International Women's Club

Yesterday was my first meeting of the International Women's club. As these associations operate all over the world, I felt in sync with other women that are in the same situation, as well as with women across the world that are visitors in the country in which they currently preside. I am a foreigner, and it feels strange, as it should. I know that there are many foreigners living in Kinshasa, but it still feels as though you are the small percentage that are fortunate enough to drive in a chaffeur driven car, as though you have loads of money! When your car drives slow enough for little children, and other passengers to peer at you through you car window. When these little boys, ( no girls),ask for money, you often hand over some "flip-flops" ( what we call the local Congo francs)

Back to the Women's Club. We pay a fee to join the club, and have events througout the year to raise money for charity. Next week, the club, is handing over benches, that was made through the money that was raised last year, to an Art School for children. So a good cause and very necessary for a country that has little or no support from the government. There are also social gatherings, French reading classes and outings throughout each month. I found it most interesting to meet up with people, like the Japanese Ambassador's wife, a lecturer in English from Massachusets, a Dutch expat, a Peruvian expat, an old Belgian women looking for a Bridge partner etc. We had an exhibition of tie-dye products from a local women, coffee and croissants at the Memling Hotel. One thing that surprised me, is that the Chairwoman, expected us to dig into our pockets that she thought was very deep filled with lots of dollars several times, like pay S20 for shop bought necklaces that was made in China for charity, $10 or more for the charity box, $100 per person tickets to a dance to support a school, buying the tie-dye products on sale( yes very nice products), but it could end up being a very expensive morning. Sorry, I would love to support everyone, but have to still feed my family in this very expensive city!