MAMADY KEITA GUINEA DRUM CAMP JAN. 2011

MAMADY KEITA CAMP IN GUINEA WEST AFRICA
3-week program, January 2011

Arrival Date: Jan 2, 2011 Sunday
Departure Date: Jan 22, 2011 Saturday

Class Schedule*:
Monday - Friday
9:00 - 11:00 Intermediate Group
11:00 - 13:00 Advanced Group
17:00 - 19:00 **Pyramid Class Groups 1 and 2 Together

* No classes Saturday or Sunday
** Mamady will prepare an arrangement of rhythms, breaks and solos which all students will perform for the Guinean public on the last Friday of camp, January 21,

Meal Schedule: (includes weekends)
Breakfast 8:00-9:00
Lunch: 13:30-14:30
Dinner 20:00 - 21:00

Vegetarian meals are available, must specify with registration

Lodging

Students will stay with Mamady and his wife, Monette in their house in Matoto, suburb of Conakry. There are 7 rooms with 2 bunk beds in each room, 4 people to each room. There is a Western style bathroom/shower in the main house and in the annex there are 2 showers and 2 African style bathrooms. All of your bedding is supplied, sheets, pillow and pillow cases, and they will be washed once a week by our staff.
The rooms all have electrical outlets so that you can recharge your recording devices, cameras, etc. The voltage is 220, the same as Europe. To use the electrical outlets, you must bring an adapter if your country's voltage is different. If you plan to bring many devices, you may want to bring a power strip. Each room has a fan. You will need to bring your own toiletries, towels and washcloths. You can bring flip flops to wear in the shower, or you can easily buy them in the Matoto market. It is advised to sleep with a mosquito net. You can easily buy one in the market, or bring one of your own. There is a safe at our house if you wish to keep any valuable items locked up, but the house if very safe and secure.

Extracurricular Activities

You will be treated to many performances, some of Guinea's most acclaimed ballets and ensembles come to perform right in our courtyard. The second weekend, you will have free time to visit other cities and/or villages in Guinea. Some favorite places are: Kindia, Bel Air, Baro, and Roome. There is also a day trip to the island of Roome, a beautiful tropical island about 40 minutes by boat off the coast of Conakry. You can spend your day sunbathing, swimming, body surfing, hiking, relaxing, reading a good book, or playing soccer with the locals on the beach. Be sure to bring your bathing suits and an extra beach towel, or buy one in the market for a few dollars. The day trip to Roome is included in the workshop price.

Camp Price

Price of $1,950 includes drum classes, accommodations, meals, performances by local groups/ballets at Mamady's house, pick-up/drop-off and Conakry airport, and day trip to the island.
Price does NOT include international travel, visa fees, taxis, beverages, snacks, telephone, internet, etc.

Deposits and payments; to reserve your place, send your Guinea Camp Registration Form along with your deposit of $650. Payments can be made either by bank transfer or money order made out to Monette Marino-Keita, P.O. Box 83164, San Diego, CA 92138 USA. If you would like to pay via bank transfer, please contact Monette for details. Reservations and balance due must be received in San Diego by December 1, 2010.
Bank transfers must arrive in San Diego by December 1, 2010.
Refunds: 50 percent before December 1, 2010.
After December 1, no refunds will be available.

Additional Information

Mandatory vaccination: The only required vaccination is for Yellow Fever. You must show the vaccination card, with your passport in order to enter the country! Other vaccinations are recommended, but not required. Visit the Center for Disease Control to research recommended vaccinations for the country of Guinea.

Visa: A tourist visa is required to enter the country. It is recommended that you apply for your visa at least 6 weeks in advance. You must fill out an application from the Embassy of Guinea, fill it out and send it with;
your passport,
2 passport photos,
proof of Yellow Fever vaccination card,
visa application fee ($100)
and an invitation letter which we will send you, to the Guinean Embassy. In the U.S. it is located at 2112 Leroy Place NW, Washington, D.C. 20008 202-986-4300.
Applications can be found on the internet. Search for "Guinea tourist visa application"

Weather: Hot and humid. 80-95 Fahrenheit, 27-40 Celsius

Currency Exchange: No travelers checks!! Bring only new $100 US Dollar bills or new 100 Euro bills. Money is not exchanged in banks, therefore you will not get the same exchange rate for smaller bills or travelers checks. For your security, and to make sure you get the best exchange rate, we will have a money changer come to Mamady's house two times a week to change money for you.

Communication: There are no phone lines at Mamady's house. You can make international calls at telephone centers and internet cafes. There are several of these centers within walking distance in the Matoto marketplace.

Things to bring:
if you would like to view an optional list of things to bring, by someone who has gone to Guinea several times before, please contact Ali Thomas, TTM San Diego Certified Teacher/Assistant Director.
For more information, please contact Monette Keita morhythm@yahoo.com, P.O. Box 83164, San Diego, CA 92138 USA.