Mango Elephants in the Sun: How Life in an African Village Let Me Be in My Skin

Book Description

When the Peace Corps sends Susana Herrera to teach English in Northern Cameroon, she yearns to embrace her adopted village and its people, to drink deep from the spirit of Mother Africa—and to forget a bitter childhood and painful past. To the villagers, however, she's a rich American tourist, a nasara (white person) who has never known pain or want. They stare at her in silence. The children giggle and run away. At first her only confidant is a miraculously communicative lizard. Susana fights back with every ounce of heart and humor she possesses, and slowly begins to make a difference. She ventures out to the village well and learns to carry water on her head. In a classroom crowded to suffocation she finds a way to discipline her students without resorting to the beatings they are used to. She makes ice cream in the scorching heat, and learns how to plant millet and kill chickens. She laughs with the villagers, cries with them, works and prays with them, heals and is helped by them. Village life is hard but magical. Poverty is rampant—yet people sing and share what little they have. The termites that chew up her bed like morning cereal are fried and eaten in their turn ("bite-sized and crunchy like Doritos"). Nobody knows what tomorrow may bring, but even the morning greetings impart a purer sense of being in the moment. Gradually, Susana and the village become part of each other. They will never be the same again.

Customer Reviews:

Ok read.......2007-02-10

Overall the book was good. I didn't like the two to four page "chapters" though. At times it seemed like the book was more about the author and her past as opposed to her Peace Corps experiences. But maybe that's what she was going for. Try "Destination Estonia" if you enjoy Peace Corps books.

Heart.......2006-11-23

Mango Elephants is a book from the heart. Herrera shares her vulnerabilities and strengths, courage and fears, joys and sorrows, all in the jumble of extremes that is so real for any traveler living alone in a culture very different than her own.

The reader becomes inspired, as Herrera was inspired, by many of the villagers she met in Cameroon. What amazing individuals they were, and what deep bonds she formed with them! Mango Elephants leads the reader through a door into their worlds. The presentation is simple, but the feelings are raw, and very human. Ultimately Susana proves to be courageous, reaching out to find mutual meaning and to offer those around her concrete signs of love.

Move this one to the bottom of your list.......2006-09-17

Skip this one, IF you only have the time or interest to read ONE book from a Peace Corps worker in Africa.*

Author Susana Herrera goes to Africa thinking herself oppressed in America, due to her Hispanic heritage, etc., but by contrast, sounds like a typical valley-girl-bimbo-whiner once she gets to her Peace Corps village. Her story is mostly about HER coping with her own emotions and physical lack of niceties like shampoo, and not about sharing insights into the lives of the local people and the problems the Peace Corps is trying to help them solve.

She comes across as selfish and self-absorbed, trying to explain to the locals in Cameroon that she also comes from an oppressed background. Overall, she doesn't keep her private life private, never tries to objectify her observations, and as a result seems very unprofessional.

If you want to read about a rather spoiled woman who "finds herself" in Africa and becomes a teacher when she returns to California, go ahead and read this book.

*If you'd prefer to read an inspirational, informative, professional account of life in the Peace Corps in Africa, hurry to get a copy of -Nine Hills to Nambonkaha: Two Years in the Heart of an African Village- by Sarah Erdman.

Good Read.......2004-05-19

I'm reading this book right now for an English class at the school where Ms. Herrera currently teaches. After hearing her slide show on the book, the images she describes were brought to life. Without this, it still is a great book. It's more about what would I do in her position than it is about being a volunteer. For those who want to read a story about the need to fit in in a new place, this is it!

Worth every minute!.......2004-02-11

I felt compelled to write this review because folks who have criticized it as more personal narrative and "journal-y" have completely missed the point. If you notice the title, the book was never meant to be a narrative of "what to expect if you are going into the Peace Corps" rather it is a spiritual and magical retelling of a young woman's personal and physical journey into the unknown. Herrera weaves a beautifully human story with personal detail, private pain and vivid images that takes the reader on her journey into the North African desert.

If you happen to be looking for "what to expect" you will definitely get a sense of life as a Peace Corps volunteer...in all its vivid detail...but if you think that is the point of reading this book... you will have missed the point entirely.

Mango Elephants in the Sun: How Life in an African Village Let Me Be in My Skin
Average customer rating:
Mango Elephants in the Sun: How Life in an African Village Let Me Be in My Skin
Susana Herrera
Manufacturer: Shambhala Pubns
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000OEQ29U

Book Description

Little Round Top, the Railroad Cut, Pickett’s Charge—these are the turning points within the most important battle of the Civil War. Even careful students of Gettysburg, however, can find themselves disoriented when visiting the site itself. Here, finally, is a convenient guide for serious student and casual visitor alike that makes plain the sweep of events and the geography of the battlefield.

This invaluable guidebook was created by scholars who have walked the battlegrounds, consulted with local experts and park guides, and studied the testimony left behind by the participants. Gettysburg will help you find all the important locales and understand what the participants saw in 1863, even if you have no prior knowledge of the battle. Designed to enhance the experience of both first-time and returning visitors, this guide can be used alone or as a supplement to a tour. Clearly written and illustrated with maps and photographs, this is the book to have when you explore Gettysburg.

Customer Reviews:

Take what you want, this is the only book you'll need.......2004-11-24

A masterful guide to the Gettysburg battlefield. I took several books on my trip to Gettysburg earlier this year but this was the only one I carried on the battlefield. It is organized around the tour stops, but also contains several side trips to lesser known areas, and simply tells you all you need to know about the events in that area at the time of the battle. It contains several maps and the directions it provides to areas on the battlefield are concise and easy to follow. If you wish to seriously tour Gettysburg National Park, this book is essential.

Made it crystal clear.......2002-10-23

I grew up near Gettysburg & have been there numerous times. I just spent 2 days there with this book on the battlefield--this book made the battle crystal clear! I ran out of time exploring the battlefield (it takes more than the 6 hours described in the book--my only criticism). This book brings the battle to life and explains the terrain like never before. I learned a lot about the battle that I never knew and many components of the battle came into focus in new and exciting ways. In particular, this book does a good job on overviews of each day and with it's clear directions, leads the reader through each stop--I really felt as if I had an expert by my side explaining all the facets of each aspect of the battle. Along the way, everything was just as the book described. The maps were excellent & it's nicely complimented with various portraits of leaders, common soldiers, etc. The guide brings the 3 days together as a cohesive whole. This is the book to get if you're going to visit Gettysburg; forget all the others.

I now live near Chickamauga and I plan on getting their book on that battle!

A Must for the Civil War buff.......2001-10-23

I recently took a trip to Gettysburg (my 3rd) and carried this tour guide for the 1st time. It is far and away the best experience I've had seeing the battlefield. It follows the battle chronologically and offers several sites and insights not offered on the audio tours available at the local shops. Many of the stops are multifaceted. At several points the stops feature 7 to 10 asides which often involve only a minor shift in position to point out various phases of the battle. It includes a side trip to the cavalry field which I've never run into on the audio tours. The driving directions are easy to follow but do veer from the order of the Military Park brochure and the audio tours to give greater detail to the battle. The book says to allow for 6 hours-it's more like 10 hours to give time for exploring beyond some of the "stand here and turn left" instructions. 11 hours total if you include a break for lunch. We started at nine on one morning, toured until about 4 with a break for lunch and finished the following day. Sites included on the audio and Park tours tend to start getting crowded from 11 to 3, so this will add to the tour time depending on time of year and crowd. To sum it all up and paraphrase a popular commercial-when going on a tour of Gettysburg-"Don't leave home without it!"

A great guidebook for first-time visitors!.......2001-06-10

An excellent, well-written guidebook and the best I've seen on the subject. I carried this book on my first visit to Gettysburg in Spring 2001, and it greatly enhanced the experience. The directions are clear and up to date, and the text is precise and detailed enough to be compelling without trying to be an exhaustive treatment of every minute detail. If used as a companion to an actual visit, I would strongly recommend reading the book in advance of your visit, then bringing it with you for reference. There are only a few very minor faults I might find with this guidebook. On the maps, it would be helpful to have present-day landmarks indicated in some way to help with orientation. Also, the book suggests the full tour can be completed in six hours, but in my experience to make all the stops and fully enjoy it you'd need at least a full day, or preferably two. You'll want to leave some time for reflection at such places as McPherson's Ridge, Little Round Top, the High Water Mark, and others to think about the enormity of what occurred on that ground.

Read this book and you'll come away with a good working knowledge of the three-day battle. Highly recommended!

The best Gettysburg guidebook around.......2000-02-14

I have tramped over the Gettysburg Battlefield a half dozen times with various books in hand. My hat is off to Mark Grimsley & Brooks D. Simpson. I found this book to be the most thorough and well written of any text I have used. In November, 1999 I went to the battlefield with the main purpose of studying the fighting around the Peach Orchard and Wheatfield. This book was very helpful in helping me understand the chain of events that occured in these places July 2, 1863. I also found the descriptions of the fighting July 1st around the McPherson Farm to be excellent.

Book Description

When the Civil War began in 1861, Philadelphia was an important industrial center behind the Northern war effort. The city boasted two large federal arsenals, a major shipbuilding facility, the country's largest locomotive factory, and the busiest flag manufacturer in the United States. Philadelphia bankers raised valuable government bonds and millions of dollars for the Lincoln administration. Several prominent Union generals were born in Philadelphia, and the city enlisted scores of regiments for the Union cause. Philadelphia, long a center of abolitionist ferment, provided safe haven for escaping slaves on the Underground Railroad, and later a recruitment camp for black soldiers was established near the city. This unique guidebook includes descriptive background information on the city's rich Civil War heritage-historical buildings, Underground Railroad sites, museums, archives, libraries, cemeteries, commemorative statues and plaques. Guide to Civil War Philadelphia also includes an overview of the city's wartime history and a selected list of accommodations with Civil War connections.

Customer Reviews:

A short introduction to Civil War sites.......2005-11-27

This book starts with a brief introduction about Philadelphia before and during the U.S. Civil War. In 1860, Philadelphia was the second largest city in the country with over half a million people. Its population was increasing as many immigrants arrived and moved to neighborhoods along the edges of the city. There were businesses everywhere, especially in textiles, and the railroads covered so much of the city that they were a safety concern. The book addresses a little of what that time was like, but its main purpose is to describe sites associated with the war.

There are 15-20 sites described per chapter, with chapters ranging from the Abolition movement to libraries to vanished Civil War sites. I picked up this book because I was researching some Philadelphia ancestors who lived in the city during the Civil War and I wanted to know more about some of the resources available for researching that period. For this reason, I found the chapters on libraries and cemeteries to be more interesting. Over 20 museums, libraries, and historical societies are described, including lesser known places such as the Civil War Library and Museum on Pine St. and the Grand Army of the Republic Civil War Museum and Library. There are examples of regimental histories, biographies, manuscript collections, etc. that you can find at these locations. Descriptions for 18 cemeteries are also provided, with Laurel Hill and Woodlands receiving the most attention. Information includes famous Civil War military people who are buried there.

The appendix has some interesting lists, including companies that had government contracts, military hospitals that existed between 1861-1865, Civil War manuscript collections that can be found at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania and the Chester County Historical Society, and a list of Philadelphia shipyards with their specific vessels and launch dates. Also, the book provides over 70 black & white photos.

Overall, this is a nice introductory guidebook. It's especially useful if you're looking to take some day trips of Civil War sites or cemeteries, and you're a historian or a genealogist. It's not for the casual tourist. Also, if you're just starting to do some research on Philadelphia history/genealogy during that period, then this book can give you a general idea of where to find some things.

Pennsylvania Battlefields & Military Landmarks

Average customer rating:

A fiting tribute to Veterans

Pennsylvania Battlefields & Military Landmarks
Jr. Miller Arthur P. , and Marjorie L. Miller
Manufacturer: Stackpole Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Military | History | Subjects | Books

Guidebooks | Reference & Tips | Travel | Subjects | Books

Tourist Destinations & Museums | Reference & Tips | Travel | Subjects | Books

North America | Travel | Subjects | Books

General | Travel | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

Civil War Sites: The Official Guide to Battlefields, Monuments, and More

ASIN: 0811728765

Book Description

47 b/w photos 12 maps 6 x 9
* Guide to 35 battle sites and memorials
* Full history of each location

From the French and Indian War to the Civil War, Pennsylvania was often the setting for bloody battles and other important military events. The names reverberate through American history: Fort Necessity, Brandywine, Valley Forge, Lake Erie, Gettysburg. This book is a travel guide to these sites and more, outlining what originally happened at each location, describing what tourists see today, and providing general visitor information, such as hours, admission fees, directions, and special events.

Arthur P. Miller Jr. served on the editorial staff of the National Geographic Society from 1958 to 1974 and was a director of public affairs for the National Park Service from 1974 to 1988. Marjorie L. Miller was an administrator for the American Red Cross for many years. The Millers live in Wayne, Pennsylvania

Customer Reviews:

A fiting tribute to Veterans.......2000-07-17

Signifies how often,how hard & how many fought,died....in Penn's Woods...& in foreign wars. An ommssion is Eldred,PA's WW-II Museum, Box- 273,Eldred 16731 East of Erie, & south of Buffalo NY.

Goodbye, Boys! Goodbye!: A Walking Guide to the High Water Mark July 2-3, 1863

Average customer rating:

Goodbye, Boys! Goodbye!: A Walking Guide to the High Water Mark July 2-3, 1863
Joanna M. McDonald
Manufacturer: White Mane Publishing Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Tourist Destinations & Museums | Reference & Tips | Travel | Subjects | Books

Commonwealth in Arms: A Guide to Military Sites and Museums in Pennsylvania

Average customer rating:

Commonwealth in Arms: A Guide to Military Sites and Museums in Pennsylvania
John B. Trussell
Manufacturer: Pennsylvania Historical &
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Defending the Commonwealth: Catalogue of the militia exhibit at the William Penn Memorial Museum, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

Average customer rating:

Defending the Commonwealth: Catalogue of the militia exhibit at the William Penn Memorial Museum, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Bruce S Bazelon
Manufacturer: Mowbray Co
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

Military Science | History | Subjects | Books

Pennsylvania Military Museum (Pennsylvania Trail of History Guide Series)

Average customer rating:

Pennsylvania Military Museum (Pennsylvania Trail of History Guide Series)
Arthur P., Jr. Miller , and Marjorie L. Miller
Manufacturer: Stackpole Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Military | History | Subjects | Books

Military Science | History | Subjects | Books

General | Travel | Subjects | Books

Museum Studies & Museology | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0811731928

Studies in European Arms and Armor: The C. Otto Von Kienbusch Collection in the Philadelphia Museum of Art

Average customer rating:

Studies in European Arms and Armor: The C. Otto Von Kienbusch Collection in the Philadelphia Museum of Art

Manufacturer: University of Pennsylvania Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

Uniforms | Military | History | Subjects | Books

Military Science | History | Subjects | Books

Military | Antiques & Collectibles | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

Metal Work | Crafts & Hobbies | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

History of Technology | Technology | Science | Subjects | Books

The First Division Museum at Cantigny presents a bibliography of 1st Infantry Division materials which are located in the collections of the Army Military ... Institute, Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania

Average customer rating:

The First Division Museum at Cantigny presents a bibliography of 1st Infantry Division materials which are located in the collections of the Army Military ... Institute, Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania
Charles R Shrader
Manufacturer: The Museum
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

Catalogs | Catalogs & Directories | Reference | Subjects | Books

A guide to military records in the National Archives, Pennsylvania Archives (printed) and Pennsylvania State Archives

Average customer rating:

A guide to military records in the National Archives, Pennsylvania Archives (printed) and Pennsylvania State Archives
Helen L Harriss
Manufacturer: H.L. Harriss]
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

General | Military | History | Subjects | Books

American Government: Power and Purpose, Core Eighth Edition
Average customer rating:
American Government: Power and Purpose, Core Eighth Edition
Theodore J. Lowi , Benjamin Ginsberg , and Kenneth A. Shepsle
Manufacturer: W. W. Norton & Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Politics | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
U.S. | Politics | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
Federal Government | Government | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
General | Political Science | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
All Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
Nonfiction | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

Oedipus Tyrannus; A New Translation. Passages from Ancient Authors. Religion and Psychology: Some Studies. Criticism (A Norton Critical Edition)

Reforming the Republic: Democratic Institutions for the New America

American Government: Power and Purpose, Core Eighth Edition, 2004 Election Update

How Democratic is the American Constitution? Second Edition

Essentials of Economics

ASIN: 0393924831

Book Description

1. All political behavior has a purpose 2. All politics is collective action 3. Institutions matter 4. Political outcomes are the products of individuals' preferences and institutional procedures 5. History matters

By drawing on these principles throughout the text, the authors expose students to repeated applications of core ideas in their discussion of political concepts and history. The result is a refined, accessible portrait of America's government institutions and political life that encourages students to think critically and analytically.

American Government: Power and Purpose, Core Eighth Edition, 2004 Election Update
Average customer rating:
American Government: Power and Purpose, Core Eighth Edition, 2004 Election Update
Theodore J. Lowi , Benjamin Ginsberg , and Kenneth A. Shepsle
Manufacturer: W. W. Norton & Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Politics | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
U.S. | Politics | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
Federal Government | Government | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
All Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
Nonfiction | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

The Christian Vision of Humanity: Basic Christian Anthropology (Zacchaeus Studies Theology)

Reforming the Republic: Democratic Institutions for the New America

Family: A Christian Social Perspective

You Decide! Current Debates in American Politics, 2006 Edition (3rd Edition) You Decide! Current Debates in American Politics, 2006 Edition (3rd Edition)

Doing Faithjustice: An Introduction to Catholic Social Thought

ASIN: 0393927296

Book Description

In the Eighth Edition, American Government: Power and Purpose maintains the analytical rigor, focused pedagogy, and judicious use of relevant history that have distinguished it as the authoritative text for American government courses. Retaining the analytical framework that first appeared in the Seventh Edition, the Eighth Edition emphasizes five core "Principles of Politics":

1. All political behavior has a purpose
2. All politics is collective action
3. Institutions matter
4. Political outcomes are the products of individuals' preferences and institutional procedures
5. History matters

By drawing on these principles throughout the text, the authors expose students to repeated applications of core ideas in their discussion of political concepts and history. The result is a refined, accessible portrait of America's government institutions and political life that encourages students to think critically and analytically.

Book Description

In Aldo Leopold and an Ecological Conscience ecologists, wildlife biologists, and other professional conservationists explore the ecological legacy of Aldo Leopold and his A Sand County Almanac and his contributions to the environmental movement, the philosophy of science, and natural resource management. Twelve personal essays describe the enormous impact he has had on each author, from influencing the daily operations of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the creation of a land-use ethics guide for Forest Service personnel, to much needed inspiration for continuing on in today's large, complex and often problematic world of science. Here is Aldo Leopold as a mentor, friend, and companion and an affirmation of his hope that science will continue to be practiced in the cause of conservation.

Books:

Books Index

Books Home

Recommended Books