At Home in Pointe Noire

Trip Start Aug 01, 2008
1
8
63
Trip End Jun 30, 2010


Loading Map
Map your own trip!
Map Options
Show trip route
Hide lines
shadow
Where I stayed
International School Pointe-Noire
(Pointe Noire hotels)

Flag of Congo  ,
Tuesday, August 5, 2008

My family, our dog and almost all 28 pieces of luggage made it safely to our new home here in Pointe-Noire. It is an ungentrified little city peppered with villas and mansions. There seems to be little infrastructure: few paved roads, unconvincing electrical service. But with all the ammenities of western life: internet, good food, etc. The beach is really amazing, huge waves abuse the surfers that attempt them. We ate at a restaurant right on the beach called Twiga, really delicious fresh fish. People smile and wave and wish you bonjour wherever you go.

We have been given a huge villa to occupy. The first floor is our school and the second floor is our flat. It is really beautiful and we're told one of the nicest ones that Schlumberger has. There are still some loose ends to tie up here in the house; washer/dryer, gas stove, etc. but overall, a really pleasant place to land. Schlumberger has been very good to us, we can call for a van to run us to town for whatever we need and 24/7 security, a very nice house keeper and a bilingual assistant.

We're adjusting to the constant petrol fumes from the many many generators that run. We all have chesty coughs and the sneezes. And the bays are getting a little sick of just each other's company, but mostly were okay. No major gastrointestinal woes. I make everyone eat digestive enzymes at every meal and I'm a drill sargeant with the hand washing.

The construction on the school is not complete and none of our supplies has arrived, so we are sort of at a loss for what to do. We study French and every day it gets a little less horrible.
Slideshow Print this entry