Written April 27, 2009 Luanda, Angola
Is it the planet Venus that shines as bright as the North star and lies to the east? Every night when the sun sets, usually a brilliant orange colour, you can see the moon and in between the two is a star that shines so bright I can only imagine it is Venus.
This morning at 7:30am the choir began singing "Hallelujah". Sunday mass was more lively than usual. The choir was accompanied by a drum band and by 10am there was lots of cheering. Most Sunday in the choir I count 28 women and 4 men when they march out into the courtyard, but today there were many more men, maybe an addition for the special celebration that I have yet to figure out.
How close have you ever seen a hummingbird? For me I can now say only one foot away. As I sat in the office truck waiting for my Japanese colleague and friend, Takaho, come out of her house, a black and electric bright green hummingbird came to say good morning. Its colours were incredible and its tiny little body seemed so perfect.
As you can see, Angola still has me in awe. Last weekend with friends from the office I went to Kissama National Park. The drive out of the city was unexpected...an hour ocean drive and then a 30 km turn into the bush. The red soil, the wide river, which according to the UN head of security is still ridden with mines and the African trees made for a scenic view.
Everyone keeps saying that Angola is a difficult post but I seem to be spared for now. However most of my colleagues come to work each day adding a check to the continued number of days with no water or electricity. Apparently once I move into my own place I too will get to have such experiences - yipee just like camping.
I have been here six weeks now and I am not phased at all anymore by blackouts, phone lines down or typhoon rain storms. However, I still cringe at the sight of children playing in dirty water pools and flooded alleys that are everywhere these days as the rainy season comes into full swing.
Over this time I have built a nice relationship with the cleaning staff and the waiters here in the hotel. Every morning i enjoy saying good morning (bon dia!) and ordering morning Angolan java. And on the weekends, the cleaning staff, chat a little when they bring clean towels. With one senora, in particular, I enjoy chatting - this of course helps my Portuguese! Together we change the bed sheets and she lends me a needle and thread when needed. She seems to like very much that I wash my own clothes in the bathtub. I perceive this from her huge smile when I am elbow deep wringing water out clothes or ironing clothes on my bed and she brings me more hangers.
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