Rainy season in Soyo

It has been a while since my last post.The internet access for the Kimbumba residents has been so slow that we have been unable to reach websites or access email accounts with our laptops. Thank goodness for smartphones and tablets! Some days, although slow, the smartphones/tablets have allowed Kimbumba residents to keep up with some of our email communication.

We are now experiencing the Soyo rainy season. I am told that 2 years ago the rainy season made such an impact to this area that the little produce normally found in the markets was nonexistent from December through February. Last year, Soyo experienced a drought. I feel certain, after experiencing recent rain storms we will not have drought conditions this year. Heavy rains cause streets to flood and standing water becomes the norm. The good news (or bad news depending on your point of view) is that our neighborhood is sprayed with insecticide weekly to help kill mosquitoes and hopefully reduce the likelihood of diseases, such as malaria that are prevalent in Angola. I happened to catch the "sprayers" the other day and took their picture as I was safely tucked away inside our home. The trick is not to get caught walking in the neighborhood when the "sprayers" come around. The expats schedule activities around "sprayer" time so as to avoid getting "caught".

Insecticide truck...sprayers look like something out of a science fiction film (with masks and body suits)

Run for cover...or be sprayed!

We are encouraged to fly to Luanda, the capital of Angola, for food shopping once a month. Due the persistent rain we have been experiencing, food availability in Soyo will be even more of a concern during upcoming summer months. Luanda is approximately a one hour flight away (via a 16 seat prop plane), but the shopping trip takes 3 days to complete due to heavy Luanda traffic and limited flights to Luanda. Three of us decided to make the journey last week. We flew out later than usual on Wednesday afternoon due to a massive thunderstorm, but arrived safely in Luanda that evening. The following morning, we were met by our assigned security guard, Mateus, and our driver, Flavio.

Mateus, Mary Anne, Flavio and Mo

Mateus, Ana, Flavio and Mo

In the US, going to 3 grocery stores might take a half day at most. In Luanda, due to congested travel routes, it takes the whole day. I was mindful of what friends told me before going...your eyes will be bigger than your cooler or trunk space. I was amazed by well stocked shelves and the availability of some items that I had not seen since leaving the states in September. At first, I wanted to buy everything in sight, but slowly settled into purchasing only what was absolutely necessary. We finished our shopping around 5:30 PM that evening and settled into our hotel to organize our groceries. We had to sort through our produce, place items into plastic ziplocks after wrapping them first in paper towels, and strategically place them in coolers. Yes, quite a routine, but this would ensure that our items would have a fighting chance of reaching Soyo. Success! Everything fit into our coolers and trunk.

The next morning, we took off for the Luanda airport. There were yet a few glitches ahead of us, unfortunately. I currently do not have possession of my passport. It was turned in to immigration in September for obtaining a dependent visa and as everyone here, I've had to patiently await its return. I had to present a copy of a receipt that is proof that my passport is currently held up in the Angolan immigration process. The receipt allowed me to leave Soyo and enter Luanda, but unfortunately, when I went to leave, it was not good enough. After what seemed like hours (but really only a half hour), I was allowed to clear immigration. What a relief! However, the adventure was not over. After a bit of a delay, we boarded the small plane and took off for Soyo. As we approached Soyo, the pilot informed us that due to a very ominous storm, there was zero visibility at the Soyo airport and we would have to return to Luanda. Most passengers were concerned about the weather conditions. I was more concerned about having to go back to Luanda and clear immigration again! As one expat passenger stated who understood my dilemma, it's like the song says..."Hotel California...You can check out anytime, but you can never leave". Nothing like a sense of humor to get you through the stress. Another concern was the fact that the groceries in the coolers were on borrowed time and the frozen water bottles brought from Soyo for the coolers were now just cold water. The items we had purchased and so carefully packed in Luanda would have to wait yet more time before getting to a refrigerator. In the end, it turns out that I did not have to go through immigration, as they placed us in a waiting lounge to await better weather conditions. Whew! Luckily, the weather improved in Soyo and a few hours later we were once again airborne. We arrived safely in Soyo a few hours late, but luckily our cooler items survived! Pretty interesting that some folks on the tiny plane were concerned about the rough weather...all I worried about was having to face the bureaucracy of immigration agents in Luanda if we had not been able to fly back to Soyo!  :-)

Time to de-stress...we took a trip to the beach last Sunday afternoon. Soyo is located at the mouth of the Congo river where it meets the Atlantic Ocean. Our driver, Beta, drove us to one of the beaches that is about a 20 minute drive from Kimbumba. This particular beach included a reminder of the civil war in Angola. As you can see from the picture below, there is a leftover remnant of the war, right smack in the middle of the beautiful sand and water. Quite a backdrop for an interesting picture! Beta and I posed in front of the sunken tank. Later, Beta told us that that particular area had been a big target during the war.

Remnant of civil war

Beta and Ana

Majestic baobob tree on the way to the beach

Today is Thanksgiving Day... Happy Thanksgiving to everyone! Here in Soyo, it is a normal working day for expats. I'll try to cook a "special" dinner tonight, but the usual turkey and fixings are definitely not a possibility. Not to worry, however, it is not the meal that makes Thanksgiving Day so special. It is a day for giving thanks for all of our blessings. I can truly say that our family has been blessed with many wonderful experiences this past year. Both of our kids are flying solo and have had some wonderful life experiences this year and continue to do so as I am writing this blog. Although our family cannot be together for this Thanksgiving Day, we hope to be reunited for Christmas. As I write, I am reminded of how blessed we are to have such mature and well-adjusted young adults as our children. Happy Thanksgiving, kids, Mom and Dad are very proud of you! To our family and friends...May you enjoy your wonderful Thanksgiving Day with loved ones. Just to let you know, you are at the top of our list of many blessings we are thankful for today and everyday!