Destination Guinea - Part 8

Part 8: Brett Favre in Dabola City?

Leaving Kindia City, Ekwueme drove at Abandoned School Bus carcassrecord speed along Highway N1, despite the tall, wind-tossed roadside grass that obscured our vision. In one heart-stopping moment, we narrowly missed a head-on collision with a filled-to-the-brim mini-bus!    In a matter-of-fact fashion, Masamba explained that many people die in accidents on this highway.  Gulp!  The carcasses of two mini-buses and an old, donated American school bus caused me a shiver or two as we sped toward Dabola City.

           

I was, therefore, relieved when we disembarked at Dabola’s Tinkisso Hotel, a mustardy one-story wood building near the city’s center. Ms. Simbra, the energetic, full-figured thirty-something hotel manager, welcomed us. She was a delight; her words and laughter were punctuated by occasional chews on the bamboo shoot protruding from her mouth. Equally delightful was the banana bread and tea she’d prepared in the reception office. I received the usual necessities—a receipt for my lodging fee, towel, wash cloth, bar of soap, and room key—before she gave us a tour. In many ways, the 15-room hotel reminded me of a large American bed and breakfast. While my room, one of the main guest rooms positioned near the dining room, had its own shower and flush toilets, many rooms shared toilets. Hot water was available morning and evening: 7 to 8 A.M. and 8 to 9 P.M. Although the hotel was well-maintained, the rainy season added its touch with the curling, mustard wall paint.

           

Collecting my luggage was a chore made easy by Dabola City’s very own Brett Favre! A young, muscled, friendly-faced Guinean easily hoisted my luggage as if it were feather pillows. I learned that “Brett” was the hotel’s housekeeping and maintenance person as well as part-time waiter. His enthusiastic French was difficult to decipher but, fortunately, the universal language of gestures helped me learn how to attach mosquito netting to my bed, work the door locks, and use the exciting “new” invention, the flush toilet. Page by page, he explained the three-ringed binder’s history of Dabola, hotel information, and dining room menu. Alas, everything was written in French; however, I found the pictures interesting!

           

 When Masamba joined us, he officially introduced me to my new friend Kpakelah. Stumbling through his name, I asked if I could simply call him Brett. Masamba’s quick translation had both Guineans laughing uproariously before Kpakelah/Brett nodded an emphatic yes.

 

 by Everil Quist, International Agri-Business Consultant


Go to the next Article from Brett Favre

Return to Articles from Brett Favre

Return to QuistSpeaks Home from Brett Favre

 Everil Quist on location

Everil Quist - President & CEO of QuistSpeaks, LLC

"Enjoy this story about the noble peoples of third world countries.  I've truly enjoyed working with them and have many heartwarming and entertaining stories to tell. 

I enjoy sharing my adventures with my audiences, where I feel I am truly 'Creating Positive Change'."


“Everil Quist delivers with knowledge, humor and compassion.  His trials and tribulations during his stints in Former Soviet Union countries impart the difficulties and perseverance these dynamic people have to overcome—difficulties we seldom experience here in America.”

-Virginia Dessart, N2 Area Governor, District 35, Toastmasters International