"GGG" or "Girls Go Gallavanting"

TASOK

Well this has been an interesting week as we went Gallivanting around Kinshasa. First we got to see TASOK- The American School of Kinshasa. It's back wall is across from our front gate here at MPH. There use to be a gate on this side of their wall, but it has been closed long ago and sealed up for security. The President's daughter and son go there. It costs about $20 thousand- American dollars a year to attend. So it is made up of embassy kids from various countries and wealthier Congolese. It is a very large compound with classrooms, homes for teachers, pool and game courts etc.

Next we got a tour of the Sthreshley's new home under construction here on the grounds of MPH. It is all hand built from the foundation, to the bricks and up. Hand labor and wheelbarrows are the equipment. They used 2x4's to hold up the second floor as they poured the cement floors and then lay more brick. OSHA would shut all construction in Kinshasa down! One of my pictures shows the electricity used to go back to the construction site. No codes at all anywhere. So I guess that is good news- or not! Hard Hats are seldom seen.Workers like to have bright colored jump suits as their status. Personally I'd rather have a hard hat!!! It is a slow process on their home but will be really neat.  Views out of all of the windows and patios are lovely. Four bedrooms and the other rooms homes typically have. Michael and Inge are planning the landscape etc. Members of the family are requesting specific trees -so I asked for a Magnolia tree. :) Wish I could see it all finished but pictures will have to do. I have named it " The Last Resort."

Saturday we had  our official Girl's Day on the town with Michael Sthreshley and Andre Chou along as our protectors. We had the chauffeur come in for the day so he could take us and take care of the car because we went to the less reputable sections of the city. This part of town has great prices once you haggle them down but you have to be very aware of all. Pick pockets and muggers  have perfected their craft and we Mundele ( white people/ visitors) are great targets.

The first place we went to was the Old Ivory Market now called the Market of Thieves. All prices are marked up 75%+ so haggling is expected. The trick is to look, offer less than 1/4th, they offer, you refuse and walk off. They keep following and eventually come down to what is reasonable. So all are happy. It was fun to watch the Sthreshley kids haggle! I got three necklaces for $15.00 and they had wanted $40 each. Lots of artwork, masks, malachite, animal skins, native food.and some ivory. Did not get any ivory.

We next headed  to the fabric stores. As Inge explained we were going to Neiman's, then Macy's, then Target and then below garage sale/rummage sale(only stuff is new off the boat). The cloth at the first store was hand stamped and dyed - mostly made in Holland. It is $150+ a yard. GORGEOUS!! (Worn mostly by Congo Government wives.) The second store was $42 a yard and also very pretty but not the typical African look. More geometric. But there they actually had T Shirts. Not what I wanted but they had them!! First I've seen here other than Salvation Army look. (Reminds me!!! This week on the Grocery run we saw a Texas Longhorn hat and Tshirt, A Texas Tech shirt and a HEB T shirt. Didn't see them fast enough to get a picture or get the Chauffeur to stop for a picture with them!!)













Next we ladies  went to a place that was about 1000 square feet- the size of a standard customer area of a Burger King. Dark, hot and humid and music blaring. From floor to ceiling looped over poles on the walls and on tables from front to back was material. It almost makes you dizzy. These prices ranged from $7-20 a yard. Did some damage here. Then we went to a place I had heard about and asked to go.There are all sorts of people here and there is everything from A to Z.  It is right on the beach- pousses-pousseurs(Chariot drivers of a trailer sort of thing), women selling cloth, folks selling trinkets, mechanics, money changers- since the ferry stops here and folks from Brazzaville need Congo money, prostitutes- male and female- and the list of available "wares" goes on. The stalls are built out of packing mallets on their sides and roped together to make a wall. The area to walk is about the width of one mallet. Dirt and rocks were the floor. Had to go single file. Very narrow alleyways. Very oppressive feeling and smell. Cloth here is expected to be haggled for. Interesting thing is that some was the same as the $7-20 store but can be had for $5. So may get some there the next time I am in the mood for that type of shopping. It is nerve wracking at the Market of Thieves and these last two cloth stores because of the pickpockets. SO I had to keep a tight grip on my purse, stay aware of my surroundings and still concentrate on shopping! ;)) Tough job! But someone had to do it!! They all are yelling "Look, Mama! Look at mine"- and it is all the same!















Next we took a break for lunch-  since that is an integral part of a Girl's Day out. Went to a club called Club Elysse here in Kinshasa. Clay courts, Ball boys, Olympic size and very clean pool complete with Cabana boys to put out the deck chairs etc. Can't get over the tight and quite small Spedo swimsuits the men wear here- after the baggy and long stuff worn in America. (As my grandmother use to say about tight jeans on a "young Lady"- "you can tell if that quarter in her pocket is heads or tails!") Then we went  up overlooking the pool to the dining area deck- and constant Spedo views! ;)  Had GREAT burgers and fries. The best here so far!! Left there and went to an Ice Cream parlor- very American decor. Good Italian Ice Cream. No Butter PECAN! Just like at home only you had to order in French!

Then a quick run to the grocery for eggs, butter and other stuff-  because we all wanted  home made Lemon Meringue Pies- especially Lisa. Made from the recipe from an old Betty Crocker cookbook with spirals. Calls for real ingredients. Not a package of this or that which don't exist here in Congo.

Inge has gotten sick from some bug bite on her arm. So she did not go to church. We also have ten checking out so I stayed here to do all of that. Plus we have to let them back into the storage closet to get all of their bags and Ken does that.

So now it is picture time! Rumor has it that we may leave Kinshasa next weekend with the Sthreshley family and go to a hotel about 4 hours from here and some magnificent water falls. Apparently the last 50 kilometers is a body and concussion jarring experience. Can't wait to see more of Congo! Hope it all works out!

Have a great week! Love, ya! Me