24 French and Decreasing / Increasing Daily With Other Guests and Groups- Plus Our Lives Go On!

Well, Inga -and, therefore I- are on a "clean this" mission at MPH. Have gotten the whole living room areas and the dining room area walls all washed. Are now attacking the stair hallway walls and the kitchen . So Tshimbu is attacking all of that and Kabanza the hall stair walls. Also have him cleaning the walls to the huge pantry and door areas. You should have seen the reaction when I put on my pretty blue and white - with ruffles -apron and went in to help scrub the main work island and show what I wanted!!! I might have well have asked them to strip! "NO! Mama!!" So I showed them what I wanted fast and just keep going in and praising them. Once half of the work island was done so the cooks could  move to the other end of the island, Papa Mata asked if I could get all of the counters done too. Guess they saw how great the counter looked and how dusty the rest of the kitchen really was. It only took soap and very HOT water to cut the grease!! This took all day while- we were out doing the groceries. Everything looks great!! But it is dry and dusty season. Laundry room and kitcher hallway are next. Also went and checked the dorm baths and there are no longer spiderwebs all over the place. So they looked at my picture reminders and are doing well. I'm proud of them and brag constantly! ;)) Yea!! This ole Southern Stubborn Mule will get it done - hopefully with sugar instead of having to go to vinegar!! ;))




Ken at Barber

Also while out we made a stop at a Salon for me to be pampered and Ken to get his ears lowered. Mansour from Morocco cut our hair. His shirt color was the same as the girls outfits except a different design. He had a thick beard and his shirt unbuttoned to his waist! Sexy-I guess- for someone!  ;) He has five girls that assist him. The one standing by Ken washed his hair and then seated him. Then her job was to swish Ken's face and neck with a soft brush every time hair got on it. Good haircut but as Ken says, "He's no Lynnette Smith!"- his favorite barber in Lubbock- NO ! Favorite in the whole WORLD!! Then it was my turn. Another young lady took care of me. A great hair wash and then head massage. (Told her I'd give her ten years to stop. It lost something in translation!) She seated me and he cut my hair. Showed him the pics on my phone and I got the same cut! Then pedi and mani for me. Can you believe they did not have my favorite OPI Cajun Shrimp color! Bummer! Wonderful pampering time. Much cheaper than the US! Next customer had long hair. The girls would hold the sections out of his way as he dried it. No big hair clip deals. The girls were all dressed in the same uniforms. He had a Dalmatian the size of a horse- yes it was a Dalmatian not a Great Dane (as I thought was a possibility) and gorgeous. But on our arrival the dog unhappily went to the back room. There are no codes in this country- no salon, restaurant, electrical or anything.  Food For Thought would have a Hay Day.


DFC- Democratic Fried Chicken? What A Hoot!
Or is that What A "Cluck?"

Another " In the Sign Department" on our way to town. We seem to go various streets each week as my requests vary on what we need. I tell Emanuel, the Chauffeur, where I want to go and the order is his choice- most times. If we get meat that grocery has to be the last stop after lunch. So this time it is a take off on KFC!! It's DFC! Love it! On way home also saw a French sign but it also had one in English- "Ladies Night" at a local bar. Not the one across the street but a near by one. But Ken  was not interested in saving money so we did not go! ;)

 The French arrived at 11:30/23:30 PM ! Flight on time- 7:40. Two hours to get bags- 2 still not here. Then the rest spent getting here from the airport. Then got rooms all assigned and I went and got my gown on and sat down on the bed- K-flop. "Knock! Knock!" Get on bathrobe and go to the door. (Which has a MPH sign on it in French and English that says "Unless it is an Emergency, Do Not knock after 9 PM"- OOPS! Guess it was an emergency for 18 tired and thirsty teenagers!)  ;)) They all wanted cokes and Fanta Orange. Those are kept in a locked refrigerator cabinet. So out the keys and I go. Patient Panties! So far they have been very polite and the kids speak great English! Adults are hit and miss.

This morning they tell me there may be even more for lunch. So I go and ask Inga and I return with the answer. "May" doesn't work well for food I tell them. You can agree to pay for 30 whether they show or not or stay at 24 guests to add to your 24 folks. They agree on thirty. So lunch is now 64 and no more counting from them. (Another group of 4 has until  the 9:30 AM -Cut Off for signing up for lunch to let us know-or they can't eat lunch here.) Then the French want a big place to meet each day. I tell them the large conference room is available at $70 a day. "Even for an hour or so for the conference room?" So I tell them yes. (We are NOT a hotel - though they would charge more than $70!!- I want to tell them but I smile and paddle like crazy under the water!! Think, Lenore,
S-W-A-N!) Or the patio or library for free. Isn't life fun! When their 24+ guests arrived and all got to the Conference room, they have been singing and it has been so pretty! The kids are here to help for two weeks build /remodel a kitchen at an orphanage. Before the adult guests arrived the kids were outside playing soccer and volleyball with out a net. Were having lots of fun.


This is the door to my office. The carved symbol is the same one as the ones painted around the top of the walls in the  dining area. It is Bakuba symbol and means Welcome.If you look at it you can see the head in the center and the arm is in the air waving welcome. Well, maybe you can't see it -so use your BIG imagination!! ;))

Issues in the kitchen. Yesterday's lunch for 64 was 45 minutes late. Supper was not enough meat servings.  When one can't read it is hard to "gazillionize" a recipe for 4 to feed 40+. So he "sort of" doubled a recipe for pancakes for 40 this morning by adding more flour. The recipe was for 4 so we were a "tad"bit short plus sort of flat tasting! Inge went in and made more and followed the recipe and included all the ingredients and increased it. As we Murrays call it "She had a tight jaw!"So Inge is here for the whole day to see about getting the kitchen sorted out. She has the patience of Job!  It's above my pay grade!-Thank Goodness!! She has asked me and my Type A personality to help. So I am to look at jobs the different cooks can each do so it is not duplicated and thus help each other and have it run smoother. So I will surf the net for help on what a Chef does because huge kitchens are not my forte'. Also she just came in and wants a Daily,Weekly and Monthly cleaning schedule for commercial Kitchens. I will look for that next.

Tonight we are going to Chez Mama Colonel! Guess what they serve!! He! He! Can't wait to go! Think I'll order chicken- BBQ if they have it! I'd love some of Ken's BBQ chicken and one of his steaks.  Doris Weeks is home in Savannah and I asked her to bring some BBQ sauce so we may do it here for "family. Hope it is still warm when we get home in October so he can cook me some on the Grill. Found out Larry likes Spoon Bread so I am going to do that too when it is a small crowd and we have a Texas meal and see how it goes before I even try to teach the cooks Texas Fried steak. We actually found hot dogs at the Snooty Patooty grocery. So that is up next too. Not the ones that look like fingers floating in a glass jar-  but in a package like home. Not Oscar Mayer but hey at least they aren't floating!!

I am off to see the Wizard! The Wonderful Wizzard of..... They have promised to take us to the Zongo Falls for Ken's and my Birthday combination! Yea!! Fun in the future!!

Y'all have a great weekend, now, Ya Hear!!  Love, ya! ME































"Hakuna Matata" Remember? ....Sing it! ...Lion King's- "Don't Worry! Be Happy!"

Phone dings. I look at text and it says "Go to US. Con. site or your email for advisory." This time I knew it would be in the Kivu- Northeast of the country from here. Yep, I was right. Here is what they had to say to us here in Congo this time:

"The U.S. Embassy in Kinshasa alerts U.S. citizens of increased rebel activity and fighting in the province of North Kivu. The U.S. Embassy has received credible reports of attacks, kidnappings, and fighting in the Beni area by the rebel group Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), also known as ADF-National Army for the Liberation of Uganda (ADF-NALU). In addition, the rebel group M23 has recently clashed with the DRC army (FARDC) north of Goma. The security situation around the cities of Beni and Goma is fluid and tense. The U.S. Embassy strongly recommends you avoid travel to the province of North Kivu. Because of ongoing instability and violence, the U.S. Embassy's ability to provide consular services to U.S. citizens in this region of the DRC is extremely limited. Armed groups in this area are known to pillage, steal vehicles, kidnap, rape, kill, and carry out military or paramilitary operations in which civilians are indiscriminately targeted. The U.S. Embassy currently reviews travel requests by official personnel to North Kivu on a case-by-case basis."

 

So we aren't going there! ;) Weren't anyway. They are almost 2000 miles from here. So if you hear about stuff there- it is not near enough to worry. It is in Congo, but this place is huge!! We are still carrying paper copies of our passport not the real thing with us when we leave MPH. Still heading for the grocery stores on Wednesday. Life as usual here.

 

Someone in the neighborhood gave a bunch of kids whistles and their lungs should have deflated by now!! Been almost non stop all morning. Maybe their Moms will make them take a nap after lunch.  Probably not! Found out it is graduation days and so maybe that is the whistle deal. They pour white powder on their hair and faces so folks can tell the graduates! (And we wear black robes- go figure!) Now that I think about it the bar was LOUD last night across the street and they were doing whistles too!!

 

 Mid morning I was sitting working at my desk and Ken is keeping me company. A Congolese man  in walks in. He tells me he is with the Protestant University here. (I knew what he wanted before he explained.  An Associate Prof at ___with wife getting PhD from___want to spend August- December here for a quiet place for her to do research. I had asked Inga. There are basically no rooms for long stays until October. Kitchen work in December so Inga told me to recommended two other places she gave me the names of and explain that we are a hostel for predominately missionaries and church work groups as they come and go in country and they come first.) He tells us he is an administrator had the same story as they did. So I told him we had no room until maybe October but that missionaries etc come first.

 

Two Kuetas! Sweet!!

As I was struggling with all of this in French, I asked where he was from since he had told us he is Presbyterian. He was from Bulape- Ken's station. Well, an hour, shared pictures of long ago from my phone and tears later we were all best buds. Talking all done in Tshiluba. He knew the man that was Ken's Tatu- nanny. That man's son- now older- lives here in Kinshasa. Small world after all! When it was all said and done he agreed that this is a place for missionaries and since we are full for a lot of the time- these folks need to stay in one of the places I had recommended in my email . He would recommend the same places. Turns out he and Ken are "twins' ( excuse spelling- "shakina") Part of his name is also Kueta!( Mamba Shambe Kueta!) Wow! After the whole visit it took Ken quite a while to calm down. So even though I have not gotten Ken to Bulape station, the station is coming to him! The man knew of the story of  Betty Lou's and polio and had seen her grave. WOW!! Also knew of Uncle Mark Pool- the doctor at Bulape.

 

Well, the trip to the Zongo Falls is back on for this weekend. But with the house full, Ken and I are going to stay here. Hope to make it there somehow before we leave and before rainy season when the 3-4 hour trip can take up to 8! There has to be someone here at MPH that knows what is going on. Yea, right!  Well...someone who can fake it. And THAT I can do!! (My students never did figure that out except maybe one very special young man named, Reagan!) But I have got to have a lot of phone numbers  before everyone leaves us alone here-everyone I know is going to the falls or in the US for a month! With a house full of guests I want to be prepared with electrician, plumber, clinic, taxi, no 911 here!  Sorry but that is what Type A folks do! To top it all off the group of 24 from Paris just wrote to tell us that they have invited 24 Congolese - or "maybe a few more" to lunch on Thursday. So now we are feeding about 70. I may run away! ;)  (Cindy Dunn, - what have you done gone and left  me!!?? - I think I still love you! At least I figure if I make this two weeks- "I can do Anything!!")

 

Love hearing from you McCall cousins! Some on Facebook and some by email. Glad you are enjoying the blog and I love hearing from you too. Ann, you will have to show me how to do one of those picture books! The one like you did for Ken and me of the Thanksgiving we all shared on the Britt farm! I want to do one of this trip. Would it be possible to include my blog with the pictures or it is only for pictures for the most part??

 

Well, Folks, That's All!! 

 Love ya, ME

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weeks of " Little Golden Book" Momments Ahead

Well, here we go!

This is the week that starts 6 weeks of when I will need to have a truck load of Patient Panties, the Patience of Job, a Cardiac Arrest Surgeon on Stand-by, hope no one else has or gets Malaria or any other tropical disease, nothing breaks, they get a leak fixed in the men's dorm bath area, there are enough sheets and towels for everyone (no Hoarding!), guests don't take huge helpings, supplies last as they should, no more folks just walk up and ask in French- or any other language-  for a room for five days starting tonight, I don't have a chocolate attack(I have one package of Peanut M&M's from our flight over and only allow myself 1-2 during a major chocolate attack! I have Ken dole them out to me 2 per attack! I've had 4 so far since June 3rd!  Pretty good, eh?  ;)  ), flights leave as scheduled because no one can return to their rooms because folks are coming in with reservations for that room, and nothing I haven't imagined happens. ("Oh Dear, What can the Matter Be?" keeps going through my mind!)



"I Think I Can, I Think I Can!" AKA- "I Hope I Can, I Hope I Can!"

So I am depending on two Little Golden Books from my youth to get me through until late August. When I taught school in Lubbock I had a little wooden sign - "I Think I Can, I Think I Can!"-  hanging in my classroom.(Should have brought the sign with me!) Hopefully by August 25th when we go back to "comfortably full" here at MPH, I can say:" I Think I Did, I Think I Did!" 







"Who's Been Sleeping in MY Bed!!"

We have twenty rooms that are used by guests here at MPH. Except for a suite that sleeps a couple and a single, all rooms are for two folks. We do have two rooms with a Queen bed but unless it is a couple we don't put two in them. Folks out here freak with two of the same sex in one bed. So we don't even think of doing that- with Americans either.Very taboo. So now you can see my excitement with 45 staying here starting this week for two weeks.

I taught History and Government and have always found Math to be an "abomination" - as my Grandmother said. Figuring out rooms and tents and towels and shits- oops, I mean sheets- (Yes, and I have to do bills and budget here!) EVERY day I take my hat off to Cindy and Clay- the regular managers- who are on vacation in the states. Hope we don't have to put folks on our couches here in the apartment. ;(((

So we are bringing in mattresses to put in the rooms for the Group from France-called "Joie and Vie"(Joy and Life---Humm....I'll let that go with no comment other than-Whose "Joie and  Vie" are we talking about!!?? ;) ) They begged to stay here for two weeks- knowing it would be mattresses for week two- since the second week was taken already. They are to then be in tents and will either camp out in the second floor dorm hallways or out on the soccer field. At least they are supposed to be young- at least younger than I!! Very Interesting!! For two weeks for sure we will have a minimum of 45 folks here- for meals too! I have not looked too far ahead because as the saying goes..."I can't handle the truth!"

Friday night we went with the Expats to an Indian Restaurant. I never know what to order at these restaurants! Ken and I shared very good chicken Samosas and I had a chicken Biryani deal and it was just OK. Ken ordered Chinese Chicken Fried Rice and it was great. The bread thingy was good too- sort of a pizza/tortillas deal. I stick with my bottled water and Ken with his Soda water(not Tonic).  Others had mutton in a brownish gravy (I did Not try it! I can't eat Lambchops after watching him/her on TV with Sherry!!). Some green sauce with cheese squares floating in it- was OK.  Yogurt stuff was OK too.The driver of our group is going state side for a month for her summer vacation. So we'll see if we still go out or are marooned for a month- or call a Taxi or hire the MPH Chauffeur. Antonio Martinez- MPH guest on way up country to work as an architect- went with us and was floored at the prices. It is a very nice restaurant. Guess he thought we were going to a Fast Food Street restaurant. Nope, Nancy told him- about $20-$30 per person without alcohol is the usual. So Ken and I covered him until we got home. With two beers it set him back $40! ( "But I get beers for $2.00 near MPH." he told us.) Youth!

Saturday night Larry made Pizzas and they were GREAT!  Then the Sthreshley kids asked if we could do S'mores! So we lit up the little fire bucket and made S'mores! I had been wanting to do it!! So Inge had some Cote d'Or chocolates. I had searched 7 grocery stores and found some pink and white normal sized marshmallows (At the "Snooty Patooty" South African Grocery store.- Most  groceries don't carry them because "they have to be flown in because they melt all together on the cargo ships!") No Graham Crackers to be found. So used Petit Beurres- a European butter cookie. Michael got and made us bamboo skewers to toast with and we had a great time- well, at least I did! ;)

Some guys just came back through from taking trucks, bicycles and a gazillion deals of gas up country. They will be working building roads in various places. 500 Kilometers at a stretch. They shared pictures with us at breakfast of their trip. I could just as easily pulled out the ones my parents took over 60 years ago. The jungle has reclaimed almost all of it. His folk's home from the 1960's was stripped except for the walls and roof. Has a gorgeous view of the river from the covered porch. Just walls and what the termites have not eaten and a roof.  No water, no fixtures, and no electricity. And he wants to take his wife up there while he is building the roads! I have met her and gotten to know her. She is in Savannah right now but due back in a month. The only thing I can't see her doing without (and they were missionaries here and in multiple other African countries) is contact with the outside world-AKA-grandchildren!! ;) Log bridges - sort of-and mud and a barely there road/path. With the wealth of this country it is so sad to see it so far behind.

Just got back from the Congo River. We went out to Tin Tin's-a restaurant named after the Comic book Character I told you about last post- I think! Great road and then NOT!! Was like one of those car races over all the bumps. Then hit some mud and then were there. The food was very good. Had baked chicken and fries covered with mayonnaise and pelepele. There were clown entertainers. Congolese men with white face paint. There was also a young contortionist who stacked up various sized cans on top of each other from a regular sized paint can as the largest to a can a little larger then a Campbell's soup can -on the wall by the river-. He  then got on top of the stack of cans and then put his legs behind his head while balanced on his tush on top of a soup can. Was not able to sneak a picture of this though I did get the clowns.
The Congo River is a huge and powerful river and the rapids go form here to Matadi on the coast of the Atlantic to the west. ( feels weird to say "Atlantic on the west")
All  of us but Ken and Inga went down to the water. The sand along the river is called "Sand that barks." As you walk on it,it makes a sound like a small dog barking! Weird. It's an unbelievable powerful river! ( Makes the Royal Gorge etc. in Colorado -that we rafted down- look like a tub!)  Second longest river in the world. If they put a hydro plant on this river it could generate enough power to light ALL of Africa!! Huge canoes are used on this river and I don't see how they do it. LONG canoes!! Since it is dry season the river is "down and slower." Well, I don't want to see it fast!! As evening approached the chickens running around the place started to crow and hunker down.Then the bats came out and began to swoop after the bugs flying around our tables.   Exciting!!



 Well, it is the end of a long day with Church this morning. Love the choir and the drums! 

Hope all of you are doing well. Take care! Love, ya! ME

 





 

 

 

 

 

 

For Callie, Sidney, Kara and Emery- Our Special Girls!!

Gigi, remember the stories you always tell us in the car?  Tell us a story, we miss them.

I’m way over here in Congo!  What story do you want?  Tell us about Texas!  Again?  Please! Ok!

Texas- Well, let me tell you so you will know why this land is now so special to me.

I love Texas because that is where Pops is!!

I was not born here but “I got here as fast as I could!”

I love that in Texas, where there are three flag poles of equal height, TWO are almost always the Texas flag, one is the USA flag and all three can be flown at equal height!

I love that all in one day you can be drinking lemonade in the heat and within a few minutes be making real snow ice cream!

I love that I can take you girls to Whataburger, order us Whataburgers, fries and drinks and write a check!

I love that distances and measured in minutes and hours not miles. I am only 4-4 ½ hours from my girls!

I love that “backards and forards” means I know all about you!

I love that our highway signs to keep our state clean say ”Don’t Mess with Texas!”

I love that our drinks are called COKE no matter the brand or flavor not pop or soda!

I love, though unfortunately, that we don’t necessarily associate a bridge with water or rivers.

I love the people of Texas. There’s: Howdy”, a wave from the steering wheel on the highway, always a smile and an opened door for a lady!

I love that we can often get hot water from both spigots!

I love how I can make instant sun tea!

I love that we have towns and counties larger than some states!

I love Texas words like “fixinto” and “jeet?” (did you eat?)

I love that Whole Foods Fresh Produce section sells cactus!

I love that sexy lingerie is boxers and a T shirt.

I  am sorry that my youngest granddaughters don’t really know what it is to play in the rain for days in a row!

I love that “Tornado Warning” means go out in the yard and look at the sky!

I love that some choirs are called the Ok Chorale!

I love big cars, big hair and big servings!

I love that we do indeed “Remember The Alamo!”

I love grassy road banks and Interstate medians covered with bluebonnets and Indian Paintbrushes in the spring.

So to tell you a story of Texas—

It’s a story of the land and of the people. People who are unified in thought and deed.

It is a place one never forgets.

It is a frame of mind.

Texas has a cord that binds us no matter where we are!

Texas is a spirit.

Texas has its own language, its own fashion, its own… everything!

Soooo….when you ask me to tell you a story of Texas….

It is you and me!

It is family!

We are Texas!!

I LOVE you girls and miss you!

Love Gigi

" The Beat Goes On... and ON ....and ON!" Sonny and Cher-

Well,  the Beat that goes ON...  or as Paul Harvey says- "The rest of the story". This is sort of a catch you up on stories and people about whom I have been writing.

First-  remember the Tall Congolese Man I was to look for- for Walt Shepard- between the French and English church services? Well, here is the rest of that story. Ken was in the apartment and I was at my desk when the sentry came to tell me that Ken and I had a visitor. Weird. We don't know anyone here! It was Martin Ndombe. He said he had tried to call but I could not hear him with the connection. So he decided it was God telling him to come see us. So I got Ken and we sat in the living area to visit. When I had given him the Money for the Leprosy Mission and then headed to church he did not have time to tell us all. He was bothered by that and wanted us to know all. A year or so ago he left that job and worked on one with the Health organization here to work with the people with Tropical diseases still here but under control or "gone" but still hold a stigma. So he could not keep the money. So he traveled all the way to the Leprosy Camp and gave them the money. They were amazed he did that. You still work with the lepers you could have kept the money they told him. "No, Mama said it was specific." So he got a receipt for me to mail Walter! WOW! As we continued to talk he tells us the rest of his story. He has  now lost his next job because he is not trained to deal with human right issues in the area of the Tropical Diseases. The next one he got was a job where there were grants. Last Grant ran out the first of June. His wife still works with Leprosy Group  but he no longer has a job. At that story's finish, I told Ken I was going to the apartment to get an envelope. He knew what I meant. As I return I found out that the Ndombes have five children. One son is in Arkansas at Central Ark and graduates in December. He and his wife hope to go but visas are very hard to come by. But if they get those and can't afford for both to go he will send her since he has traveled before and she hasn't. Then he shows us pictures of his family and ALL are tall. (Of course to Ken and me a lot of folks are tall!) A daughter is in Med School here in Kinshasa, a son is in Computers here at college too. Then there are two more at home and they are also college bound. Amazing. He is looking for a job. Not returning to General practice- as he has been out too long. So he said" When God closes a door He will open a Window." (Guess he saw "Sound of Music" too!  ;)  ) So then I told him the rest of my story. About teasing Walt to answer me about what to do with the Money from the garage sale. That some was for the Leprosy Mission and at the last communication Walt told me to give it all to just him to use as he wanted. At that I handed him the envelope of money he burst into tears. "God is good," he said.  An emotional few minutes! We visited some more and then he asked to pray with us and off he went into the city. And the Beat goes ON!

Think I told you that some German Freres were here at MPH. Protestant Brothers. Well, they were to go by bus to Vanga- a very long trip and the last part - 50 k- possibly by foot. They had been given 500 vials of insulin. They wanted to leave early the next morning. So they left it in the car over night." It will be cool enough tonight." ( 73 degrees)  Maybe- but how about for the next two days as you travel in an open air bus..... So no telling if the viles arrived unbroken or are even usable when the doctor sees it and the conditions it has been in.  It is Congo. And the Beat goes ON!

Ken had an exciting day on Monday. He rode with Inge for her to get a blood test. She did not feel like driving home so he did. Standard little Crew cab, through Spaghetti Junction, and home! He was so proud!  Then he had to go back and get some stuff. He took Michael with him. Waved at the cops and acted like he had a license. Don't think he even remembered to take his paper copy of his passport with him!  So back through Spaghetti Junction  (No, Not "Petticoat Junction!!"- or at least I hope not! ) Just get a little Road Rage in your gut, make no eye contact, try not to get too close and let her rip! Guess he's ready for the final lap in a NASCAR. And the Beat goes ON!

Well, I was asked to figure out a way to help the cleaning guys remember to do each thing when they are cleaning. I'd made a picture list. Inge wanted more of a check list. So gave them that on Monday. The looks on their faces was incredulous. It was all in French and was a check list with the rooms listed. I showed it to them and read and explained each item to them. They knew what I wanted.
"But Mama, we are doing most of that." So I said let's add the parts you weren't doing to the "great"  jobs you are doing and then all will be happy.("A spoon full of sugar and flattery- even if not totally true- helps the medicine go down") But they can not read - one of them at all. ( I had asked him to put the books all over the coffee tables and in the rooms all back in the library. He did and they were every which way but loose!). So will discuss it with Inge and maybe go back to pictures. I just do as asked. One thing that I have gotten done is to get Baba ("It is his job, Mama, not mine.") to clean all of the ceiling fans. They had major Dust Bunnies - could be Bunnies in Flight...depending on the speed of the fan- on them and are now as clean as Baba ,soap and water can get them. Have five rooms- currently occupied to get done by Monday PM. And then that is done! And the Beat goes ON!

 Yesterday I visited with the butcher at the meat market to see if I could actually get a chicken fry steaks here." Chicken" he asks so I have to explain it is beef fried like chicken.. Most confusing. But he says he will do what ever I want done with the meat!! Cute.Everyone now recognizes us as we arrive at the stores and that is fun.

After groceries yesterday I took Ken to the place we ate on Girls Day Out. Here folks prefer mayonnaise, pelepele or mustard for French fries. But they do  have Ketchup with or without Pelepele upon request. As we left a LTC in his American Uniform and a UN blue beret was arriving. He had a Big Red 1 on his shoulder so of course Ken stopped him to chat. The Big Red 1 is out of Manhattan, Ka and is the group Clint was prefaced with while he was in Iraq. Turns out this young man and Clint were in Ramadi at the same time. Small world after all. Also while there for lunch another young American spoke to us. Well, turns out he was in church our first Sunday when we introduced ourselves, had just seen us at Central Market, and was there for lunch. He is from North Carolina, former Army and is here training the DRC army in physical fitness. At one of the stores yesterday I was just going in to see if they had that "cotton pickin" (for those of you who know me- how do you like that language clean up for the blog??) Baking Powder the cook wanted.  I had told him when I found it he would have to give me a kiss. He all but blushed! Anyway, while I was there Ken and the Chauffeur visited. Also with us looking for some stuff was a young man staying here at MPH.  IMA needs to get a Cross over type truck/carryall up to Kananga. So they are going to get Antonio Martinez- from Texas via Myers Park Presbyterian Church in Charlotte,NC. to go with it up country with a chauffeur. Had not  been able to find a chauffeur that knew the way for those 1000 miles. So as Antonio and I are inside Ken and Emanuel visit. Turns out Emanuel is from there and knows the roads. So he called IMA and it looks like he will drive Antonio up to Kananga. Will maybe take up to a week. So if this all plays out I have lost my chauffeur. But he promises me his son Francie can drive me each week to all the places I want to go! GOT to get a haircut sometime soon  I tell Emanuel and  he says  Francie knows where to take us! Shaggy Dog is a good visual for both of us!  And the Beat goes ON!

Antonio Martinez is about 30. Got his degree with the GI Bill from NC State in Architecture. He wants to be his own boss. He wants to work in third world countries- especially Africa- and has ended up here. He will be doing two jobs. One for Myers Park Presbyterian redoing an old hotel turned clinic - up dating the clinic. Then with IMA he will build various sized clinics  with solar power- out in the bush for doctors to work in when they graduate. When he arrived he had a duffel bad and a box inside of one of those huge IKEA bags taped with Duct tape. " This is all I own in the world. Even gave my two boxers away."(dogs- not underwear!)  He probably has a steep learning curve ahead but didn't we all when we started out! And the Beat goes ON!

Ken and the cats! It is fun and funny to watch. He is in the apartment more than I, so they are great pals. Bella scares Ken to death several times a day!  He sits in a chair in the corner. It is the chair Bella likes to jump up on to look out of the window. Both cats talk to Ken and he answers them as if he understood them. Tiger still wants to bring her kill into the apartment to share with Bella so  we have to chase her away until she has finished eating whatever it is/ was! And the Beat goes ON!

The next six weeks will test my metal.  My Patient panties will be in high demand! Eleven big groups of 6 or more the largest being a little over 20. One group has teenagers and their sponsors wanted to avoid moving enough to agree to have three in a room by adding a mattress- sort of built for two- and then they will have to go to tents because another group had the rooms already confirmed for the second week they wanted to stay. So hope they know what they agreed to in a tropical country- on the floor or in tents either in the dorm hall or out back on the soccer field, no mosquito nets for everyone and dorm baths not built for 20+. I guess those in the most shock will be other adults on the dorm floor. And the Beat goes ON!


Popular comic book by a Belgian cartoonist.Tintin and his dog, Snowy, are sent to Congo to report on events. They encounter Congolese, wild animals and unearth a diamond smuggling ring of  run by Al Capone. At it's original publishing in the 1940's, "Politically Correct" did not exist. ( Hint- Look closely at the picture those of you who did not grow up with these comics! )But it is dearly loved here and reprints are all over. Ken and Marcia read them here as kids. I can't remeber doing so. Just Lorna Doone and Jane Eyre! There is even a restaurant on the beach of the Congo River called Tintin. Plans are to go there while we are here. And the beat goes ON!

Trip to the Falls off for at least a week. Have a great weekend.
Love YA! ME

 

 

"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

Write Away

 A spoon full of Sugar helps the medicine go down.... So I decided to do the pictures first and move them as I write away! So let's see how that goes. ;)
In a land so full of turmoil and change, it is amazing to see the beauty of this earth here.  Each day dawns about 5:20 with the Shutshihutshi alarm. It is not even a second off. Must be part GE! I lie awake because I know she is going to begin her morning song. Her friends answer off in the distance and others join the chorus in their own distinct warbles. It's so pretty and peaceful.

Look at the canoe above and notice the different types of modern civilization that has arrived for this mode of transportation. I think it is a hoot. Clint, this canoe makes the long one you made by hand look short. :)

Speaking of transportation... the buses did begin. They- at this point are bright and shiny with Congo flag  color swirls along the sides. No dents etc. - yet!!  Not full because it costs $1 to ride it compared to the 50 cents for a taxi and 25 cents to ride a People Squisher Taxi. Saw lots of wealthier Dads taking their kids to school on the bus when we went to shop on Wednesday. Sweet- Dads are the same the world over! The little faces were so excited.

Guess what! We now have a secure Internet here at MPH with a password and everything! I kept saying there had to be a way to do it without costing an arm and a leg. There was and a guest helped us get it all going. So far I am not a liberty to give it out. So we will see how long before the night glows across the street of illegal use of our net returns. The password can be given out when folks here want something from the folks at the bar across the street is one worry. So as of now only four of us know it. There is still a free one out there and folks are using it so I am laying low. 'It's not my job, man!"

Critters for the week. A bird on the upper ledge. Michael Sthreshley caught it in the library. Turned off the lights and in the dark caught the cute little bird and set it free. The bird got in through one of  the open  concrete louvers on the second floor.  Earlier in the week he came in with a lizard snake sort of deal. A biology teacher would have loved it! It had a few legs still there. In another while I guess it won't have those. Michael caught it. It's a blind lizard and "they aren't usually poisonous,"  he told his mom and me as he showed us it's picture. 

 Christmas is always a magical time. Our sons still come in when we have Christmas together in one form of family or another- saying, "Mom we still believe!" I told them long ago that  as long as they believe, Santa still comes. So at 43 and 40 they do and he does! ;)
The picture at the left is from our home at Lubondai. From red felt Mom and Dad made us a fireplace so our stockings could be hung by the chimney with care. I got a doll and a desk Dad made for me and Manford got a jeep and a BB gun. (Les was not born yet.) From as long as I can remember this has been the most magical time of the year even in the jungle.



 This picture is of Ken's Family's Christmas. A doll in a doll bed, bicycle to grow into and Mother Murray's pretty flowers. It was at Mboi station after Betty Lou died of Polio in October.They had to go to a station with no kids that Christmas in case they were still contagious.  After we married we combined our two family's traditions and came up with another one. Every Christmas we get an apple in the toe- left over from the Great Depression when that was all Dad Murray got for Christmas.






This is the Christmas story as performed at Lubondai. This and the showing of The Robe  at Easter were the two highlights of the year!! Wow! Had forgotten the movie until I started typing this part.


Grocery trip this week I was looking for a special Baking Powder. None of it at 6 stores. So I all but told the cook to" Deal with it!" "Look again next week, Mama," he said as I returned. Inge went all out this week. We had Congo Enchiladas (No tortillas so made with Mediterranean flat bread.) They were really good.  Also had Stromboli and it was great!! Also Sweet and Sour pork. I have been asked to teach them Chicken Fried Steak. Only we will call it Texas Fried steak because the other name will confuse the cooks. I'll let you know how it goes.

This is Lake Fwa. Like Silver Springs, Fla only prettier. We were not allowed to swim in it because of a liver disease- liver fluke- whose medical name if I remember is Schistosomiasis. I think it was really cause it was so close to the diamond mines. Oh, it was so pretty. My Dad often fished on it.

                  This is the butchering of a Hippo my Dad shot. The natives are standing in the stomach/ lower half of the body cavity to  keep the crocodiles from attacking them. Always something fresh to eat. May not want to eat"that" but it was OK to eat. Then there are always fish heads,termites, eels, mice, monkey, our missing cats and grasshoppers to just name a few.

I have finally figured how to keep my guys working. I am up walking the halls and outside. Mostly for exercise- but they don't know that. Rooms are done in a much faster manner. Inge has the guys washing walls the next couple of days since the rooms are all clean for the next arrivals or occupied. I'd rather do beds than wash walls. ;)We have had the screens on the lower floors all replaced and they look so pretty and let lots of light in.

We have two Protestant Freres staying with us this week. They are from Germany but working here in the Congo. Interesting. The same vows etc as Catholic priests but are Protestants. Jimmy Shafe's Group II returned today from Kananga. The doctor was the most taken aback. Says Medicine here is at least 75 years behind. Ken's sister had to translate for the White Doctor. He is a  pulmonologist so anyone with a cough showed up. He saw over 100 people. Very frustrated with no lab or MRI! Worried about misdiagnosing. Won't matter here. They don't sue! Folks were thrilled to just see him!

Wednesday we ate at the Hungry Lion -a fast food store inside the South African expensive grocery store. We even had the option to "Super Size" our meal. A lot like The Colonel's (AKA Kentucky Fried Chicken.) The fresh fruit here is so good. We love having it every morning for breakfast.

The cats that live in the apartment here with us are settling in- or since they are cats does that mean WE are settling in? Tiger has from the start. Bella has been very shy but is now right at home. Still skiddish but was that way with her owners too. So we are a big happy family of four in the evenings.

Well, I am done for another while. Have a Girl's Day planned for Saturday. Fabric stores, Market of Thieves (old Ivory Market that I went to as a child) and other shops and lunch out.

Have a great weekend. Hope you had a great Fourth. Missed the fireworks! Love Ya! Me