The Drama Continues?

Oh, Guinea. What a strange country. Yesterday our guards followed us out of the compound because they didn't want us walking around (we were only going to buy egg sandwiches about 10 meters away) and today everything is fine and we went to the market without any problems...except that it's really hot and about 100% humidity. Being sweaty makes me crabby.

Anyway, it appears that the military is split into 2 camps. The first is the group that accepts the government's agreement and the second is a group that wants a coup d'etat. We'll just have to see what happens. Cam and I bought enough food for 4 days here at the compound...frozen chicken, green beans, potatoes, etc. We subsisted on pizza, beer and chocolate yesterday but that's completely unacceptable.

We'd love to get out of here, but there's no gas. A couple days ago the military took their guns and basically held up all the gas stations, so the owners have closed them all down (good business decision...) We've heard that gas, normally an astronomical 8,500GF a liter, is now up to 25,000 (about $6) a liter on the black market. That's $24 a gallon! That being said, it looks like the soldiers have calmed down and they should be opening the gas stations soon. The good news is that none of this has spread upcountry, where things are just running normally. I got a text from one of my students, I'll reprint it below because it's just so funny. I appreciate him trying to write in English!

Hello haw do you feel, and your family about the demonstration of militery,if there is more dangerouse please take your family and come back in Timbi.because here we are feeling very well.so great me Camilo and your "tante." Bah Mamadou's Daum.

I guess he doesn't understand the whole bit about the roadblocks and how there's no gas to be found, but at least he's thinking about me!

Anyway, we are fine, but a little concerned that this is going to screw up Cam's mom's visit. She is supposed to arrive the 4th. Probably everything will be back to normal by Monday, but here you just never know. And if there's no gas there's no point in her coming even if everything is calm because we wouldn't be able to get out of Conakry (and if you come to Guinea and don't leave Conakry it would be a gigantic waste of time!)