A Few of My Favorite Things

I'm really liking this picture idea. Here are some of my favorites, with a bit of explanations. If you want to here the whole story, come find me :)

My group leader, David, and the mascot chicken of Frengo King, the KFC of Mozambique.

Another brilliant sunset.

Road trip to Chocas! We had quite a few adventures on the way there and back again.

Including:

-monkey sightings.

-being crammed in the back of the Ker's charming, dusty Land Rover. I loved it, actually, cramped as it was. It took road-tripping to a whole new dimension!

-buying cashews from vendors on the side of the road. You have to understand, though, these aren't just ANY cashews. They were roasted, toasted, and perfect in thier unsalted glory. You know I've never liked cashews before? Well - I bought a giant sack of them for the way home.

-a flat tire on the way home. That was an adventure in of itself!

The view from out the cafe window in Tete. In many ways it speaks for itself.

We stopped at a little village on the way to Chocas. It was one of the richest moments of the entire trip. I bought an ear of roasted corn (delicious) while they heaped our Land Rover with firewood for the next evening.

David had a conversation with the villagers in Portuguese that went something like, "No, you don't want to marry these girls. They would make terrible wives! They don't know how to carry things on thier heads, they don't know how to start a fire, and they can't make shima!"

We wondered why everyone was lauging so hard when we pulled away.

Many an evening, the cooks welcomed us in to supper by singing to us.

And last but not least - as a last hurrah of our Chocas trip, we held a chapel service in one of the oldest still-functioning churches in Africa.

It was crumbling

and sun-streamed

and exquisite

We had goosebumps as we sang -

God was there.

Culture Shock: what was so different about Mozambique

*disclaimer: all of these things, even if they sound strange or irritating, were wonderful.

*except numbers 5 and 8.

1. African time:
We had the honor of visiting a different church every week. The first week, the pastor said, be at the gate at eight am.

So we were.

Pastor came oh, about 8:45.
And we weren’t even late for church.

2. Chapas
We used a chapa every time we went into town, and it cost about 15 cents. A chapa is like our taxi. Except it’s a rickety white van that is supposed to hold, mmmmm about 10-15 people. On average they contained 20, and once we even counted 24…not including chickens.

3. Tea time
At ten o’clock every morning, we paused our work and went to the cafeteria, where the cooks had laid out big bowls of popcorn and peanuts (no movies), and hot tea with milk and raw sugar. Over this splendid excuse for a break, we got to sit around and chat with the Mozambiquan pastors, and try to learn some Portuguese!

4. Church music
I have to try really hard not to be biased here…but I’m failing. African church music is way better.

5. Malarious mosquitoes
At first we were paranoid to go outside after dark, like the first time I was in Chicago and was afraid of getting mugged anytime I stepped out on the street. Like Chicago, that paranoia quickly wore off. But it was very sobering to realize that most Africans were not on anti-malaria medication like we were, and I gathered that it is a fairly common cause of death in Mozambique.

6. Seven hours difference

And a whole different skyful of stars.

7. Mud huts
People in Mozambique spend most of the day outside. As a result, their yard (which they keep swept clean and clear of grass, weeds, and brush) is their playplace, their kitchen, their living room. I rather liked this.

8. LAM
(aka Lineas Aeras de Mozambique)
(aka Mozambique Airlines)

Two words:
Always. Late.

9. Markets
Could be a madhouse. Could be terribly charming. Could be a challenge to navigate, and could be very very cost efficient!

10. Sunset
Early, swift, and dazzling. In Mozambique the sun started setting 4:30 or five o’clock, drops quickly, and leaves you marveling.