately, so the boys were able to visit the zoo with Uncle Trevan and take a train trip to see Temple Square with Grandma and Grandpa and the Bleazards. James and Simon have had so much fun with their cousins lately that Em has no idea how they will cope once Spring Break is over. Regular life (with only mom for entertainment) is bound to be quite boring by comparison.

President Obama Speaks to the People of Cote d'Ivoire

Check out this link.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/photos-and-video/video/2011/03/25/president-obama-speaks-people-cote-divoire

News from Michigan- March comes in like a lion

Em and the boys spent 5 (yes, five) weeks at Mike and Sarah’s house, so the beginning of March found them still in Michigan. Man, that place is cold! Fortunately, there were a few days of warm-ish weather. The boys had lots of fun adventures like making robot party favors and cookies (with at least 1/2 inch of frosting on top), attending nature center classes, going bowling, visiting the dinosaur museum, and eating robot cake and “green cocolatis-es” (shamrock shakes).

First time bowling and James gets a strike, perhaps he was helped along by all the kid accessories they offer these days?

James knows where Abidjan is. Do you?

Yummy green cocolatis!

Lots of happy, noisy kids in a room that echoes is not easy on the ears, especially if one of those kids (Simon) shrieks at the top of his lungs when he’s happy. Thus, hanging pictures and finding window coverings and light fixtures became an important priority for Sarah...and Emily was happy to assist. The new house looks great and is very functional as well. We tested its partying capacity 3 times during the month, on Pi Day, St. Patrick’s Day, and Anders’ Birthday.

Green robot cake tastes delicious!

A balloon and a mirror? Simon is in heaven!

All of us left Michigan about a week after Jay’s arrival. We still can’t believe that Mike’s family wasn’t tired of us after 5 weeks. If they were, they did a really good job of hiding it.