Days continues to amaze us here. Each one is full of memories, smells, sounds and folks who bring so much to our hearts and minds. I keep thinking that soon one day will be like another - like it is so many times in the States- but it never is. We are getting all of these "unexpected gifts and coincidences"- only they really aren't-are they!? This Special Walk we are taking here in Congo has a plan and we didn't even make it! Wow! Isn't life amazing!
As evening approaches here in this vast country, the birds are noisily settling. The various workers are turning in their work sheets and telling me,"Au'revoir, Mama Lenore." I can smell supper cooking- and I didn't have to invent it or cook it! The eight loads of guest's laundry has been done and folded. The tables are set for 40 and I am at peace("in the Valley").
Supper at Mama Colonel was great. The Ex Pat, Nancy, that usually drives on Friday nights, is in the US until mid August. So the Sthreshleys offered to let us ride with them to supper where they were meeting Embassy friends for a goodbye party. So Ken and I got a ride and had a nice quiet supper alone. We were on a patio with palms and plants and flowers, a gentle breeze that kept the mosquitoes away-Ken wore a windbreaker-and a live music trio with a guitar, drum sticks and nice gentle jazz tunes. The food was GREAT! We each ordered a whole chicken as advised. Calm down. These are Congo chickens and are less than half the size of a HALF of an American- growth harmone fed- chicken. The whole bird did not cover the plate. But it was so moist and well seasoned. (Not as great as Ken's BBQ but very good!!) That and Pommes Frites with mayonnaise instead of ketchup.(Try it! You'll like it!) We had a great evening together!The Falls group left Saturday morning. Took camp food and had hotel provided tents- complete with mattress, sheets and blanket and pillow- or hotel spaces. Said the falls were gorgeous, huge and loud! Even in dry season. Also had a trip to a beach on the Congo River that is like the River of long ago with clean, white, sandy beaches, clear water, rapids off in the distance and not many people. (It costs $6 a person to enter the park.) Had hot dogs and S'mores for one meal. So I will be on the search for more marshmallows. One of the young guys who went went them swam in the river. I asked him about crocodiles. Said he didn't see any crocodiles! Duh!! This morning Inge was telling him about the tracks of one who had been sunning there!! Oops!! Their three hour trip home took over 9- getting home around midnight. They had three flat tires- one tire twice. Finally realized they could not make it back here. So had tires from here delivered to them there. Luckily they had the flats near a "larger" village where they could get bottled water and a meal. So they were dragging this morning.
Long ago I told you about an "alarm bird." We are no longer using an alarm clock but depend on the Shutshihutshi who sings at 5:30-5:45 every morning right outside our bedroom window. The other day we heard a sound as if a person was being skinned alive. It almost scared us out of ours! Turns out it's a big ugly bird that comes seasonally. I really do enjoy the winged choir outside of our apartment each morning. They answer each other all over the yard. Some folks refer to MPH as the House of Birds. With so many trees we have a great many.
People are interesting the world over as they try to deal with others. Had an interesting group from South Africa for five days. It was made up of two South African men and two Indian women. It was interesting to watch their metamorphosis from arrival to meeting their Congolese hosts. They arrived in European suits and slacks with a tunic for the ladies. But then the ladies changed into their typical Indian Saris etc. The men got all decked out each day in unbelievably bright purple, pink, turquoise and gold long flowing men's caftans. Each day a brighter color and trim. Then when here at MPH were in slacks and a t shirt! Two times they had a guest. So when I went to their rooms to tell them-
" Tell them we will be down in ten minutes." They'd walk down all decked out again. At the end of their first day one of the men came to my office. "When do you intend to clean our rooms? We have been gone all day and they are not done." "I'm sorry, Sir, but we are a hostel not a hotel and we don't clean rooms until you have been here a week. We will provide a clean towel on request and toilet paper." "Well, the least you can do is come and sweep my room- it is dusty." "I'm sorry, Sir, but the help is gone for the day. It is Dry Season and there is dust all the time until it rains. There is a broom and a dust pan and a small brush at the end of each hall. You are more than welcome to use them.""Our Sponsor did not tell us this is a hostel." "Oh, I am so sorry . Here, use my phone and call him and see if he can call and get you a room at one the Kinshasa hotels. They run about $200-$300 a day and come with full service." "No, Thank you," he says. I have a friend, Lee, from Pawleys Island, SC that would have said " B---h!" But when she says it, it is a hoot and a holler because with that pretty SC accent the word had ten syllables and is as sweet as molasses. A sweet Southern Steel Magnolia "compliment!"
These cats are a mess and funny and the things they do to get our attention are a riot. I still hate the litter box!!! Bella is now trying to get out of the apartment almost every time we open the door. So, Clay and Cindy, if she gets out and it takes us awhile to get her- you might have grand kittens when you get back and plenty of cats to pet! (Just hope she picks a stud muffin guy cat because with her as a mother those kittens need all the help they can get!!) ;) We are being very careful but she is not afraid of us anymore.
One of our guests is a young man from NC. He is waiting for his long term visa and for the car he is escorting to Kananga to get a tag. He plays soccer against the MPH wall a bunch. So he comes in and asks for a ladder. Goes over the wall and retrieves the ball. Then he plays and kicks it over again. By the time he gets the ladder there is no ball but there are a bunch of 4-5 year olds saying"What ball?" So he walks to Ketambe- a shopping area near MPH -and buys another. Antonio must be a slow learner. In two days he looses 5 soccer balls! It's funny to watch from the second floor. When he begins to kick and kick the ball against the wall a crowd of little ones gather on the other side in anticipation! Whoop. It's over the wall. "What ball, Monsieur?" ;))
Inga wanted to go to Limete this morning and knew that is where Ken and his folks had lived when here. So she invited us to go with her as she searched for a store she had heard about to see if it sells metal cabinets with doors. So Emanuel took us to Ken's old house. Inge had him explain who we were and ask if we could come inside the gate and see the place. They let us in. It was amazing how good it looked. Ken was able to show me his bedroom windows, the porch and the patio. While there we met a lady that knew of Uncle Mark Pool and his work with the pygmies . She now works with them. She also called the minister and he came over. He was a young pastor when Mom and Dad Murray were here after Independence and remembered them well. So saw all the mango, coconut, papaya, and nut trees still in the in the yard. Next door is the old McCutchen home that is now a clinic. Considering it has been 53+ years they looked pretty good. The area reminds me of the areas of Tech Terrace in Lubbock and Highland Park in Dallas. Only no Yuppies have moved in and rescued these lovely old Belgian homes in the neighborhood. Some need some TLC and other need a bunch of TLC. Sad to see how fast things deteriorate here. Saw a guy walking- on a leash- his pet goat. Go figure!!
We left there and went to TAKEA a Congo take off on IKEA.( Saw the huge soccer complex on the way!) Much smaller but complete with arrows on the floor, decorated rooms set up, a place for children to play and a restaurant. All is pressed wood and termites will have it destroyed in less than two years. Very pretty now! Went to another store and found the cabinets Inge wanted. They will be delivered tomorrow afternoon. Then when she knows what she wants in them I will oversee that chore for her. Had lunch at a pretty little patisserie and I had Quiche Lorraine and it was so good!
The French! Mon Goodness! (I was looking for a guillotine but remembered mypatient panties. So all French adult necks are safe!) ;)) The group is made up of 18 HS students- mostly girls - make that giggle city- and 6 adults. As I was looking at their reservations I realized that if what was going to happening to them was going to happen to me I would want advance notice. They wanted to stay here two full weeks but we could not house all of them the last 4 nights. So they offered to bring their own tents and 13 of the 24 would spend these nights in tents if we would just let them stay here. Three of the five rooms are the 3 adult couples! Yep! So I called Martine in to tell her. "Yes we know." So I tell her she is braver than I am to stay in a tent in the back yard here in Congo for four nights! " Oh no, we will be in the dorm rooms." "No, those are male and female halls and they will be full of the other adult guests expecting male and female halls." " But I have a bad back!" (Don't we all!) It goes round and round. Finally I tell her the three wives can sleep together and the three husbands. But no couples and they get to kick the other kids out and into tents. Then I realize no French adults will be in the back yard with all of these kids. So I arrange for one of the two night sentries to be in the back yard to guard them during the nights. But I was also concerned about creepy crawlies, slithery things and mosquitoes and I guess French Harmones! So this morning the adults came in sheepishly and asked if they could please put the tents in the halls. ( I had already thought of that and had cleared it with Inge) So when they asked, I magnanimously said "Yes, we can allow that." So "all is quiet on the western front"- as of now.
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