Boy am I pooped!

Trip Start Aug 01, 2008

Trip End Jun 30, 2010

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Flag of Congo Pointe Noire, Congo
Wednesday, October 15, 2008

                Talk about your slings and arrows, we have all been getting over the hump, adjustment wise. I have had a stomach bug which put me in the hospital for two days, also got stitches because I passed out on my way to the john during said attack. The boys pop regular fevers and poor David has had to pick up the slack. We are sincerely hoping that this all comes to an end soon. No pun intended. Even Lyle gashed his foot open on the beach and has, prophylactically been treated for worms. The funny thing is that we've been really careful with our food and what we eat and don't eat. Just goes to show you, you can never be too careful when it comes to Africa. We were also told by a friend that when the mango trees are blooming, now, that all the white folks get sick. It certainly has been true for us.
                In other news, the school is on break for a week and David and I are able to get some serious planning and photocopying done without students. Oscar and Henry still have school so we have a freedom unprecedented here in Congo. Yipee! The kids are learning lots of French and Henry loves to come home and tell me his letters in French. So cute!
                We took a ride to the beach this past weekend for some lovely seafood and swimming. We live right down from the beach but the surf is formidable and it is often crowded, lots of trash on the sand and no one really swims there. However about a half an hour away is place called Motombe, where the water is mellow and the food divine. Then our friends drove to their friends' house to pick up their little girl who was hanging with her friends and, WOW do they have a beautiful beach house. Small, but homey and comfy. We were immediately welcomed and wine was corked and we spent just a short hour getting to know two Belgian sisters and their husbands. Amazingly graceful hosts, the sisters grew up in Brazzaville and the husbands worked in/for/around oil.
                There is only one other American that I know who works here, and he is in and out and working hard all the time, his wife and daughter remain in the States for the time being, and, you know, it's not really a bad thing. I must admit that I am embarrassed to have to make a whole room of people speak English because I', there, but honestly, no one seems to hold a grudge. My friend Julie has promised to give me lessons once her schedule clears a little, in December, so maybe there is hope for me yet. I just hate being the typical American who can't speak the language (although to be fair, I do speak Spanish, it just doesn't help me any here)

             We have purchased our first African art in the form of a mud painting and a carving, I plan to head to the artists market this weekend to see what else they have to offer. The Art is really beautiful, ranging from the very rustic to extremely fine. Also you can have anything you want made, my friend had a buddah carved for her and it is really amazing, it is a buddah done african style, dark wood with an african face, something you'd never find anywhere else. And honestly, I love supporting artists. There are vases and maskes and tapestries and lots of bad oil paintings, so if anyone out there is interested in some african art, lemme know!

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