Ebrima, I got my visa to the States in Banjul. The American Charge-de-affairs had just opened at the corner of Cameroon and Leman (around the first site of the BICI and opposite where Albion School is now located). The American charge was Mr. G.J.Gossett, a lankly Oklahoman issued my visa; I believe I still have the passport somewhere. I traveled in a BOAC Viscount to Las Palmas for overnight refueling stop. Left the next day for London where I intended to stay for a couple of days to see my friend the late Pa Jabel Ceesay and Edmund Thomas (Radio Gambia) both of whom had left for the UK in 1965 and Jan, 66 respectively. I ended up stranded in London due to TWA strike, which disrupted the entire air traffic in Europe. My three-day stay turned to a three-week stay. I ended up watching the World Cup Final in the company of Monty Grey-Johnson (who had come across from France), Adelaide Sosseh, including Kotos Daddy Ousman, Sura, Alieu Mboge, Malick John just to name a few. I finally departed London 22 Aug. 1966 to JFK and connected immediately to Scotia, NY to my host family for the rest of the summer before I proceeded to Lenox Prep.Lenox, Massachusetts where I did my 12th grade. Is Sheick Faye, the high jumper the same as Alieu Faye? If so, I have never met him in the States but I know him very well. He left for the States sometime in 68 or 69. I know two Hydara Ceesays. One, recently retired from the UN and in Banjul currently. The other Hydara studied in the states but I don’t where in the states but probably in the late 60’s or early 70’s. He later joined the Curriculum Development Centre, in fact I believe be was appointed Director but later relieved of the post when his academic credentials were questioned. The Hydara which I think you have in mind and who was in Chicago with Kal Bayo is “Chicken George”. He is in Banjul and doing well with his poultry farm. Bro.Lamin Janha, yes. Heavily involved in the Black Power Movement and a close friend of Kwame Toure (Stockley). I have paid him a visit a couple of times in 78 and 79. Amadou Taal. You see the problem with names, once you start it is very difficult not to omit. Amadou went to Wabash and then to Wayne State Univ. in Detroit and not Univ. of Michigan whose main campus is in Ann Arbor stones throw from the Motor City. My son went to Ann Arbor for his first degree and he is now at Wayne doing his masters in Sports administration. Finally, Bai Ousman Secka, I could not remember crossing path with him in the US. Bai Ousman is not only smart but a gentleman. I got to know him better when he was at the Gambia high Commission in London. To illustrate his "gentlemanliness", I paid him a surprised visit when I was in Banjul recently on my way from Basse, I stopped at Mansakonko but unfortunately he had gone to Banjul on official duties. I left my card with his watchman and a few days later Bai Ousman called me in Abidjan from Mansakonko to say how unfortunate it was that we missed each other. Now, my bill is on its way. Sidi Sanneh ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L Web interface at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html ----------------------------------------------------------------------------