This event occurred on Monday morning, of course. My alarm went off, I put on my cozy slippers, and stumbled to turn on the light. In case you haven’t noticed, there are very few photos of myself in Malongo. This is for a two reasons: 1. I hate taking pictures of myself and 2. My hair is ridiculous. Malongo’s weather is rainy with a side of 100% humidity. This means I look like Mufasa on a daily basis. I try to tame the mane in the 10 minutes between waking up and arriving at work, but there’s no helping what happens on this head. That said, you can only imagine what I look like in the morning, it’s terrifying. So Monday morning after turning on my light, I walked to the mirror to size up how much damage control I was going to have to do as a result of my slumber and I found a surprise waiting for me. There was an ant casually making its way through the maze on my head. And NO this was not your ordinary size ant, it was a Malongo ant, probably the queen of all ants in Africa – it had to be at least an inch and a half long. Commence spaz attack, followed by a 20 minute shower to ensure that my head had not become their humble home. I get the heeby jeebies just thinking about it, gross.
Every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday during lunch time there is a group of folks that all meet on the basketball court for a hour long circuits/cardio type work out. I try to go every MWF, but it NEVER gets easier. I literally sweat buckets and gasp for air every time I go – which I blame 100% on the humidity, not because I’m out of shape ;) There are a few different guys who rotate leading the group in exercises and they vary from being who are super encouraging to groaning in pain with the rest of us. This past Wednesday we has just finished working out and one of the guys stopped everyone from leaving, gave a little speech about how he appreciates everyone coming out each week, and handed out t-shirts for all of us. Even though it was one of those drilling guys that made them, I think they are adorable especially because they included a girl in the group of runners.
There is a big group of South Africans that live in the same accommodation block as I do that I have come to know and love over the past few months. They are constantly up to something – taking apart/rebuilding remote control cars, BBQing, making potjie (poy-key), planning pranks, drinking whiskey, etc – just a bunch of 12-year olds trapped in middle-aged men’s bodies. Monday night after work I pulled up to our building, and Andre was walking into building with what looked like the top of a box of paper. I walked over to him to say hello and he “tripped”, flipping the box over and hurling a snake at me – SERIOUSLY?? Needless to say, after I let out a screech, I let him have it. He had tied a plastic snake to the box with a piece of fishing line to use as a prank on the monkeys – so when they pick up the over turned box the snake moves and they scatter. I just happened to come home at the time that he was putting up his little prank and he decided to use it on me as well, it worked. He did make it up to me by grilling steaks that night.
Speaking of South Africans, they speak the most ridiculous sounding language – Afrikaans. It’s most similar to the Dutch dialects, but it really just sounds like they are hocking up a spit wad all the time. Anyways, I’ve been learning little phrases here and there and my favorite, by far, is “drukkies en soenes.” It’s pronounced “drunkies and swinkies” and it means hugs and kisses – xoxo!
I'm heading home Tuesday for an extended time off. I have just started the proces of applying for a new work visa, and our travel services folks are saying that it will probably be 4-6 months until I receive my new visa - meaning that I will be out of Angola until May-July timeframe. I have mixed feelings about being stuck out because I feel like I have finally adjusted to this new lifestyle and now it's all changing again. I will actually really miss my Malongo family for the 1 or 2 hitches that I am off. BUT on the bright side, I will get to actually live in Houston for a few months! Sleeping in my own bed, eating for joy of it and not to just stay alive, showering without shower shoes, and happy hour are just a few of the things I'm looking forward to, but the real bonus to all of this is that now I don't have to miss out on one very special day March 22 - the Johnson/Wilking wedding :)
Oh, and I'll miss these little guys too...
29 days down, 2 to go! xoxo...
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