Finally!

I've arrived! I have now been in Maputo for just under 24 hours. I'm
still getting settled and used to things. It's really surreal being here.
It's quite unusual to spend 2 days inside buildings and airplanes to come
out on the other side of the world. This must be what a time warp feels like. Right
now I am at the Avenida hotel (niiice) a block or so from my place stealing their free internet since my wireless at home isn't working.

I was greeted at the puny and ultra old-school Maputo airport by Djamila, a
co-worker who very kindly took me to the apartment, gave me a phone, took
me shopping and for coffee at the ritzy Polana hotel (owned by the Prince Aga Khan – my boss I guess) on the ocean and showed me around. So I have a cell phone now. Everyone here has a cell phone. It takes months to get a land line. So if anyone wants to call
me you can call me at 011-258-82-602-9282. (By the way, international
calling cards can be purchased at the ethnic stores in any city- of course
in Winnipeg you may endanger your lives by going to those areas of town, so
travel in groups hehe) Of course, please remember that I am in the future
(except for you Dan, you're still 6 hours in the future from me). I'm 8
hours ahead of Winnipeg, 10 Calgary and 7 Ottawa. Not that I wouldn't love
to hear from you, but you know. Text messaging from the cell phone is
also huge here - since it's free.

The jet lag was quite minimal, I'm already on Moz time. Was able to do a
lot of sleeping on the planes. Fell dead asleep on the KLM bus to Montreal
before it even hit the highway. But not before I saw this funny sign in the bathroom. Apparently men in hats aren’t allowed near you while you relieve yourself. The Montréal-Amsterdam flight wasn't full so I had the row to myself to lie down and sleep. I also had some entertainment to keep me from being too bored. This little guy was too funny. The killer 10 hour daytime Amsterdam-Johannesburg flight was nearly full and I wasn't as tired so
there was a lot of reading and a movie. Spent the night in Joburg where my
good friend Gerhard picked me up and took me to visit his parents and
brother. I was pretty wired so I didn't sleep much and in the morning he took me back to the airport. I was happy to see a trusted friend on my way to the heart of darkness.

I arrived in Maputo around 3pm Saturday February 3rd. I was pretty tired but was out and about all day so no resting until I went to bed for the night at about 10:30 or 11. I slept like the dead -hopefully no cockroaches or bed bugs came to visit me. I haven't seen any weird bugs yet, just a couple of lizards, but the first African bug
encounter is imminent I am sure. It's not encouraging that there's a huge can of bug spray called DOOM outside of my bedroom. Alternatively, on the advice of my colleagues at CIDA, I can always try dipping them in chocolate.

My first morning I was text-invited (I meant it when I said that texting is huge here) for coffee with my boss Kevin from Aga Khan Foundation (AKF) at the Jardim dos Namorados (Garden of Lovers on Avenida Frederich Engels). It’s a popular spot for ice cream on the weekends. Ok, so very short history lesson since my knowledge of history isn't the greatest. Mozambique was a colony of fascist Portugal (it gained
independence in 1975). After independence the Mozambican government got help from other communist countries. So many, many streets are named after communist icons and
leaders. There are streets named after Frederich Engels, Kim Il Sung, Mao Tse Tung, Vladimir Lenin, Karl Marx, Ho Chi Minh...etc. It's quite funny coming from the west to this. Especially funny that the current US Embassy is on the corner of Mao Tse Tung and Vladimir Lenin. But they’re moving. I guess they just couldn’t stand it anymore.

There are a lot of people selling stuff on the streets. Literally everwhere. They can be a bit annoying since they are quite aggressive especially when they spot a newcomer but if you just say no thanks and keep walking they are nice, just folks
trying to make a living. There were some guys selling puppies on the street. I had to look away.

Oh ya, the rumours are true- it's hot. Yesterday was 35 Celsius during the day and about 22 at night. But it's not sickly humid like Ottawa can be so it's manageable. And brushing up my Portuguese although you can get around quite easily with just English. But I came here to learn about this country so I will speak the language. I bought a Portuguese book today by Mozambican journalist Mia Couto. It's a compendium of some of his articles that talk about how Mozambique has been shaped over the years in terms of social conscience and it's place in the world. Anyway I know some of you
are rolling your eyes and muttering "oh, there's that book smart Suzan
going on again about social conscience and the world and stuff -blah blah"- but it will be interesting to
me.

Ok, I better get going. It's just about 3pm now so you all are just getting
up and only about 4 more hours of daylight so better hit the streets. Enjoy
your Sundays as I am enjoying mine. Ate breve (literally- until soon, but
coloquially, talk to you soon).