Carnet de Voyage is simply a description of the "Voyage" of my life: Where I am from, where I have been where I want to go. It's also a description of what I like to do, my favorite music. Simplement un "voyage de la Vie.
Hello Everyone,
that's going to be I hope a short post this time because I am more and more lazy to write even if my head is full of subjects to discuss about. (laugh)
Ok, in this post I want to share some songs and artists that I grew up listening. I told you my parents and my siblings lived in the U.S in the 70's. My father first went there then. later on he went back with his little family (my mom and my siblings) and later again he went back to America on his own. yep! That's why I was mostly influenced by the American music from my childhood and when I grew up. Of course I like African music also and I am a huge listeners of some African talented artists. I was also introduced to French music by my parents as well. My childhood was the best time of my life. I remember my older sister would put on the old CD player (I think it is called gramophone) with the CD and she would teach me how to dance some normal steps of rock n'roll (laughing) and my Dad who was always reading would be watching us and kept doing his reading. My brothers were busy in the bedroom doing what boys like to do and my mom was cooking for the family after she came back from work.
(Not my picture)
My Dad and Mom introduced me to many artists songs like , the Beatles, the Bee Gees, the Rolling stones. The Jackson 5, the Beach Boys, James Brown, Louis Armstrong, Little Richard, The Supremes & Diana Ross, I mean Motown, Olivia Newton John, Nina Simone etc
There were some songs that really touched me a lot
Bee Gees Massachussetts
That song made me and still makes me want to go and visit there. It will happen someday and I will play that beautiful song in my ears once there.
I am very old school in my head even in music that's why I could not go to some friends' parties because I was not in their type of music. The kind of music of today is not really my type. It was not easy to make friends too because they could not understand me. The only time I met a guy who understood me... I went to a friend's place and that guy was there and he was playing all these old songs and I was so excited and we started talking and laughing together. I never forget it. He played all these old songs I grew up with and he was surprised to meet a girl who liked the same kind of music too. It was so natural and we were sitting on the floor and playing all these old goodies. Singing together it felt so good. And we talked together for hours nd we even forgot my friend who invited us at his place. Lol! Yes, my friend got a little bit frustrated after all which I understand
I love these songs too. My parents were playing it
Olivia Newton John "Let Me Be There"
Why o why...Life is short and also long... I guess. Why o Why people have to leave this world? We live and we cross the river of Life when it is over. May God welcome her in His arms. rest peace ONJ. She was so beautiful woman. This song takes me back to some memories of my afternoons at home. I would play it alone and I was maybe 9 or 10 years old at the time. I would starred at her picture on the cover album and I saw she was a beautiful woman.
The other song
Yvonne Elliman If I can't have You
It's amazing how I could not understand what this lady was singing because I was not English speaker. Not a word at all and I didn't think I would. But look, Today I can perfectly understand her (smile) amazing! Life is a mystery. I met an European girl in my homestay family who had her parents who lived in France for years in the old days. She wanted me to teach her a well known old French song, but my friend was upset that I was talking to her bc she was White My friend thought she was racist...so according to her I should stay away from her. My thoughts? I didn't care honestly. I taught her the song as i could bc my friend was always distracting us. I understood her parents lived in another country like my parents did and they brought her into a foreign style of music in another language like my parents did to me. As you know I don't care about some not important details. Later on, we found out that the girl was not racist at all she was just really reserved. her social background did not make her to be loud, too this, too that. She was trying to discover a simple life with some simple people. That's why you don't judge fast, we need to get to know the person first.
That next one was my Mommy's favorite and I love it too.
Francoise Hardy "Tous les Garcons"
But I am also into classical music, opera, old school rap and folklore music of my country. Never put me in a box lol! I heard about the Saturday Night Fever ...I miss my family.
Johnny Halliday Retiens La Nuit
Whenever I listen to this song, it feels like listening to Elvis Presley reallly. My Mom was trying to teach me how to dance a well known dance of their youth named the Twist. Funny right? And I loved it.
I noticed that artists in the old days could sing and speak in two or more other languages easily. They were very talented. Today...today it is all about money and fame. very sad...
Ok! I promised it will not be a long post.
Now I grew up listening to my older sister's choices of songs and artists too. Every summer vacations when she was coming from France to stay with us for few months she would play the music that she liked. In Paris in the 90-'s she went to Madonna's concerts and many other singers. Some of them became my favorites as well.
Madonna True Blue
True Love, True Blue baby I love you (laugh) awww! the love that a woman has for a man but love isn't always safe but beautiful. Love can be cruel sometimes.
Next! My brothers introduced me to...a complete different type of music. I remember back in the days parents in my country were worried about this kind of music. It was a complete revolution. If your son had a friend who was a big fan of rap with a radio player on his shoulder playing loud, parents would ask you to go out play that music away from home. Yes, it was a complete revolution. What is funny is I liked it too! Sometimes I liked the style of these guys. We would only play it hidden in our bedrooms and when Dad was at home we would Not play it at all (laugh) Not even once. O! come on people, give it up to Naughty by Nature. It was the best time too! These guys were the best.
Naughty by Nature Hip Hop Hurray
It makes me laugh sometimes just thinking about it because some teenager boys became rebellious in their home. I have this memory of one day we were at the bank my Mom and I and a lady that she knew was talking to her complaining about how her son became difficult in the house because of that rap music and she was trying to get rid of all the audio tapes of it but she could not. (I was laughing on the side because my brothers and I were listening to it too but we were not rebellious at all. It was our time)
I have to admit that it was a new Black Culture that scared our parents in my country a lot. And they did not want it at all. young men dressed in the strange way. My aunt back in those days, desperately tried to teach again to my cousin how to dress properly but he became rebellious. He was a huge fan of rap. He would dress like a gangster. His father, my uncle did not know what to do anymore.
You have to understand, people in my country were not used to this new way of Black America. They were used to figures like Muhammad Ali, MLK, you know people who were very eloquent, inspiring in a certain way, charismatic like Malcom X etc but also articulate...And then out of the sudden they saw a complete different type of Black America. I admit Something has definitely changed. But you have to agree that these guys were talented in their own way and they brought a new type of movement and music that became successful and it spread all over the world.
***
That was the time when I would sit under the windows and listening to the conversations of my brothers with some of their friends talking about girls, sports etc.(I din't want them to know I was spying them and sometimes if I heard something I would report everything to my mother) Going to their bedroom, I will sit on the floor and look at all their sport magazines collections and the Marvel comics. One had a collection of basket ball magazines and the other had soccer's. My parents didn't know what to do about it. Sometimes my two brothers made me sit and watch some soccer games but also basket ball games and they will teach me about the clubs, the athletes in both sports.Later on they got really interested in tennis and swimming. I like sport still today. So yes being a girl surrounded by boys I would know a lot about sports. It maks sense right? The Marvel comics were my favorite things to read beside my own books and if my brothers forgot to bring the one after the one I read I would got upset. At school they were also exchanging an issue of the Marvel comics with some classmates. Gosh! you could be addicted to these things. After talking with them, i entered in my own world (bedroom) where i got all my collection of magazines as well. What kind of magazines I had? The ones talking about countries of the world, tourism and the cultures. Those talking about History. I also got some magazines talking about girls'issues and challenges (smile)
***
And last the music I discovered myself with time...yes, with time because there are many but I will just put that one here only. The first time I listened to it I fell in love with that song. Ok...anyway... I guess I am getting old when I see how music was a part of my life. yes I am old school girl and not ashamed of it.I don't write a lot anymore like I used to. I get tired fast now. O well Thank you for reading. Thank you for passing by. Good night see you in my next post. When I look back I see a good part of my life through the beginning of this blog. I am no longer the same. I changed a lot. Thank you carnet de Voyage and thank you to you too.
You can also visit my other website/blog
www.poshenvogue.com thank you again for reading.
Phil Collins Everyday
Libreville...(sigh) my heart is so sad. I am sad.
I can't talk too much. I can't write too much about what I read on the news.
Some things will never change...Not now. I don't know but I know and I see one thing: My country..is not ok. What about Human Rights? You wonder what's going on, knowing that international organizations like the UN are present here too. So many things in my head, so many that I see here. It upsets me. You wonder why all those international NGOs are doing exactly especially when it comes to those human rights? are They just watching what is happening wrong and that's it? Really I am confused. i don't understand.
well, I leave it here. No comment.
I spent most of my days at home ;ocked up in my place . As you will see there are no vlog outside anymore for now.
I am just doing my things and minding my own business but my eyes can still see and my mind can still think. I didn't want to go out these past few weeks because of all that. It is a well established system. I am sad because some families, some people are going through a lot and all of it is done on purpose but who am I to talk about it? If you talk too much you get in trouble in this country. So close your mouth and just look with your eyes as much as you can. just pretend you see nothing. So many people here act like nothing is wrong around them and I am tired of it. We all know...nothing is ok.
I spent my past few weeks with few friends and family members. My brothers, sisters and mother are no longer living here in Libreville. Yes, I am the only one who is back for now but I must say it is difficult...It is difficult to see all this and act as if everyhing is ok. All changes are not always good trust me. I still keep in my head the Libreville I grew up in. The old days. It was way better than now. A close person of mine who went to visit Gabon for the first time, told me that he saw only many angry faces. He saw people were not smiling at all in town. very barely few smiling faces... What does that mean? There is A LOT to say about it but...You know...
I hope to see it maybe like I say maybe some good days in Libreville will come back again. Maybe...
I have been watching little ships going back and forth on the sea from my bay window. My view is water...I like water. That side of the building is quiet and good for me. just listening to the sound of the waves days and nights. I feel blessed. Unfortunately, these past few weeks I have been very melancholic. I don't want to read the local news anymore. I am calm and my love for music, listening to my favorite songs remains my favorite time. Also spending my time with my son.
Back to my short videos...Yes it has been boring these past few days
I still love my town. My Little town. Libreville petite ville
id="8RhSbBFE1yI" width="400" height="322" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/8RhSbBFE1yI">
A little bit of sunshine on my face.
src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/GfBgrYP8xOk">
Thank you for reading
My website: www.poshenvogue.com
I like spending my afternoons with my son. He watches TV sometimes or he does some exercises in his tablet or drawing on his notepad.
Hello Everyone.
This is a post again about my little life in Libreville my city🌴. Libreville my hometown. It feels good to be back in town (home, sweet home.) 🇬🇦
Libreville, little ville.
As you know I like listening to Diana Ross. I am feeling great, feeling calm. Thanks God.
There are not so many things to do here but we still have some activities beside working.
One of my favorite things to do is to visit new shops and restaurants or doing activities outdoors. But I also love spending my time alone at home. Doing my things, cooking. Maybe I should share what I like to do at home.😊
last time, I went to eat with my cousin some good crepes with ice cream.
Spending time alone with my son is my favorite moment of the day. I have learned with time to enjoy the moment and not to worry about everything else.
Sometimes I order food at home. These past few weeks we are in the Dry season. The weather is kind of chilly especially at night . Like really chilly and the sky is grey the entire day. This is the particularity with this season in Gabon. In the rainy season, the weather is humid and hot and it rains a lot. Big tropical rains. That is why people work on farming a lot, planting what they can during the Dry season so that when the rainy season comes it will take care of the rest. Plants will grow and grow. Gabon has a very rich and fertile soil.
Everyday I have my view and I like the thing of life like watching the sunset from my windows. I wish I could see a dolphin or a whale from here but that is not going to happen at all (smile) the area of the water where I am is very sandy. But in some previous years we had few baby whales that accidentally came to fall at the shore here in Libreville and Port Gentil. You know there are gigantic animals but also fragile. We have some whales way up there in the sea.I must say that in July, people can see them in our country.
I told you about Pointe Denis in my previous post about Libreville🌴🌞
*** ***
From my window at night, I can also see the lights in Pointe Denis🌴. Some lights of houses there. Pointe Denis is that portion of earth on the east side of the Komo river and it is on the sea facing Libreville.It is not far from town and people like to spend their weekends and have fun there. With some little ships they cross the sea and spend an entire day in that portion of earth and come back in Libreville.
This is my view from my bedroom every late afternoon. Mr Sun🌞🌤 is going to sleep in the arms of the sea.
I like to listen to music and write when I can. 😊
Zap Mama "Brrrlak" I like to their music. They are so original in their style of music mixed of their African roots and their voices.
Sometimes when I do not want to go out and I feel lazy to cook. actually I am on a serious work project so it can take me times. So, I order for delivery at home. Usually I would prefer something that I can't make. maybe I should share what I can cook. (smile)😊
And everyday it feels good to wake up like this and to contemplate the view. And everyday it feels great to feel cut from the noise of the city and do your stuffs in an afternoon like this. My favorite time is when I see some ships and some fishermen catching fishes in the water. I love Listening to the sound of the waves.
🌊☀️
you know i always do my short videos because I am getting ready to get back to my old habits which is making real videos.
life is all about enjoying the moment. it dosn't have to be perfect right? But just be live and be able to see the beauty of life is everything😊
And when the sun is going down it feels like...It feels like being in a concert of Diana Ross (smile) when she is all glam and her soft beautiful voice. When she sings Ain't no Mountain High Enough. I know you know that song too.
the best part of my afternoon while working at home is my break time and eating something good.
Ok! This is the end. That was a short post.
I was born in a city next to the sea nd that is Libreville! (smile)
My grandfather on my father side was a fisher man. They used to live by the river.
My village has a river it is called the Komo (if you read my post on Donguila, in my Father's land) I know what it is because I played in the river sometimes when I was young. I like the river. So I understand.
In this short video early in the morning I saw the sun rising. shining on my face and I knew it was a good day coming too
this is one of my favorite songs of Sam Cooke "A Change Is Gonna Come". it is about History...
HAPPY 4TH OF JULY AMERICA the Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave.
Thank you America for opening the door to many immigrants in the world. Thank you for giving hope to those who lost hope. thank you for making dreams come true.
Thank you, you shared with us great talented people.
I love you America.
I want to thank all the nice people I met in America:
My dear friend Jim a Vietnam war veteran, who took me in some
trips from State to another. We were taking pictures after pictures. yeah! I had so much fun. We also talked a lot about the American History and the Vietnam war.It is good to listen to those who really lived that experience
My first employer Mr. W. who was a veteran of War World II. listening to him was more than reading my History book. He showed me pictures when he was sent to the war. He was so young and brave.
My dear friends who helped me so much and gave me advices. Those who welcomed me in their homes.
Thank you to Dr.K my American History professor. She had a Phd in American History. she was my professor in History. She invited me for dinner in her home where i first ate the southern banana pudding ( smile) When i went to her home I felt like being in an American History museum. she made me love and study the american history.
One of the greatest country in the world with a great History. The country is so beautiful. it is amazing to see and visit most of these different cities and States. well, Happy independence Day America.
PS: please I am not talking about politic here, i simply talk about the people. the good people i have met. The people i saw working hard everyday.
God bless America.
I share here that legendary performance of Whitney Houston ofthe national anthem at the Superbowl.
The picture of her singing that day is in the American History museum in Washington DC. i saw it and I was moved. It was next to Michael Jackson's legendary hat that he threw on the dance floor when he performed Billie Jean at Motown 25. (yep! America had incredible talents)
"They say we are not civilized because we do not have the same lifestyle. They say we are savage because we do not do the same thing. They say we have no culture because they do not understand us. It is ok if tyhey don't because because they will never do anyway. They say we are wild because we speak other tongues and we do not think like them. They say we have no taste because we are different. They say that we are poor because we are not into materialism. They say we have never been a part of History of Humanity when in fact we did give a lot to the world. Africa gave a lot."
Always remember where you come from. Always love where you come from and your culture.
A song in my native language. Michel Nzamata "Nfulbeng" The story in the song is about a child who is asking to his mom what are they going to eat. When people sing this song they beat two sticks of wood one on the other following the rythm.
Hello Everyone!
That was just my way to introduce this post today.
Welcome back in another post. It is something of the Gabonese culture.
This is another post about my country for those who are curious to know more. I share with you some pieces of Gabonese culture.
I recently went to the museum of arts and tradition of my country. it is situated in town center.
below are pictures
representing a scene of a family meeting in villages. People are often sitting around the fire, the dog ( the Angome Fang meaning friend is a species of dog that has no real breed. I mean we don't know where it really come from but they have been living with villagers for decades. people told me that they first came here with White missionaries when they arrived in Gabon to preach the gospel. When they returned home they left these dogs. since then, they have been living with people in village until today. they go hunting with villagers but they are always afraid of strangers. you saw them on my vlog in Donguila. I played with one of them. The other one did not want to get close to me. When I go to my village I always tried to catch them. But they run away so fast lol! My Mom would always say "Laetitia! Leave them alone!" Do you think that I stop doing that? No way! I always try to catch them. Lol! When I was going with my parents that was my thing. If a villager was stopping by our place to greet my parents, I would go playing with his Angome Fang and my parents did not like it because they didn't want me to catch a disease from those dogs.)
then you see some baskets made by the local population. these baskets are used for specific purposes. They can be used for fishing, keeping food and many other activities. Different tribes and ethnic backgrounds make their baskets. You have tribes like the Fang, the Punu, the Myene, the Kota, Eshira, Mitsogho many others
women usually do
The next picture shows something to put on the head for initiation. Only initiated people in Gabonese spiritualities can wear them. By the way do never try Gabonese spiritualities if you do not understand them.If you do not understand their purposes. I personally do not do it at all but I saw some foreigners who became mentally unstable after trying some stuffs here. I can tell you more about it because there are so many stories and things that I saw. These foreigners were living now in a parallel world. They were lost in a bubble. They could not dissociate the real world from the one of the initated. Maybe few of them got lucky but I doubt it. I saw some walking naked feet in town as if they were lost...Like their soul or mind was lost.
I found that video interesting. It is a traditional dance from my country and you can see it is not anybody who can do it. You have to be spiritually initiated and anybody cannot get close to that entity. People used to say that a spirit was dancing inside. So do not get close at all or you will lose your mind. O! We were scared! yes, that are the mysteries of spirituality from Gabon. As you can see it wears a mask. People who are selling our masks in auction in Europe must understand that our masks are not for decoration or home design. They have an important meaning to us. We do not put or wear masks anyhow. The two guys with branches are teasing him (the spirit) to dance on purpose.
the way women do it in a traditional way
the corps de garde also known as the traditional court for the villagers. This is the place where only men come to discuss social issues and family related things. They can even spend good times there like listening to music or extraordinary stories like the Mvett. How can I describe the Mvett? It a series of tales which is more like the Marvel stories that you watched on TV. It is older than the Marvels of course but it is related to my people. You can see in the picture an instrument used to tell stories of Mvett hanging on the top of the wall. When they tell you stories of the Mvett it is about men with super power doing extraordianry things. It is very much cultural.Some people experienced it in the spiritual realm. In the corps de garde, men can also play traditional games like the Tsongo it is a very interesting game. You must be focused and smart.
Ok! Thank you for reading. I leave with a song from Gabon in my native tongue. Precisely from Lambarene.
Lambarene is a little town of Gabon in the Moyen Ogooue. There are many rivers and fishes. It is a nice little town. It is well known for being the place where Dr. Albert Schweitzer lived and took care of the population suffering from leprosy in this little town. Maybe you do not know Dr. Schweitzer, you can read about him online or in books. He won a Nobel Peace Prize in 1952. Dr. Schweitzer was a musician, theologist, humanitarian and a physician. You can tell he was really talented and a very smart person. He was originally from Germany. (I mean from the German Alsace)
His hospital still exist here in Lambarene and people are still getting their medical care.
See you in my next post. Thank you
(Bach and Rythms of Gabon)
You can also visit my other blog: www.poshenvogue.com