edith living in africa

Finally it looks like I am going to be on my way back to Africa

2011-02-19T06:06:00.000-08:00

After staying behind to help with the new little addition to our family and collecting enough days to apply for my Canadian Citizenship, the time has come that I can once again spread my wings.

I leave in two weeks for Burundi and will be living in Bujumbura where Vianney has been for the last 2 months.

It is going to be difficult to leave our little family behind here but as a good friend pointed out to me that it would be "sweeter to see them again after some time" thanks Irina for your kind words :) I am grateful for the Internet it will not be that bad with Skype to follow there progress.

I have just heard positive things about Burundi and cannot wait to share my discoveries with you , I know that Vianney has enjoyed his time there.......

So in two weeks time I will start to blog from Bujumbura....................:)

I am loking forward to my new adventure .

In the meantime look at this web address for more information on Burundi -

www.worldatlas.com

look up Burundi/

Africa

Still In Canada...we have a new additon to our family

2010-10-06T16:41:00.000-07:00

I am still in Canada and not traveling for the moment, I hope to start again in the New Year....My better half is at present in Mongolia one the countries I would love to visit ...Guess I would then have to change the name of my blog to something else...like "edith living around the world"...For the past 10 years it has felt a bit that way....I am still hoping to return to Africa again, I guess with the type of work Vianney has anything is possible..
Since I last wrote on my blog we have become "grandparents" what a wonderful experience....to a beautiful little baby girl named Savannah. its wonderful to watch your children become parents. In the meantime I have been helping with the new little addition but I can see that the little family after 5 weeks is starting to manage well.

So now its time to pay some attention to all the leaves that have fallen and prepare for a Canadian Winter.....

January 2011

So some time has passed we are now into 2011........as you can see our little grand daughter has grown and is bringing us much joy.

It looks as if I will be blogging again from AFRICA......so watch this space ..!!!!!

Some Information to Share

2010-05-27T06:45:00.000-07:00

Hi ....I have not been back to my blog in ages....living for the past year back in Canada and really enjoying been back home again.
We have got very involved in new projects, doing some home improvements and bought a new property with a little forest ...hopefully we will build a new home there sometime in the future We are expecting a new little grand baby soon so life has continued to be interesting and busy.
I am missing the traveling and visiting interesting places , but I am sure that will change soon in the future. I am collecting enough days towards applying for my Canadian Citizenship...so once that is done I am sure I will get to visit far away places once more.
For those of you coming to my Blog for information .....I just found the"Newcomers Guide to Kinshasa" here is the add :
You will find addresses and things of interest ....from grocery shops..doctors, and hairdressers hospitals etc...so go and have a look :)

http://iwckinshasa.org/pages/IWC%20Kinshasa%20Guide.html

I hope you find this useful , for the time that I was in Kinshasa I too belonged to the International Woman's Club and found them very welcoming and a great Organisation to belong to .

Best Wishes for 2010

2010-01-03T04:49:00.000-08:00

I have kind of neglected this blog of mine for the last 6 months as most of you know if you have followed it, we left Kinshasa in July. We had planned to come on holiday for a month as living in Africa can really take it out of you at times. Specially when you are living in a very small closed community and with my better half working with a large group of consultants (55 of them). It really had its fair share of ups and downs...I guess I could say more than that but there is no point, we have thoroughly enjoyed our last 6 months back here in Canada.
We quickly started putting our house back in order, it had been on the market but we where now so happy that the two offers we had on the house fell through. We now had something familiar to come back to .....
It was now time to collect all our furniture that had been stored with family and turn this house back into a home.
One of the first things V did was to dismantle our above ground pool,planning ahead for the time when we have another assignment to go to, we did not want to leave that responsibility behind once again....I jumped into the gardening,mowing the lawn and just enjoying what was not one of the best Canadian summers.
Once that was done we started to look around for other projects, so we bought a little "forest" about a half an hours drive from Ottawa. It is beautiful very close to a lake "Lac George" we have access to it so did some boating and fishing there.
This year has started off with such good news for us, we are going to become grandparents , yes our daughter Dorianne and son Seb are expecting there first baby. We really are so happy and it has been great to spend time together.
I know that sometime soon we will be off onto another project that is the way our life is,I have a feeling it could be Africa again.....but will keep you updated on this outcome.
So from me and my family to you and yours the very Best Of Health and Happiness for 2010............

Info about Kinshasa

2009-08-18T09:04:00.001-07:00

I hope you find this information helpful. To anyone going to the the DRC, specially wives joining there husbands, don't forget to join the International Woman's Club. If you telephone anyone of the Embassy they will tell you where the meetings are held once a month . (Usually at the American Embassy) It is a good way to meet new friends and get up to date information. I know that they are working on a new "Guide to Kinshasa", which they will be selling for one of the many charity's they are involved with....I found the Guide very helpful as you will get more information on local Doctors , Dentist etc...
:)

This once modern African city has suffered from the decay and stagnation caused during the conflict in the country. Modern buildings such as the CCIC (Centre Commercial International Congolese) lay unused and abandoned. The private sector is making progress. Much of the city is now in the grips of another war, this time a commercial war between the mobile phone companies. Billboards, flags and even entire buildings are adorned with the slogans of the different operators.

Kinshasa's infrastructure is largely dysfunctional; electricity is reliable only in Gombe (the city center where most expats live) with other parts of the city experiencing power outages several times weekly. Running water can be found in many parts of the city, although Gombe is again the only area that enjoys a fairly consistent level of service. While certain central roads are paved, most neighborhood roads are dirt only. None of the roads are well maintained.

How to Get there !
(Just by the way I used "Jefferey's Travel" Kinshasa for all my travel arrangements-Mohomadi was always very helpful)
South African Airways, Kenyan Airways and Ethiopian airlines and Royal air Maroc each have a number of flights per week from their hubs in Johannesburg, Nairobi, Addis Ababa and Casablanca.

Connections to Europe can be made with Air France from Paris, France and SN Brussels from Brussels in Belgium. Hewa Bora also offered flights to and from Europe until they were placed upon the EU's no-fly blacklist.

The Kinshasa airport used to have a terrible reputation for corrupt officials asking for bribes. They have improved things recently and it is quite manageable. Just follow everyone else and try not to look like a tourist! A yellow fever vaccination certificate is essential. Watch out for being mobbed by volunteer 'helpers' once you are outside the airport, who will want to carry your bags in return for tips. You will also probably asked to give a bribe in order to through police and customs in all other cities.

Keep in mind that when returning to the airport to leave you can not drive your car or take a cab onto the airport property without paying for parking / access $5 or $10.
You now have to pay $50 Airport Tax when leaving the country.

A taxi into town will probably cost you $30-$50 (usually without air conditioning!). It is an hour's drive into the centre of Kinshasa. Best is to get a shuttle offered by one of the travel companies on the right outside the arrivals door

The railroad of Congo once covered the entire country during colonial times, but has fallen in to heavy disuse. While there is a central train station in Kinshasa, train service is erratic at best and does not run to many destinations for tourists. Tickets are usually only able to be bought the day of travel shortly before the train arrives and can prove to be difficult to get.

By car

Apart from the road Matadi to Kinshasa a car is no means for overland travel. You might be successful with a 4x4 in the upper northern region (Bangassou - Nia Nia - Isiro) and maybe the axis Kinshasa - Lumumbashi. All other towns are accessible only by air transport or boat.

By boat

You can arrive by boat from Brazzaville, if you have a visa. There are speed boats that go quickly for a limited number of people, or you can take the barge with local merchants if you have time. Ask to go to "the Beach", which is the ferry terminal.

Getting around......

Officially there is a city bus and it has been bolstered recently by some older buses from Belgium being gifted to Kinshasa to improve the routes. This system pales in comparison to the "taxi" system that has risen organically to serve the needs of the people of Kinshasa.

Essentially, these taxis are small buses. They run set routes between embarkation points that are the "stops". The cost between these various points is usually around 250 Francs. If one's destination is through multiple points, different taxis will need to be boarded to complete the route, making the system take a good deal of time during busy traffic hours. People waiting at the stops will move their hands in a variety of gestures to signal which direction they are going. A taxi will then stop and pick up someone if they are going in the same direction and have space in the taxi.

This system works well for the locals. For visitors and foreigners, it can be quite difficult as one needs to know the hand signs, have knowledge of the routes, be ready to sit in cramped, hot vehicles with many other people, and deal with the potential dangers of these vehicles as many are barely road-worthy. Traveling through this manner absolutely requires local help for those unfamiliar with the system. One will also have to speak French or Lingala as the drivers do not speak English.

There are also traditional taxis for hire. They are available for single runs or can be hired by the day. This can be a tricky business and should be handled with care (especially at the airport) as there are those will take people to remote locations and rob them. Again, help from a local is best or using drivers that others in the area have past experience with and trust. Rates for these taxis vary widely and if one does not appear to be of African descent, there will also be an automatic premium added.

To See

Go see the "bonobos" by Lac de ma Vallée, Chutes de Zongo in Bas Congo and Bombo Lumene on the road to Kikwit. A BBQ on a sandbank on the Congo River is definitely also a must. Renting a boat for a day with a driver and all the gear (tables, chairs, a suntent and a BBQ) will set you back around 150$ at the Yacht Club Kinshasa. The boat can take 8 people, so if you share the cost it is quite affordable. A truly unforgettable experience if you don't forget the meat and the Primus! You can contact Mr. Nsimba (+243 81 3634273) at the Yacht Club to reserve a boat.

Don't forget to get some arts in Le marché des valeurs, sometimes called marché des voleurs... the first calling means market of value, the second in changing only one letter means market of thieves. Be prepared to haggle and don't pay the initial asking price that will be at least 60-75% of the final price if not more. For some more upscale art you can go to the Academie des Beaux Arts on Avenue Pierre Mulele (formerly Avenue 24 Novembre) or to Symphonie des Arts: towards Kintambo on the Boulevard du 30 Juin, turn right after the elephant when you see the barrier on your right... then it's on your left hand accross from the big colonial villa.

A more relax and fun way to buy street art is to have a beer at Surcouf: it's on the street off the boulevard 30 Juin towards Justice off the INSS building. Sit at a table and have a drink (Primus is recommended) and the artists will come and show all kinds of artworks all the time. The same rule on negotiating applies as at Marché des valeurs.
Kinkole

Kinkole is a small village in the eastern part of the city's rural area. It's on the RN1 (Boulevard Lumumba), further than the airport. It has a nice restaurant area where you can enjoy all the local food on a terrace. A lot of people come here to relax so there's a lot of people trying to get you into their business. If you go closer to the river there's a fisherman market where food from the river is brought. Be careful if you want to take pictures, you'll probably have to pay someone first as this is considered the international border.
Jardin d'Eden

Jardin d'Eden is a restaurant and music bar by the shores of the Nsele river, in the eastern part of the city's rural area. It is further than Kinkole, after the airport. There is a really relaxing athmosphere there. You can eat, listen to the live band playing Congolese classiscs or even take a boat on the river Nsele. The food and drinks are affordable for middle class.

To Do

Plenty of cyber cafes exist, so don't worry about staying connected.

The Association Belgo-Congolais (ABC) rents out videos (VHS and DVD).

Go for a walk/jog along the river in front of the British /German embassies.

Go to church on a Sunday morning like most of the locals do.
Learn

Lingala is the local language spoken in this region beyond French. Learning a bit goes a long way to befriending locals.
Buy

The good supermarkets are the following: Peloustore located on the boulevard (big orange/yellow building with green letters). Good vegetables and all dry goods that you can find in Belgium. Expresse located on the boulevard, a little off from Peloustore. Here you can find good vegetables and the best "charcuterie", cold cutt meat? City Market If you turn on the corner of Expresse you will see this large supermarket on your left hand. It has the best bread in town. Alternatively across from it you will find excellent bread (and more) in Patisserie Nouvelle, which also has good lunch possibilities. Hasson et Freres located just off the roundabout near the central station: the street just before turning on the boulevard: this is definitly the best place to get your meat: the "filet pur" is the best meat you can get!
Eat

Lots of restaurants for 'expats' exist, where you can pay in dollars but it is very expensive. Don't be surprised to pay up to $20 for a pizza (and $40 at the hotel for one).

* Mama Colonel, Bandal. An excellent restaurant. The menu has only 4 items - chicken, fish, fries and plantain - but they are barbecued to perfection.

The freshwater prawns from the Congo river are incredible - called Cossa Cossa on menus (as distinct from imported saltwater prawns which are Gambas) - generally served with a garlic and chili (pili-pili) butter sauce. A plate of these will set you back around $25-$40 dollars depending where you eat.

* 3615, on the main Boulevard (next door to the Peloustore supermarket). Has an outdoor area as well as an airconditioned indoor area; and excellent food - from pizza to steaks and fish. Average price for a main dish plus drink costs around US$20.

* Cercle Elaeis/ La Paillotte. Traditional and international food. Outdoor dining with view on the pool.
* Chez Gaby. Portuguese-style. At the upper end of the mid-range - the food is varied and excellent and if you want to splash out, you can also order imported items like foie gras and european wines.
* Chez Philo. Offers a number of Congolese dishes on the menu as well as the standard belgian-style fare.
* La Piscine. Outdoor tables arranged around a swimming pool-great settings and good food in the $20-$30 range if you choose restrainedly.
* Girassol (just off the Boulevard), turn across from Sonas, on the corner where Icare travel is located; take the most right street; it's on your right. The best cossa cossa in town!
* Le Roi du Cossa 220 Ave Mpolo (just off the Boulevard), Gombe. A Portuguese restaurant is always a good bet for seafood, and this is no exception.

* Pizerria Opoeta and Greg's bar: on the road towards the golf course: closest thing to an international pub. Good pizza's as well.
* Taj: the best Indian restaurant in town, on top of the oldest highrise of Kinshasa: you will find it just of rond point forestcom.
* Au plein vent: traditional fondue restaurant with a spectacular view. It is located at the top of a building on the road along the port.

Splurge

The more expensive restaurants are in Gombe.

* Caf-Conc. The most expensive restaurant in the DRC, allegedly!
* Ciboulette. Second most expensive.. it's in the Elais compound on your right hand
* Chez Nicolas
* Golf Club
* Grand Hotel - very ordinary and overpriced hotel food. $25 for very good breakfast buffet. Food and service at the poolside bar have been improved recently and are not too bad.

Drink

Local beer - Turbo King is a darker beer, regular lagers are Primus (which is the best local beer, brewed by the local Heineken brewery) and Skol. European Mutzig comes in smaller bottles ! Lots of expensive French and South African wine available in restaurants and supermarkets.

Kinshasa becomes alive most nights when residents head to Matonge, a place filled with dancing bars, restaurants and night clubs. Lately Bandal and Bonmarche are the more popular "quartiers" to visit the local bars and "discotheques". Go to a local nightclub and learn how to dance Congolese rhythms. Get ready to shake your booty! For those that prefer to stay in Gombe, the following offer good possibilities:

* Ibiza Bar Jazz bar for live music. Dancing starts around midnight. Small, smokey atmosphere, a really proper old-fashioned jazz bar.

* Mambo
* Standing - small western-style bar and disco.
* VIP Bar - larger western-style disco - mirror and disco-ball on the ceiling ! On the main boulevard close to 3615
* 3615 vibey but sleazy nightclub on the boulevard. Banned to UN personnel because it is full of prostitutes.

Water

Do not drink from the tap. Bottled water is readily available.

Hotels

* Hotel Memling, tel. +243 817001111, [1]. Probably the best and second most expensive hotel in town. Wireless Internet throughout, nice pool, bar and restaurants. Expect to pay $285/night plus $30 for breakfast and $30 for 24 hour access to Internet ($75 for week). Hertz car rental are at the hotel, along with mobile phone companies, gift shops and the usual souvenirs.

* Grand Hotel, [2]. - The Grand Hotel is the other fancy hotel in town - well located near the river, embassies and the Presidential residence; it is frequented by locals as well as internationals assisting with the DRC's transition. It claims to be DRC's only 5* hotel, but the only 5* feature is the price ($300+/night plus tax). Extremely expensive and not particularly good food, with slow service. The are two accommodation blocks. The old one is now being completely refurbished. Slow wireless internet is available for $70/week.

* Hotel Pyramide, [3]. Hotel Pyramide is a small, but luxury hotel, about 5 km out of the center of Kinshasa. All rooms have a bathroom with Jacuzzi, warm water, hairdryer and a Fridge. In march 2008 however, there was only cold water available and in insufficient quantities to take a proper shower or bath. Most rooms are very spacious (some are like a small apartment) and dispose of flatscreen TVs and one or two air-conditioning units. The hotel has no fax. Internet was said to be available but was this not tested (there was a PC at the reception desk with internet connection, but not for residents). The hotel also has an e-mail address, but the on-duty receptionist was unable to access it ...

* Faden House tel +243 81 99 43 331 or email faden.house@yahoo.fr. A small guesthouse which offers a welcome contrast to the awful Grand Hotel, across the street. Great location in Gombe, a block away from the River Congo (great walking/jogging route) and many of the European embassies. About the same price as the Grand Hotel, but here the price includes free wifi in all the rooms, and no harassment from drunk foreign soldiers or local prostitutes. A calm oasis in Kinshasa. Some English spoken. Only 9 rooms (avoid rooms 1 and room 3). Also a well-used conference facility, and the quality of service deteriorates when staff are occupied with a function there. There are small fridges in the rooms, but no safe deposit facility; and only a couple of French/Congolese TV channels.

* Le Voyageur definitely the best hotel in town, located next to Elais; unfortunately it tends to be fully booked well in advance. All Elais amenities can be used.

Stay healthy

Don't drink the local water. Bottled water seems to be cheap enough but sometimes hard to find for a good price. The best way is if you are staying in a upscale hotel that provides it with the room just tip the housekeeping staff to get extra bottles put in your room (usually if you tell them while giving them the money that works the best, and after the first 2 days of asking for the water you usually don't have to worry about telling them anymore, just give them the $5 a day).

Make sure you have all required vaccinations - i.e. yellow fever, typhoid, etc..

Mosquitoes can be a problem in the entire city. Malaria medication should be taken.
Stay safe.......put on loads of repellent..it helps

It is highly recommended that you have someone with you at all times that is a local (besides while being in your hotel). Cab drivers will usually stay with you too when going to local shops and making quick stops and will serve as your translator if you get a good one. Be careful with any equipment you have with you such as digital cameras and video equipment. Be careful also of what you take pictures of. Even if they say no photos only at the airport and of government buildings, a lot of times the police and UN people will get upset if you are taking videos at other places where technically it is supposed to be ok to do. Just be sure to have plenty of locals with you that know what they are doing and can provide security and a way out if you get stuck or in trouble. Follow their advice and pay attention when out and about. When in doubt about taking a photo of something don't until you get very clear instructions that it is ok. Don't keep cameras in open view unless you've been cleared to take a photo (which is just like taking a photo to them it seems). Also be prepared for hostility and positive reactions when taking photos.

If you are approached by people claiming to be police, be wary. If they are not in uniform, they are probably not police but are most likely hoping to relieve you of your money and valuables. A common tactic is for a group of men in a car to show a fake police identity card and ask you to go with them to the police station. Do not get in the car; just walk away. Be prepared to run. Never lose your temper, but keep negociating in a friendly way; in the end, they will give up.

Recent road scams have included a group of fake police officers in an unmarked 4x4 vehicle that will pull over unsuspecting people driving alone in cars, then forcibly take them in to their vehicle, drive them out to the country, rob them of everything and leave them stranded. While the main targets have been UN staff in obvious white UN vehicles, all foreigners driving should be wary of this group or others operating like them. For general safety, people should never drive alone in vehicles, especially after dark.

Schools

Jewels International School http://jisk.info/
American School - TASOK http://www.tasok.cd

I have been neglecting my Blog.....

2009-07-24T04:51:00.000-07:00

I feel terrible that for the last 3 months I have not kept up with my Blog.
At times I felt that I really did not have much to say . Living in Africa is not always that easy , and when you are feeling down everything goes grey!!!!
In the last three month we have done a few things and I will be adding them to the blog soon.....
A visit to South Africa, Zambia and a day visit to Botswana....... a lovely piano concert in Kinshasa.... at the British Embassy by Mr. Peebles who is travelling the world.Something to lift those grey moments :)
The other news I have, is we are leaving DR Congo and will be off to another country which is really something to look forward to as it will be something new to explore.
In the meantime we have been in Canada for a month , visiting our children and friends,it has been great fun and just what we needed.We have bought a new little project here in Canada on the Ontario side, I will be adding some picture of part of a little forest we have bought.....I love saying that...:) it is a very wooded piece of land with place to build a house when we are ready. A little lake near by that has the Ottawa River running into it, some deer, fox, wild turkeys, and other wild creatures, so its really nature at its best.
For now, its time to travel again and wrap up things in Kinshasa and move on so watch this space.....

Anniversaires....:)

2009-03-13T23:21:00.000-07:00

C'était amusement pour célébrer l'anniversaire de Vianney. Nous avons célébré avec des amis et des collègues.

Fifi m'a aidé avec la préparation et le BBQ. La soirée était amusante, nous avons chanté le kareoki et joue de quilles dans le wii……

Merci a tous pour un bon soiree.

St.Valentines...........and Jazz Bars

2009-03-11T11:05:00.000-07:00

A last minute booking for the evening to celebrate St. Valentines.....did not get us the best for our choice of Restaurant for the evening...but it sure had good company and a great evening out with friends...

We went to a Restaurant that serves Congolese traditional food....the decor was very pretty and played good music. The Restaurant has separate rooms as dining areas, so it did not feel very busy ..the service slow my pet hate!!!.....That is my favourite complaint with allot of places you go to here in Kinshasa you better have patients....everything takes time....
a After dinner we went to a local bar called "Ibiza Bar" for a night cap, where some guys come in to play ..... jazz ... I really enjoyed the evening !As far as jazz bars go I enjoyed the jamming `!!!! great fun !!!

Following a New Blog and I hope you do to....

2009-03-10T07:28:00.003-07:00

This month,I received a note on my blog from a lady who is living in Goma, which is in the Eastern Congo.She asked me to link to her blog which I have done and I have started following... The pictures and stories she tells are of the real DRC and the woman living there...
I am sure many of you will find her blog inspiring...it is titled "From Congo"
http://fromcongo.blogspot.com/
I do hope that some of you that follow my blog now and again will take a look at the wonderful organisation she is managing and even try to support this very worthy cause "SHONA" . They are a small group of handicapped woman doing sewing in the Congo please read more about them and look at the beautiful items they have made that you can order on line..
http://www.shonacongo.com/
I have been really touched by the story's she tells.

Burns Night Celebration in Kinshasa!!!!

2009-03-02T22:42:00.000-08:00

I would never have thought that I would get to celebrate my first ever "Burns Supper" in Kinshasa . All over the world on the 25January ....Burns suppers are held to celebrate the famous poets life.....read more about him at these links
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Burns
http://www.worldburnsclub.com/begin/address_to_a_haggis.htm

It should have come as no surprise to find the Scots sticking to tradition and celebrating in great form and style.here in Kinshasa...The dinner the speeches and the "Address To A Haggis". It really was a lovely evening thank you to our Host and Hostess Rob and Celia Mills...

We had a real Scotman in the Kitchen.....no wonder the beans tasted so good...who says men can't cook and wear skirts :)

Visit to Lumbumbashi

2009-03-01T22:44:00.000-08:00

I was lucky enough to once again visit Lubumbashi ...shortly after getting back from our busy two weeks in Canada.
We stayed at the Rose Hotel that has a little gym and swimming pool, that I got to enjoy every day all on my own...
For those of you going to visit Lubumbashi, The Rose Hotel is comfortable. It was clean but had some teething problems as it had just recently opened....so one day the bar was opened the next it was closed.The reason I enjoyed the bar was because it was a nice little place to go for a light lunch or supper..
There was no DsTv in the rooms but they where going to have it installed soon... . The Internet connection worked fine, so you are able to stay in touch!
Breakfasts in this Hotel, and the other two I have stayed in have one problem, when you arrive for breakfast in the morning you are not given a menu or choice but asked if you will have coffee...The coffee and an omelet with bread not toast is put in front of you.....I decided to buy yogurt,muesli and fruit to enjoy in the morning....they do not understand scrambled eggs or any other variations......
I am happy that I got spoilt by been taken away just to have a change of scenery ...and cooler weather..it was a mini holiday for me ...."merci mon ami"

I Have a French Teacher....

2009-01-27T22:52:00.001-08:00

I want to introduce you my French Teacher......Professor Richard. He comes to the house every Monday, Wednesday and Friday morning for an hour to give me my French Lesson.
I feel that I am starting to make sense of the French language with all its grammatical rules...! I do think M. Richard feels the same way!

There are times , that i can see a flicker of frustration passing over Prof. Richards face when I forget some the rules, while having a conversation with him....he has no hesitation in putting me on the right tract. It makes me try a little harder.!

Prof. Richard has been teaching French for many years here in the DRC. He has had experience of teaching different nationality"s and different levels....he has pointed out to me that in some ways I have been a little challenge to him.... I believe I have the habit of using all 3 tenses and more no matter which Tense I am supposed to be using....

My answer to this " Pas probleme....je essayer toujours!

Hello Kinshasa ..........................

2009-01-15T02:56:00.000-08:00

A bit difficult to think that just two weeks ago I was in the snow , dressed in a warm coat...been a true "Canadian"..... having my say about the weather.....I hear the weather this past week has really been cold dipping down to -24C and that without the wind factor , which could bring it down a futher -10C.......on that note we are back in Kinshasa.

I will not say that it is sunny with a blue sky ....because most days here in Kinshasa are grey. When the wind blows the clouds and pollution away we have a blue sky !!!! The heat and humidity, that is a given, with temperatures always in the 30C+

Just before we left for Canada , we bought a beautiful side table and lamps for our house. We ordered the table in November from a work shop called "Artisanat et Developpement"

Artisans in Congo have worked in a chaotic situation of war, corruption and uncertainty. Exporters here face considerable obstacles, including the most expensive port in Africa. Artisanat et Développement is a local nonprofit artisans’ organization that provides training and marketing assistance to Congolese artisans, and ensures that they receive fair payment for their products. Other artisan benefits include interest-free loans for workshop construction, wood-drying kilns and other needs. Along with its export business, Artisanat et Développement runs a retail store in Kinshasa, Congo’s capital. Historically craftspeople in Congo were not respected. Because of these artisans’ involvement with Artisanat et Développement, they and their families are now more respected. They achieve dignity through this work.

Artisanat et Développement was established in 1997 with assistance of Mennonite Central Committee (MCC), a U.S.-based relief and development organization and Ten Thousand Villages parent organization. Artisanat et Développement became independent in 2007. In 2003 Ten Thousand Villages was temporarily forced to stop importing from Congo due to local trade barriers including corruption and lack of infrastructure. But Ten Thousand Villages buyers continued to work with MCC offices in Congo and with the director of Artisanat et Développement to build artisan capacity. With the Congolese presidential and parliamentary elections held in 2006, Ten Thousand Villages was able to again resume trade with Artisanat et Développement. visit there website :http://www.tenthousandvillages.com/catalog/

http://www.artisandevelop.com/

We had an opportunity to buy a new painting to put a bit of colour into our apartment.....this we bought on a Sunday afternoon while visiting one of the Restaurants .... ...........

MY Holiday Away From - KINSHASA

2009-01-15T01:57:00.000-08:00

With great excitement I watched the days drawing closer for my trip back to Canada to be with my family for the holidays.
Vianney and I had planned to spend two day in Geneva but unfortunately that went very wrong….I still travel on a South African Passport something I hope will change in the near future when I get my Canadian Citizenship, to explain further,…On the day we booked our luggage in at the Memling Hotel downtown Kinshasa , I was told that just two days previously the visa requirements for South Africans travelling to Switzerland had changed.... I now needed a SchengenVisa to travel . The Swiss had just signed a new agreement with the rest of the EU countries. I was unaware of this and my travel agents did not inform me ...

With our bags ready to be checked in and not enough time to apply for a visa…. we had to go along with plan B….. I would remain in Kinshasa for two days .

It was just one of those things I had to accept. I was so disappointed that we where not leaving together but it turned out well, we met in “Paris” and flew to Montreal together. ( Kind of romantic) , the first time for me to be asked.........“Lets meet in Paris!”
The winter weather , when we landed in Montreal hit us with a blast, plenty on snow on the ground and a -18 C temperature. After the temperatures here in Kinshasa that is always at 30+ it was very fresh start to our holiday break, from T shirts to Coats…….

Dorianne our daughter got us tickets to watch the Junior Hockey Championships, in Ottawa and the teams playing was Russia vs. Slovakia…(8-1)… I really enjoyed my first ever live Hockey Game .

Our time with the family was very special the only complaint, far too short, now we are back to reality…… “Living in Kinshasa”………………….

International Horse Jumping - Kinshasa

2008-12-12T00:04:00.000-08:00

On the 27 November we had a 3 day International Horse Jumping Show in Kinshasa.
It was fun to watch South Africa, Kenya, and Zimbabwe competing against each other.

We spent an hour or two watching the younger riders going through there paces before the mosquitoes got the better of us... it was fun and entertaining!

Falling In Love with A Baby Bonobo.....

2008-11-24T22:53:00.000-08:00

Bonobos, or pygmy chimpanzees (Pan paniscus), are the last of the great apes to have been

discovered, but they could well be the first to disappear.
A species unique to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), bonobos face the threat of extinction due to war, hunting, and deforestation.

Lola ya Bonobo is the bonobo sanctuary run by The Friends of Bonobos in the DRC (Les Amis des Bonobos du Congo or A.B.C.). Lola ya Bonobo is a unique project to protect bonobos through education of Congolese youth and lobbying for the enforcement of wildlife laws, including the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).

When I arrived at the nursery where the Congolese "mama's" look after the orphan bonobo's I knew that for me I had stumbled onto something so special.....love at first sight for me!!!!:)

The youngest bonobos remain in the care of substitute mothers (sanctuary staff) until they are fully rehabilitated and acclimated to their new environment.
The new site of "Lola ya Bonobo," where the sanctuary was moved in February 2002, provides the juvenile and adult bonobos with over 20 acres of enclosed forest where they can develop into a social group with minimal human interference. It provides an ideal environment for educational programs for school children, as well as for ethological observations.

http://www.ippl.org/2002-congo-sanctuary.php ( the site where I found some of my information) you might want to go there and read more and maybe offer some support for this organisation.

http://www.friendsofbonobos.org/ I am sure this organisation will appreciate any sponsorship that you can give them.... .......save a "Bonobo" ;)

"Enfin Bonobo Centre"-"Lola ya Bonobo"

2008-11-11T07:49:00.002-08:00

Sunday has arrived again....and yes at last I get to visit the Bonobo Sanctuary.....we left the house at about 10.30am , I really thought that it was not going to be that far...but our driver had other plans for us!!!!

The trip should take about 45 minutes to get to the area where "Lac de ma Valee" is and the Bonobo Park is about 3kilometre from there but our driver took the wrong turning and took us on an hour long drive in the wrong direction....Talk about been stubborn, I told Vianney to tell him I have a feeling we are going in the wrong direction....but he said no he has been before and we are not..... Well after Vianney nearly lost his cool with him and telling him 3 times to stop asking for directions now and turn back he had no option but to listen but both Vianney and I where really fed up ....I saw my little adventure coming to an end....and once again no Bonobo Park..

When we got to the end of the road where we had gone wrong earlier, thirst was on my side ..and the sign said 3km to Bonobo Sanctuary...so off we went...

When we arrived to my surprise there where many people around picnic tables enjoying the

Sunday afternoon. There are small radis in the little river

that devides the restaurant from the bonobo Reserve.

the children where really enjoying themselves, swimming and
playing on the beach....

Vianney an I decide to go and have a very deserving "Primus Beer" or two and ordered some lunch - Steamed fish in Banana leaves cooked in a lovely juice served with rice....great lunch!

Then the walk up to Bonobo Centre ...where we followed a guide who explained the different behavior and habits of the Bonobo....

here another link to learn more about them and perhaps you would like to support them-
http://lolayabonobo.wildlifedirect.org/category/the-sanctuary/

http://www.bonoboducongo.free.fr/

lolayabonobo@ic.cd

I am going to move on to tell you how I fell in love with them.........well one little baby!

Making a Home, buying African Arts

2008-11-11T07:49:00.001-08:00

In this picture....the cushion covers, I am so proud of, the wooden elephant, there is a papa that comes around selling African art...so now I have to find a place for him...(he is a bit big for the table) that's the elephant...not the papa :)

The cloth is made by the Pygmy Tribe that live in the forest in the Kivu Province near the borders of Rwanda, if you would like to know more about the Pygmy's I discovered this link :http://www.pygmee.nl/pygmy_algemeen.html very intersting and they need support!

This week we found a little shop down town Kinshasa, where they sell beautiful materials with African Prints on , lamps and other products imported from Kenya. I fell in love with the beautiful beaded sandals, kokois and hand bags for sale. A great little find!!!

So the past week I have been using the sewing machine I brought along, sewing, curtains for the passage and cushion covers for the sofa....trying to get rid of the glitter that adorned the existing cushions ....just wanting to put my own stamp on the apartment to make it feel more like a home....

This lovely Jug statue I found at "Artisan Development"http://www.artisandevelop.com/

They have some lovely pieces and the wood work is really beautiful....we have ordered a table and some lamps from them , I cannot wait for them to come ......

Visiting the Bralima Brewery

2008-11-11T07:49:00.000-08:00

The past two week have been busy and fun.....The International Woman's Club organised a visit to the Bralima Brewery . They are a Dutch owned company and where established here in the DRC 80 years ago.....

Bralima, which employs 1,100 people in the DRC, has six production sites in the country, along with a bottling plant in Kinshasa. The Kinshasa production facility, which was recently modernized and equipped with state-of-the-art machinery, is running at its full production capacity of 1.2 million hectoliters.....that's some production!!!

The tour of the Brewery ended of course in the little pub they have on site, where they provided snacks and of course an ice cold beer....

Our Trip to « Lac de ma Valee »

2008-11-11T07:35:00.001-08:00

Sunday morning we thought it would be a good idea to just stay home, take the breakfast /brunch later in the day at the “Le Cercle Gourmand” a lovely little outside restaurant at the Kinshasa Golf Club…..but the weather looked a little risqué to be sitting outside the canopy of trees……
We decided to go little further out of town about 45minute drive to “La de ma Valee”…what a beautiful little spot , it is a small lake surrounded by a beautiful forest of trees, its really pretty much like a little oasis in the middle of no where….
You can order your lunch at the small restaurant on the banks of the lake, then take the 6km walk around it…..hot but fun!!!!

We of course had the lunch first, as we met up with some friends unexpectedly that had come for the day…..
The lunch was delicious and well prepared …typical Congolese food, Chicken cooked in coconut milk served with rice and a Green Leaf Spinach called Manioc…..I found this Article and Recipe at this Web site http://www.congocookbook.com/
So here a Recipe again for you enjoy :)

Greens in Peanut Sauce

This recipe, variations of which are found all over Central and Southern Africa, combines greens with another common feature of African cuisine: the groundnut, or peanut, sauce.

What you need
one to two pounds (or more): cassava leaves ( Feuilles de Manioc), collards, kale, turnip greens or similar; or spinach; cleaned, stems removed; and shredded, or pounded in a mortar with a pestle
one ripe tomato, chopped (or canned tomato, drained)
one onion, finely chopped
one-half cup peanut butter (or peanuts)
salt, black pepper, cayenne pepper or red pepper (to taste)
What you do
If you are using peanuts (instead of peanut butter), make your own homemade peanut paste:Remove the peanuts' shells, roast the peanuts on a baking sheet in a hot oven, or in a large skillet on the stove, stirring often, then remove the skins. Place the peanuts in a saucepan, add a few tablespoons of water to partially cover them and bring to a slow boil, stirring often. Reduce heat. Crush peanuts with a potato-masher.
In a large pot bring two cups of water to a boil. Add greens. Cover and cook on high heat for ten minutes, stirring often.
Reduce heat. Remove most of the liquid from the pot and save half of it. Add tomatoes and onion to the greens, stir and simmer for ten minutes or more.
In a bowl combine the peanut butter with enough of the liquid from the cooking pot to allow it to be mixed until smooth.
Add peanut butter mixture to greens. Season to taste. Simmer on very low heat until greens are tender to your liking.

My Surprise Trip To South Africa

2008-11-02T04:37:00.000-08:00

Vianney, came home one night and told me that he was going down to Lubumbashi for a week. Surprise, he had bought me a ticket to go with him, we sat chatting about it that evening and I told him it would be fun to go to South Africa to do some shopping, well Vianney just said why don't we organise that for you. So off we went to the Travel agent and we booked my ticket for Sunday morning. We both went to the airport as he was leaving later in the day for Lubumbashi .

My daughter Tanya and her family where at the Airport to meet me, as I stayed with them, it was a time to get to know her two children Lizel nearly 7 and Theo 2 years of age, as I have not seen them for almost 6 years. Its strange to be called Nana ....guess I will just have to get used to it.!!! loved all the hugs I received from them.....it was fun!

I spent time meeting, friends, shopping and going out to some really good restaurants.
I was delighted with the growth of South Africa and the way the people treat each other with respect....I know that South Africans find the crime and the cost of living very high, I guess this is true for them but I still think that it is one of the best and most beautiful country's in the world.

I had a great time in SA and also enjoyed my birthday there but wow it is good to be back home with V again ....we really missed each other.....

Have a great week ..!!!

Lunching at Embassy's doing Crafts and Cooking lessons

2008-10-23T23:29:00.000-07:00

This past week has just been so full of different outings , meeting new people and learning new things. I have become a member of the International Woman's Club here in Kinshasa...they really seem to keep us busy....mind you as busy and involved as you want to be....

I joined the Arts and Craft class really had some fun learning to do something different with a lovely young woman called Rania....

Rania not only does craft she is a excellent cook so , on the Thursday we went back to her house where she showed how to to prepare "Rough Wheat Tomato" in her country it is a poor mans supper , it is delicious, you eat it with the Lebanese pita bread, and chopped onions( I could have the name of the bread wrong...but I will give you the recipe....great for vegetarians, at a BBQ...just give it a bash I love it!!!!!

ROUGH WHEAT TOMATO- (Lebanese Dish)

1. Little Oil in a pot.

2. 3-4 Onions chopped fine...add to oil and brown.

3. 1 Tin of Chick Peas -washed and drained, add to onions.

4. 4 grated tomatoes - add to pot with a 1/4 up water.

5. 1 teaspoon tomato puree added to pot.

6. 1 Teaspoon cinnamon added .

7 1 Cup of Rough Wheat

8. 3/4 cup Water added to the pot with a pinch of salt.

Cover the pot , simmer, stir occasionally, and it will be ready to eat in 10 minutes or when most of the liquid has been absorbed.....

I really think that this dish is great hot or cold, eaten on its own or as a side dish........ENJOY!!!

Now about luncheon, at the Belgium Embassy, with another lady"s group called "Femme de Kin Accueil" its run very much the same way as the IWC ... I was invited to this very posh lunch where we where served champagne in the garden, while meeting ladies of Kinshasa Woman's Club... Lunch was a served in the dining room of the Embassy...we had 4 waiters catering to all our needs .....it was really fun.

I want to add that this organisation does allot of work for various charities here in Kinshasa, I feel very honoured to be part of such organisation doing there bit to help others less fortunate.......so you see we get involved and try our best while supporting our husbands in what they do..................

.The woman that accomany there husbands, all over the world are really remarkable....and do there utmost to enjoy the new experience as an ex-pat wife!!!! bravo!!

Malaria and Hospitals in DRC

2008-10-14T00:21:00.000-07:00

What a strange weekend.... after a great week...all of a sudden things go weird. The first thing that happened is on Saturday late afternoon, we see allot of activity going on at the pool and the next thing two little boys run past the house shouting "his dead...definitely dead" with one adult telling us, no don't listen to that there was an accident one of the boys about 9yrs old was at the pool playing but could not swim and ended up nearly drowning. Thanks to the 3 adults that where present who managed to rescue him and resuscitate him the story ended well....

On to the next event , we went out for dinner after this with some friends, but the service was not the best and my Vianney was not feeling himself. I put it down to the little boy episode but when we got home he said his head felt like it was about to burst...So sunday our day that we planned to go to Lac de ma Valee was canceled. Vianney had a fever,body ache and really felt awful, he just spent the whole day sleeping hoping it was a one day flu..........

Monday morning again after not having a good night, we decided to go to the clinic to have a blood test done for malaria...I must be honest if you are on the outside of the clinic you would not want to go in for treatment. Once in, the staff tried to be very helpful and accommodating. It was a long process but finally by 11.30am we where on our way after seeing the doctor.

While we where waiting a young guy was brought into emergency, after suffering a heart attack...very scary to watch but the staff where there ready to deal with the emergency.

The result of our visit Vianney has malaria, so he is been treated for 5 days with Quinine and will go back to be retested, after completing the medication.....I am sure that this too will end with a positive result...

Meeting New People and Trying New Restaurants!

2008-10-09T23:21:00.000-07:00

This week has been full of new, people , good restaurants and happenings in my life !!!! On Tuesday I went off to the International Woman's Meeting at the Canadian Embassy. We had a speaker who chatted to us about the impact of deforestation here in Africa and the effects it has on Global Warming.

I was really happy to join this group of ex-pat as it opens the door to many more activities and new people in my life. The most important happening for me was meeting "Ingrid" " who writes the blog"Life as in Kin" , she really is a delightful, positive young woman. I think that if you have been following my blog from the beginning, you realised that at first I was very negative about coming to the DRC until Dorianne my daughter found Ingrid's blog and of course the rest is history it turned things around for me completely,and more positive about joining the ex-pat life here in the DRC.

Thanks Ingrid you are really an inspiration, and described life here in Kin very accurately. You just have to make the most of all opportunity's thrown your way in life.

Now to the subject of the restaurants, a group of us went to the Mandarin Chinese Restaurant after the meeting where the view is just so beautiful. You look across the Congo river and see Brazzaville very clearly on the other side. The other restaurant was the the Taj-Tandoori which is on the top of a building with a fabulous view of the city lights in the evening. In fact you could be anywhere in the world having a evening out with friends.... the only off putting thing about going to this restaurant is the small lift that only takes 3 people....it is very claustrophobic....but guess to enjoy we need to pay a small price....

Lumbumbashi

2008-10-02T09:39:00.000-07:00

Finally on Saturday I left for Lubumbashi with Vianney. Leaving for the Airport at about 11.30 am thinking we would leave at 2.30pm well think again... in Africa time takes on a new meaning...we arrived safely after a two and a half hour flight in Lubumbashi, with Air Zimbabwe. Lisa was at the airport to meet us so getting our luggage went smoothly , finally at 8pm we checked into our very modest Hotel called "Nazim" with its fake palm trees outside, flashing their welcome!!!

We went off to meet the rest of the consultants at the Belgium Club for dinner . It was a good supper, what surprised we was finding a place where you can do some 10 pin bowling...2 lanes but thats not bad !!!

Lubumbashi is much smaller than Kinshasa , the main road is ina very good condition not one pothole. There are traffic lights and unlike Kinshasa people obey the rules of the road.

The little Hotel we where staying in was quiet funny , in the morning you have no choice of what breakfast you are going to have, the old Papa comes along with your tea or coffee and 5 minutes later you get a little oily omelet with two slices of bread and a blob of jam.. so off to the nearest little shop I went to buy some yogurt and muesli....this was much better for me.

Lubumbashi is very dusty due to all the mines around and also the fact that the roads leading off the main road are in a shocking condition, potholes , soil erosion ...so as a result you have this red brown dust all over...everywhere dust....apart from that I enjoyed Lubumbashi....

They have some great restaurants most of them associated with a Club eg..Italian Club, Greek Club, Belgium Club then we have Holly Bum which is a Restaurant and Guest house, Chez Robert

has the same concept and is really cute....it has a pool , nice little garden with lots of bird life around.

On Sunday for lunch we all went a place called "Bush Camp" where we had a great lunch, you get to choose you meat which can be anything from sausage , crocodile, ostrich or game they barbeque this and you help yourself to salads and cooked vegetables...

We flew back to Kinshasa on Wednesday with CA Airlines it was not bad at all, I was just surprised that after an hours flight we stopped at a town called Mbumbayi , looking down you see these huge mining holes....and I believe this is where allot of the diamonds come from. Mbunbayi is in the middle of the country...we stopped there for refuelling and of course more passenger.....it was funny to see some of the household goods they loaded onto the plane...stoves beds some plastic chairs...its different in Africa but wow what an opportunity....

So I am back in Kinshasa settling down in my home and Vianney has gone off to Matadi , maybe one day I will get to visit this little town too........

What's New At Belle Vue

2008-09-18T01:17:00.000-07:00

Well the little Complex is coming along fine, it has had its teething problems but I guess that is to be expected. One day you have Internet then there is nothing again for a few days.....Sometimes you have excellent TV reception then the lights go out and everything is blurry and there is no signal . This goes on almost every other week......So when we have a good week its bests to enjoy it while you can. (Just an update here we had Internet connection installed by Vodacom and it is working well now after 5 days of no service....guess I should not complain it might just go off again!!!!)
Some of the people staying on the compound have had there own Internet and satellite TV installed at a price but if you are going to be here long term its a small price to pay!!!! (Hey ....just joined in with this too, so I am set up!) Its great!
School has opened , we have the International School called "Jewels Int. School" just down the road from Belle Vue. So the mornings around here are very quiet.....The afternoons when the children get back they all seem to meet at the swimming pool, that was just filled this last week so now they can swim and get rid of any left over energy, cooling down in the pool.

Around the pool they are still busy building, they will have a gym,small shop, restaurant so at least once that is ready we too will be able to enjoy more facilities.

Vianney spent 5 days away down in Lubumbashi and I thought it would be best to stay behind , just as well, I ended up with flu....and been a twit kept on thinking it was malaria talk about been obsessed about something!!!! guess I just want to be care full....anyway I am well now!

Every other day you about someone that has malaria, a driver, a maid or one of there children so its out there...we just have to take care and spray our "Deet" perfume!!!!

This weekend , Vianney will be off again to Lubumbashi but he wants to go to Matadi.as well...have no idea which one it will be and maybe I will get to go with....so its all up in the air for now, best to play it by ear... I just hope the time comes soon when we can go off and explore around Kinshasa... I did get to some of the markets last weekend but still want to visit Lac de ma Valee!!

Have a good weekend , I know I will ....make the best of it!

What I do when we travel......

2008-09-09T23:44:00.000-07:00

I guess its time I answer this question once and for all.....If you have read the beginning of my blog you know that Vianney and I met 7 yrs ago, I knew that my life would be full of new adventures and experiences,........exactly what I was looking for after meeting the man I had been searching, for a life time... ( I know it sounds kind of sugary but true)
So I packed up my suitcases and decide to follow him where ever he went...In my opinion if you are in a relationship especially at my age you do not make decisions like this lightly. I still feel that I made choice for myself...leaving one continent for another....but part of life is finding the right person to be with and to enjoy life together by giving encouragement and support .

I feel that long distance relationships do not work for everyone....guess that puts me into that category....life is too short if you love someone to be sitting at different ends of the world waiting.. is just not my bag I would be very lonely ......if that was the case I would not be where I am here in DRC ...I travel to be with Vianney..so that is the first reason I am with him...You want to know how I fill my time exactly, the same way many woman do, I support my man in every way I can , take care of the two of us with doing the cooking , laundry ,entertaining,just generally been a good better half. For myself I am still doing my French Lessons on the computer, writing this blog, meeting friends for coffee doing some walking .....and when I look again the day has just passed by so quickly and it is time to start all over again.......... its called a life!

So I am sure for some it mind seem kind of boring.....I can definitely vouch for the fact that if woman had to be paid for what we do......we would definitely be far too expensive because as a woman and a mom.....I find that we are always compensating doing without to make it easier for those we love.......

So I hope this answers this question..........NO I AM NOT BORED...................I am happy!!! I speak this softly.....:)

Two Month's have passed now!!!

2008-09-05T06:51:00.000-07:00

It has been a busy two weeks for me in a way...guess it has something to do with getting into a routine and just dealing with Africa.
I unfortunately parted ways with young Jael....lets say it just did not work out and maybe she had more aspiring ideas...and doing housework was not really on the agenda...so hopefully she has moved on to greener pastures where she can run the household.
Well that has left me again trying to find someone that is going to be more suited to me....I took one look at the next person, offered to me and knew that it was not going to work for me so now I think i am known for not been too easy to please...well too bad!!!
On Monday i had a papa who's name is eBabi, start but I don't think that it will last much longer than this Monday for me either....I know people are poor but that is no reason for them to go through your bags......unfortunately if you do not catch them red handed its a bit difficult to prove!!! So I have some decision to make....and soon.!!!
On the social side,we have attended a few birthday dinners and a house warming party they turned out to be fun.
Our Thursday morning tea this week was great, we had it at a lovely German lady's house (Ava )who made us a great curry and rice for lunch...
we sipped some champagne to celebrate one of the lady's getting her container.....so all is not dull here on the compound!!!
This morning we enjoyed a birthday breakfast I organised for young Bev from Australia...
We found a delightful restaurant called Mozart's where we sipped some champagne and chatted over a beautiful cheese and ham omelet....we bumped into two more international ladies Alison a Korean/American and Biva from Nepal .
After our breakfast we went with Biva and Sylvi who is Congolese married to a (Canadian) who comes from Iran....to do some shopping.........a little nerve wrecking with Biva driving who tells us she is used to driving an automatic car ....and that she just cannot get used to how the Congolese drive ....they make one lane into three and if all else fails improvise and make it four with the other side of the road doing exactly the same.....Welcome to the DRC .driving experience...this explains why we need a chauffeur......until next time have a good weekend.!!!

Sometimes its good to read Poetry

2008-09-05T06:46:00.000-07:00

IF

By Rudyard Kipling
If you can keep your head when all about you Are losing theirs and blaming it on you;
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you, But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,Or, being lied about, don't deal in lies,Or, being hated, don't give way to hating, And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise;

If you can dream - and not make dreams your master;
If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with triumph and disaster And treat those two imposters just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools, Or watch the things you gave your life to broken, And stoop and build 'em up with wornout tools;

If you can make one heap of all your winnings And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss, And lose, and start again at your beginningsAnd never breath a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew To serve your turn long after they are gone, And so hold on when there is nothing in you Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on";

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue, Or walk with kings - nor lose the common touch;
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you; If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute With sixty seconds' worth of distance run - Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it, And - which is more - you'll be a Man, my son!

Rudyard Kipling

Here's a link to a Web site all about Rudyard Kipling:www.kipling.org.uk/kip_fra.htm

Weekend Visits

2008-08-24T09:40:00.000-07:00

Sunday has arrived and finally there was a car and a driver outside our appartment who really had no one to take shopping....We decided to take advantage of the opportunity to go on one of our visits. After a brief discussion with our driver Etienne we decided to visit Kinsuka to visit Chez Conseille (Pompage) It is about a 35 minute ride from Belle Vue on the road going to Matadi... Driving on the roads he has to go around the potholes and broken down truck and cars at times, which give you time to look at how the people of Kinshasa live. Mama's with big basin's of bread (baguettes) and a jar of homemade peanut butter making breakfast for anyone who stops by to order with her...Woman going about shopping for vegetables all dressed in the beautiful dresses or skirts and tops made of wax anglais materials...so bright and colourful I just love it! Not to forget the many full little churches (some make shift ) full of people singing and praying...People are very religious here , I have come to the conclusion when there is nothing else, no hope you turn to something or someone that offers some form of hope! I do not think a day goes by when I am not asked if I have a job for someone....it is sad, and I feel a bit helpless at times.

What a surprise when we eventually got to Kinsuka, we where on the Congo River with a view of the rapids and just on the other side of the river Brazzaville. The beach is full of huge black boulders. Here and there you spot a fisherman on the rocks fishing with a net or rod.. and.kids bathing in the shallow water. In this area you also find that they earn minimal money by breaking up these rock, first by making dynamite holes blasting them and then chipping at them to make smaller pieces so that they can build houses .....in a week they can earn about 10 20 dollars doing this.

I also discovered some very nice statues that where made out of cement dotted around the gardens before getting to the beach .I spotted my first African Dwarf Pygmy Kingfisher(Bird)
in some reeds next to what was once upon a time a fish farm.....

After our walk we discovered a little restaurant , where they have a buffet lunch for $20 but we opted for the fried bananas with a fish that is steamed in banana leaves ...it was delicious...

We had a great Sunday and will visit there again......

Places to Visit .....

2008-08-15T08:13:00.000-07:00

Two weeks ago having a chat with Jaèl the young woman who comes in, to help me with the house twice a week we got chatting about different touristic places to visit. Vianney and I decide to go out to the closest one called Nganda Yala with Alfonse our driver. It is a little picnic spot where you can take the family on a Sunday to enjoy the day. They have a little restaurant where you can have something to eat and drink , I even saw some people swimming, if you enjoy fishing this is not the place for you, there are none, I was told!

I believe that there are other places to visit like Lac de ma Valee which is about an hours drive from here , and a Park for rescued Chimps , I guess we will have to try and see these soon before the rainy season comes! The roads are not in the best condition so when the wet season comes I am told you will definately need a 4x4 to get around.

In the mean time I am kept busy with my little Coffee Morning which has turned out to be a hit and we are now starting to think of ways to help people less fortunate than ourselves.

Life at Belle Vue

2008-08-07T00:15:00.000-07:00

I have been living at Belle Vue , for two weeks now, slowly I am getting into a routine of going for my morning walk of a couple of laps around the compound with Bev....I have tried to stick to about 7000 steps on the walk and do a couple more laps in the evening with Vianney. This gives us time to chat about our day and to get some exercise in at the same time.

More family's and consultants have been arriving so the little group is growing....and with that all the teething problems of a new project get sorted out as we go along. It seems the major problem for us has been cars and driver assignments but the company is doing there best to accommodate everyone so it is all good.

This week on my walk I got to see how very lonely people are on the compound. Some of us are going to be here for 3-5 years and it is difficult in the beginning to make new friends find a dentist , doctor etc. I have taken it on my shoulders to try and form a support group for the lady's here at Belle Vue, by arranging our first Coffee Morning.....

A quick note on this I had about 15 woman turn up, it was fun, from teachers to a Child Psychologist , all with different views and hobby's. It was great to exchange information amongst ourselves and we will meet again next week.....

I have been helping the moms that do not have much English or French enroll there children at the International School (Jewels Int. School) just down the road from Belle Vue . Yesterday was the turn of a lovely Albanian Family that arrived just 3 days ago......We are turning out to be a great International Community.

Last weekend had some colourful moment . I found a hairdressing Salon downtown and a few of the consultants tried it out..first...So I thought the hairdresser had done a good job on them I would go with Vianney...you guessed....Yes something did go wrong.. we both got very short haircuts.. we look a bit like convicts in hiding. One good thing , hair grows....at least we know we can have our hair done here!

Sunday we where all invited to one of the Ministers Homes,who's wife works as an Office Manager for the company. She had tables beautifully set out in her garden . She had organised a lovely buffet lunch for about 50 guest . We had champagne for the celebration with a band playing music in the background...it was fun and different.

One of the dishes on the menu was stewed 'Mopani Worms'.... I passed on this dish, but some consultants where brave enough to try them and said they where good!!!!

My Maid Jaèl

2008-07-25T03:43:00.000-07:00

On Monday morning Jaèl arrived at my front door, she was employed by the company to do the cleaning of the house.

I must be honest when I first saw her I really did not think that this young woman of 27 was going to work out. The reason I thought it was not going to work, she arrived looking more like a model than someone that was going to help in the house. Jaèl has turned out to be fun and very helpful, she told me that the outfit she is wearing she designed, cut and sewed together so she is talented. Going to get her to help me with my sewing! (and French)

Vegetables and fruits here are very expensive but she manages to shop at the market for much less, buying very fresh local products...mango, Paw paw, pineapples and Avocado's...so it works for both of us!

I told her I was going to put some pictures of her on my Blog and she came all dressed for the part.

Embassy and Passports Do Not Make for a Good Day!

2008-07-25T03:13:00.000-07:00

Today I was ready to pack my bags and go home! Talk about feeling frustrated. Why is it that every country you go to (when entering through Immigration with your Passport) find this unstoppable urge to use a clean page for their stamp and then another one for their visa!!!! As a result the passport that I now have, has too few pages in it. When we arrived they put a

temporary visa plus the normal stamps of entry into my passport (taking up 2 pages)a day later our passports were collected again for another more "permanent" visa... (it was supposed to be for a year), but guess what..... it was only, for a month.

The passports now had to go back once more,Patrick, the guy who is doing this for us, told
me ‘Mama you do not have enough pages for this’ so that is the reason why I am trying to obtain a new passport. The South African Embassy here has been awful.

I have been to them 4 times and every time (according to them)I have had something missing. or I had not completed all the forms.
I had to prove my citizenship, apply for an Identity Document, Apply for a new Passport, and bring copies of my existing Passport, Identity Document, and Citizenship Document.

Second time with everything in order I go back and the man who does finger prints was not there BUT..let me check your papers , oops! You forgot to fill in all the details of your parents…!!!! Where they where born,when, Identity numbers etc. which I do not have !

Third time every thing is filled out but the fingerprint man is still missing in action and so I cannot leave my application once again.
SO....
I take time and go back this morning only to be told that I filled the papers in with the wrong
blue and not black…colour OK.. I redo them…"oops something is not right! "You have crossed something out ,that is not allowed, I start again…oops! this "You have gone over the R in your surname that is not allowed…".That is when I just got so frustrated and burst into tears!!!!!

I am now convinced that these people were looking for a bribe, and without it they where
going to give me a hard time. I told the fingerprint man (Who magically appeared- Like the Cheshire cat in Alice in Wonderland) that I was not happy with
the way I was been treated and that I would report their behaviour…as I was about to fill in my forth application of the day….

He then proceeded to tell me he was in charge and no you do not have to redo that just scratch it out like this…with a stroke of the pen and write next to it!!!! I said the Madam in the
front said it was not allowed, he told me forget about her she is in training…and he knew what was allowed and not……and had been doing this job for many years!!!

I COULD HAVE SCREAMED! This was NOT funny! There I am standing - tears running down my face, runny nose (no tissues) and all of this happening in front of a room of around 30 people.

I was ashamed to be South African and to be treated like this in a foreign country by my own embassy….…..Shame on you SA Embassy for not been more helpful to YOUR citizens in a foreign country. I am sure many of the people sitting there are subjected to this type of behaviour and abuse - having no choice but to pay something (someone) under the table to be served!!!

Well I will have no part in any form of corruption….Happy to have got that all off my chest, time to move on!

Moral of the story , is to go prepared with enough blank pages in your passport and everything else to do with your Travel Document in order well before you leave home !
Hope the weekend is allot better!

Things Move Slow !!

2008-07-18T00:42:00.000-07:00

This week has gone by so quickly. Even though I did not have that much to do, things move slow in Africa, so it takes time to do thing.
In Africa one should have time and patients. I do have the time but after going to the South African Embassy four times in the past two weeks, to apply for a Maxi Passport my patients are slowly getting to the end!!!
I will persevere as I need a maxi passport for all the visa's I am collecting. One of the reasons I have had to go back is we do not have a permanent address here in the DRC....and the Embassy wants to be sure I still have SA citizenship. Thanks to Dorianne scanning and email I now have all the documentation I need. So I will be trying again next week.
We do have a vehicle and driver available to us when they are not busy with the Consultants it just takes a bit of planning to organise your day .
In the morning when Vianney goes off to work Bev and I get together to go for our morning walk it’s about 2km (enough to nearly do our 10 000 steps for the day). I do my French Lessons, Internet when it is working and some washing and that takes care of the morning.
I have just heard that Bev and Alan will be leaving the Hotel over the weekend to go to the attached houses in the compound so I will be minus my partner from Monday but will keep up the routine”
Well talk about things moving fast…shows you I should not talk to soon…As it happens we moved out of the Hotel on Sunday Morning. We have unpacked and settled in very well.
The name of the Complex is Belle Vue; they have row houses in an enclosed compound. We have 3 Bedrooms, 2 Bathrooms, Toilet downstairs with an open plan Kitchen, salon and Dining Room. Little Garden outside so we have lots more space and feeling very much at home….
Went shopping yesterday to buy groceries….big surprise …things are very expensive here in Kinshasa…I paid US $750 for a very small trolley! Anyway we should be fine for the next few weeks; I must admit that shopping here is not one of my favourite things to do…We did manage to find everything we needed as it is imported from South Africa and Europe guess that is the main reason for the price we paid. It's great to see some good South African Wines on the shelf.
I intend to put more effort into my French and be fluent by the time I go home to Canada, on that note let me get back to some studying!

Living in the Hotel

2008-07-15T03:37:00.000-07:00

Today is our 5th day in Kinshasa. We have not been sleeping that well. We are still
trying to get used to the 6 hour time difference, the different sounds and the strange bedroom!
We woke up this morning to find a notice under the door from Management. The notice was apologising for the disco and party noises we will be hearing tonight, until 1am in the morning and then again for Saturday night until 3am Sunday morning !….Guess they know how to Bogey and throw a good party…poor us trying to sleep!
Guess what our room is on the 4th floor above the venue. There is not much we can do about this, as we are here for next 3-4 weeks. So I guess we better get used to it and buy earplugs and sleeping pills!
The apartment they are trying to get ready for some of the consultants are in the process of been built….I went along with my new Australian friend Bev, to have a look at them today they are a 5 minute walk from here. Once they are completed they will be really beautiful and spacious, they all look onto the Congo River, so I look forward to moving.
We had some more time to explore the city with our Driver Theo, who only speaks French and his own language, so there is some room for misunderstanding some times.
I went off to the South African Embassy to apply for a new passport as mine is so full of visas, then off to the Canadian Embassy to tell them we where in Kinshasa. I had to get some passport photo’s taken and had it done on the street sitting on a little red plastic chair in the dust surrounded by people selling sunglasses fruit and even portable dryer stands….so this gave one a true feeling of been back in Africa. Its funny but as time goes by you take in the friendliness and helpfulness of the Congolese people and know that things will just get better as time goes on…..This weekend we went on a company picnic at someone’s farm along the Congo river, I tried to do some fishing but I guess I will have better luck fishing with less sophisticated tackle…but it was relaxing ….with that we come to another week….

Arriving in South Africa and then DRC

2008-07-08T05:30:00.000-07:00

Leaving Montreal, with Dorianne and Seb at the Airport was really difficult in some ways, excitment to travel again and sad to leave them behind. There was some difficulty in getting our electronic tickets printed but after an hour we managed to book all our luggage in ...all 8 pieces of it! We paid 600$ extra but at least it was booked through to Kinshasa. When we arrived in New York we had another problem, as SAA wanted to charge us again for our luggage...the young woman was not very helpful at all....guess i managed to annoy her, as she had both V and I searched on our way through Security..She marked SSSS on our boarding pases so we where pulled aside and I was x-rayed..not.funny!!! I felt that my privacy was invaded in a way but guess that is the joy of travelling.

We arrived well rested in Johannesburg thanks to the good seats we had. I was fortunate to get to see my daughter Tanya, her husband Stefan little Lizel and baby brother Theo..I will put pictures up shortly to show the happy reunion...

The next day we where up very early and ready to get our flight to Kinshasa. We arrived here in Kin at about lunch time....

Getting to the entrance of the airport building , you have your passport checked for a visa and yellow fever card is presented at this time....Well we had a copy of our visa but not in the passport as yet . No one asks for proof they jsut send you off to a little room where they demand money for the visa and are generally abit intimidating ......Eventually someone came to our rescue with the visa and money to pay for them as it is all taken care of by the company....

We where taken off to wait for our luggage in a VIP lounge. You then have to identify your luggage which V did, only to dicover that one case was missing...mine.

I thought that I would end up with no underware but plenty of jeans to wear!!!!!Not very helpful in a warm climate. On that note it is a very nice tempreture here at the moment ...it is said to be there winter its about 21

The suitcase turned up at the Hotel yesterday in good condition with everything still in it ...

We are staying at the Grand Hotel in town I think it was a very nice looking Hotel at one time , at least I can say that our room is comfortable and we are well settled .This will be our home for the next 2 weeks . We have been told that we might be going to a place called Lumbumbashi. I am sure it will go well there.

We have already met some of the people that will be working with V, a lady from Australia and a couple from there as well.... I know that once we are settled we will be fine. Went shopping today to go and look at the Super Market and they have about everything you would need. The only thing is that the vegetable and fruit selection was not that great but I am sure we will find other shopŝ...

Getting Ready For The Big Trek !

2008-06-28T04:24:00.000-07:00

The past two weeks have filled up so quickly with list of things to do. Me furiously ticking off at my list of things to do and buy. In the process of all this we have a house of furniture to store with family and our kids living in Ottawa. Living in St. Alexis de Montcalm means we travel about 2 hours to Ottawa where my daughter Dorianne lives with her husband Sebastian. We have done this trip about 3 times in the last 2 weeks . The positive aspect , we have had time to spend with them before leaving.

Vianney and I lived in Mauritius for almost two years in between that we travelled to the Far East , Philippines, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan. The list has grown quickly to include living in Montenegro for almost a year and then the Caribbeans where Vianney did some contracts and I got to visit Antigua island.

Our next assignment , is to be in Democratic Republic of Congo, I have had mixed feelings about going. It all started with the different vaccine's we had to have before leaving. The tablets we are going to have to take to protect us from malaria and just general uncertainties. Nothing on the Internet describing the country has been that positive, apart from one blog that a South African has been writing named "life as in Kin". I want to thank her for her positive outlook as she has made me feel at ease about this "big move".

We have 3 more days one more vaccine for Vianney then we will be on our way, by Saturday morning we will be in our new location and country will keep you posted.

The hardest part about starting a new project is leaving my daughter, son-in-law , family and friends behind here in Canada.....we should be home for a "White Christmas" so I will have something to look forward to...