Feels like Christmas...

Yipee, our container finally arrived! Not sure how long we have been waiting for some goodies to arrive, a couple of months. This afternoon was so exciting as we watched a guy in a bakkie drop it off, then we waited until Paul came home before opening it up. Torden was happy with his share of things, and managed to store all of it, including a box of chocolates, Otee's and Oros juices in his bedroom cupboard. It's a joy to see how excited he gets and knows that all his goodies came from "Afrique du Sud" as he now calls it. Just last week, he told us at dinner time, that he doesn't belong here, " I belong in West Beach" he said. We both looked at each other, and tried to contain our laughter. It happens more and more, where we try so hard not to laugh at the grown up things he says. But the cutest of all is when he climbs into bed with us, puts both his arms around us, and says " I love you guys"!

This morning was our last coffee meeting for the year ( The new year starts in September) with the International Women's Club. It was held at the American Embassey Residence along the river, which is a great spot. Lovely for a coolish dry season ( I want to say winter) morning. We had a speaker from Proctor and Gamble talking of statistics within the DRC, as well as marketing of a sachet to purify water. Interestingly, only 1,5% of the population have HIV/Aids, half the population uses birth control, a large percentage of women die of illnesses related to problems after having too many children close to one another and malaria, is the biggest cause of death amongst children up to the age of 5.

So yes it does feel like Christmas as Paul also received his belated birthday gift from me, a " Tin Tin in the Congo" special edition hard cover. He also got his own ipod speaker system that we are going to us outside and in the bedroom, Paul and his toys! As well as everything seems to be coming to a close here in Kinshasa, lots of friends taking off for far away places as soon as next week. We also attended a painful end of year school play at the Belgian school. I never ordered the year book at Torden's school, and apparently there is a lovely picture of him in his class. Hopefully, I will be able to attain a copy somehow.

Season Changes!

It's that time of the year when you can feel that something different is happening with regards to the weather. Although they say, there are only 2 seasons here, the rainy and the dry season, it definitely feels a bit cooler than usual especially early morning and late afternoon/evening. At around 5pm, the humidity normally rises, but over these last few days, it has been cooler, more breezes, which makes a huge difference on how comfortable you are. I now enjoy sitting more out on the verandah, where most afternoons, it's unbearable. The temperature still soars to 31 deg C, but at least not to 38 or 40 deg C. This is what they call the dry season, with more grey skies, but not much rain.

We are also experiencing changes, like for instance, Torden has a runny nose, in fact most of the children he plays with have it. I had a sore throat yesterday with an upset stomach most of the weekend. Paul calls it the "kinshasa shuffle", a term, most expats use, specifically knowing that someday or other, you will come across it. It could be the water you perhaps drank, the fruit in the salad that wasn't washed properly or simply some or other bug you picked up.

We are just happy that most of the pre-warned marches that took place since last week, regarding the imprisonment of Bemba, by the Belgians, was peaceful! That feeling of anxiety has left me this week.

TIA!

I really don't like to be negative. Most of all, I don't like to talk about Africa this way, especially all that it has experienced, will always be compared to the Western World. And, especially since I am living in Africa. BUT, there are somedays, when I cannot stop myself from saying "This is Africa......" Days like, yesterday, when our generator, that is supposed to generate power to our home, just blows up and catches alight. mmmmm I then wonder........

It was about 7pm, and the guards came running to tell Paul, as we were saying goodbye to some guests who had come over for tea. He immediately ran to fetch the fire extinguisher, and then put out the flames, on failing which would've blown up 120litres of diesel, not too mention the 80litres of diesel in the tank of the car as well. So for 12 hours we had no electricity. It has now resumed, but who knows for how long, and how long will it take the maintenance guy to replace the old one. At times I ask myself only one question ? What am I doing here.... that topic I will cover another day as I know we have a purpose to fill here....

RALLY to Zongo Falls

On Saturday morning at 9am we left Kinshasa on a rally that was to be an experience of a lifetime. There were about 40 cars on an organised off-road ralley sponsored by Castel Beer. When I talk about off-road I not only mean off the normal road, but off the beaten track, and into a whole new world beyond the borders of the towns. Tiny villages with children, dogs and goats in the middle of nowhere. Most of the huts were made of clay, and no electricity, running water and the convenience of anything remote to modern day. You could've easily been on a time warp back in time about 100 years or more. There were only tire tracks, no roads on a 4x4 dream world. Our Toyota Prado, slid over every wide canyon crack, every sandbank, every hole or mud trench like a boat takes to water. On our first day I was quite shocked at the co-pilot's ( moi) list of interpreting every route on a given route map sketched out in tiny drawings with the odd French word for "Careful steep accent" etc. Each section was about about 4km with 90km for the first stretch and then another 60km towards the end . Wow, I never worked so hard on a long journey being a passenger as that. I thoroughly enjoyed being in more control though than the driver. My very own driver was my husband the " Camel Man". Huge Congratulations on winning the overall trophy. Babes, I never knew you could handle a steering wheel and low four gears the way you did! And your organisation skills were superb as there you were helping a fellow contestant who got stuck in the mud behind us. Tow rope, wellington boots and 2 way radios all organised by yourself. On arrival at Zongo Falls, we had to take the shower that "nature" had organised for us, it was the most energising shower I have had since our arrival in Kinshasa. Wow, what a powerful spray! The Frenchies with their "douche" gel, and all. We set up tent with about 10 friends, all French speaking, except for us and Abby, our American friend, who co-piloted for Moose, our friend that travelled most of the way with us. We had fun that night, with an organised buffet, and partying and dancing coming mostly from our site, until midnight. The air was still warm, however, but cooler than Kinshasa. The next morning, we were up and raring to go, only the Europeans seem to do everything after 9am, which is unfortunate as that set the time back for our arrival back home at about 6:30pm which is after dark here. Along route we stopped at a beautiful botanical garden for lunch, and then went on to see an amazing African sunset. We were so tired on arrival and ready for a clean up, I had mud all over my shoes from stepping out the car to witness the car in front of us overturn, and then some locals helped them get the car back on it's 4 wheels, amazingly no-one was hurt, and the car was unscathed too. We we never stayed for the results which came out at about 11pm. We came 25th overall, which I think is not bad at all for our first ever rally. We shall return next year, South African spirit and all.

Congolese Day!

Thank goodness that we finally have a public holiday in the Congo tomorrow. I assume it's Congolese Day, as we were asked to dress the children in traditional clothes for school today. I must say it was a very vibrant atmosphere when I dropped Torden off this morning. Tiny tots as well as the older children all dressed up in brightly coloured outfits. I will post a picture tomorrow. The Congo is known for it's bright waxed sealed cotton fabric, and is definitely exclusive to this country. West Africa definitely has a different type of fabric and the colours are not as bright. The women wear tight fitting long skirts with matching blouses that usually has a long cuff or a frill. Most expats, as well as myself have had an outfit or two made, just to wear to an event or just for fun. The Congolese take great pride in their appearances, all women no matter how poor, will always have a piece of material either tied in a sarong or in a dress, usually beautifully clothed from head to toe. Well it's been a busy week, and still haven't managed to get to the Golf Club. I have a date tomorrow with a friend who knows how to play, but not sure if I will make it as I did something weird to my lower back. There is no chiropractor in Kinshasa, so will have to get someone to try to click my back. You know that one, where you stand back to back with someone, and they lift you up with the arms. I wonder if it will work with Paul....