"Obrigada" and "boa noite"

This past week has been filled with afternoon visits to friends' houses, bidding farewell to spouses that are leaving for the next couple of months. Life here consists of getting used to the surroundings, culture and activities and making new friends but also of planning for your next trip abroad or back home, getting ready for your next assignment, or saying goodbye to friends who are leaving. Some expats are approaching the end of their 3-4 year assignment and are awaiting new assignment specifics so that they can get belongings packed and moved to their new homes. Others of us have just arrived and are eager to listen to stories about how others have made a life here and how this experience has changed them. One thing is for sure, there is no doubt that the activities that we seek out while here will help to enrich and change our lives.

Playtime near Mpinda church - Girls will be girls!

The road to Mpinda church

Speaking of seeking out activities, we have attended 2 more Soyo Bhoys soccer activities in the last couple of weeks. Even our drivers enjoy the games. Instead of dropping us off, they stay and watch the boys play. In the last couple of weeks, we attended a season game where the team won 2-0 and a practice game where the boys won 5-0.  The coach was thrilled that we had come again to cheer for the team. He and the team offered to pose for a team picture in front of their flag. We attended the games with another couple and had coordinated bringing the team some refreshments which were very welcome at halftime. At the end of the practice game, we brought out cupcakes with green and white (Celtics) frosting and lollipops. As I observed them, I realized that even though we brought 24 cupcakes and drinks for a team of 11 players, when you counted up the number of children that gathered, it was certainly not enough for everyone. Yet, in an orderly fashion, the coach asked the team members to sit on the makeshift benches as he handed out the treats. Once he finished with the players, he gave out the extras to some of the spectators. Again, this was done in an orderly fashion. Many bystanders got lollipops and those that did not, were still smiling. We took lots of pictures and as we were leaving, we smiled and responded to many of the boys who were saying “obrigado” and “bon noite” (“thank you” and “good night”) to us, some had a lollipop or cupcake in hand, some did not.  Was this another life lesson? For me it was.

Coach, Mr. Pep, and Soyo Bhoys team - undefeated so far!!

Soccer "dads", Nyles and Jeff and Soyo Bhoys coaches, Mr. Pep and his assistant

Another activity we’ve enjoyed since living in Kimbumba, is eating some of the most delicious pizza ever! Even though ingredients are scarce and the dough is made with ingredients purchased abroad, one expat couple has mastered the art of pizza making. They have designed and built (with the help of their drivers) an outdoor adobe pizza oven to rival all pizza ovens! It takes wood or charcoal (which here is very rustic and hard to light) and, according to a very precise heat gauge gun that they have purchased for the purpose of monitoring “pizza cooking readiness”, it generates heat over 600 degrees F. The pizza only takes 2-4 minutes to bake with this heat and the finished product is amazing! So here we are… in a 3^rd world country, in a small town next to the Congo River, and we’ve experienced the best pizza of our lives due to expat ingenuity.

 

Outdoor pizza oven and "master" pizza maker, Pat

Expats help place toppings on pizzas (Jeff, Pat and Bryan)

Our housekeeper, Orlanda, called out to me from the back porch last week and when I looked out to where she was calling, she showed me the little bird that she had found on the tiled pathway by the side of the house. She thought he was too small to fly, but I think he had flown into one of our windows and was a bit shaken up. Once I took some pictures of him, we left him alone as he seemed to be gaining strength. We wondered if his mother would come for him or if he would shake himself off and fly away. Within a few minutes, he was on his way, flying again with his friends. As I saw him take off, I thought that we could relate to his experience…sometimes we've had set backs here like the small bird…no eggs, bad eggs…no internet, slow internet…no power, no water…but we shrug it off, and keep on going with the encouragement of our expat friends (and notes from friends and family back home).

Birds sometimes have setbacks too!

Participating in new activities and learning new skills seem to help with “life in Soyo”.  I have added to my portfolio of culinary skills. OK, so maybe you are wondering how big it was before? In the short time I have been in Soyo, I have mastered the art of yogurt making “from scratch” using powdered milk. I have also made ricotta cheese from powdered milk. Now, I know that some of you are wondering, “Why on earth anyone would want to do this????” It comes down to necessity. When you can find yogurt in the small markets, you aren’t sure whether the yogurt has been stored in coolers that have suffered multiple power failures or not. Therefore, you are not sure if the yogurt is spoiled or not. By the way, yogurt made from scratch is actually much tastier than any I’ve ever purchased! It is also very easy to make, it just takes time…and I seem to have plenty of that these days. The ricotta is also much creamier and delicious than any that I have ever purchased. Here in Soyo, there is no ricotta to be purchased, therefore, you must make your own. By the way, I was also able to make the Soyo Bhoys' chocolate cupcakes with an eggless and butterless recipe. I certainly did not know that was possible before living here. Soyo life can lead to developing skills that you never even thought that you needed! Actually, it is quite a confidence booster when you are able to overcome obstacles and realize that some perceived barriers are just that, "perceived".

"Eggless" and "butterless" cupcakes!

The windchimes are up! We finally decided to take one set of windchimes out of the box and hang them up on the back porch. We hung them up where they are visible from the kitchen sink window. Quite a nice addition to the house! Hopefully, our many bird "friends" won’t think it is too much competition and shy away. 

In closing this posting, I am reminded of the Angolan boys and what they taught me on the soccer field sidelines this week. They were appreciative of the attention and goodies we brought for them, so too am I very appreciative of the experiences I’ve had these past few weeks, “obrigada” and “boa noite”.