Living la vie da Lia

Here’s a little story to shed some light on my life here:  Shortly after moving into my new hut, we had a theft at the base.  As is often the case, it was clear that this was probably an internal job, and the guards were the number one suspects.  We decided to give the guards 24 hours to sort out the problem, and find out who took the money.  24 hours later.   ‘Well chief, we decided that all of us (guards) decided to go to the local witch doctor so that he could tell us who took the money, but sadly, he was sick, so we tried another witch was recommended to us.   We went to see the second witch, and would you know it ?  We just don’t have any luck…..he told us that all of his spells are on holiday at the moment. »

So I headed off in the speed boat with my boss this morning to follow up on reports that a house we (or rather our partner) helped build for a vulnerable returnee woman has been stolen by a Mai Mai Colonel.  Of course, once we arrived to inquire my dear friend the colonal explained to me that he did not take the house, but that it was given to him.  Just as all the fretin and manioc are given to his soldiers elsewhere in the territory.  (I dared also inquire about a young women I'd heard he'd 'taken' from Baraka recently, but was assured that he has no idea about any abduction.  He is there with his young wife, whom he bought with his own money).  Of course, the line between taken and given becomes quite grey when you are confronted by an intoxicated AK47 holding Mai Mai.  In any case, I watched my boss's negotiating skills at their best, and we agreed upon his returning the house to its rightful owner within seven days.  I suppose I'll have to write a part two to let you know how it goes.

So christmas was spent in Baraka on the beach this year and it was wonderful.   No turkey, but we killed a goat and ate brochettes.  All the NGOs came out and we had a nice little party.  I'm sure that there are pictures of this mizungu dancing el congolaise with the local kids floating about.  We even managed to do a little kris kringle, and it is truly amazing what you can find at the market in Baraka when you are on a five dollar spending limit.  I have to say that this will be one of the most memorable christmases ever.  Boxing day, instead of shopping (seeing as how the market was cleared out from our earlier purchases) I skipped work and helped MSF fraternize with the ennemy by taking me out on their boat for a swim and picnic.  Now I'm ready to head back into the real world tomorrow.  Glasgow -Toronto-London....here I come! 

Seeing as how I had nothing interesting to say in the last post, I thought I'd give it another go.  Just got back from Zanzibar (yes your tax dollars are being well spent!) where I had a fantastic holdiay.  Stayed a few nights in Stonetown, Nungwe and then flew over to Pemba.  I felt like a princess the whole trip, it was lovely.  Pemba is beautiful.  I woke up one morning to find a troop of about eight monkeys with bright blue balls hanging out on my porch.  I watched them for a bit doing their usual monkey stuff - rolling around fighting, pulling each others tails, attempting monkey rape.  It was all very cute, until I tried to come out to take a photo.  At first I was nervous I might chase them away, but they showed me better, and chased me back into the hut - cheeky buggers.   I had to sit and watch them until I could get a friend to accompany me out.   This cabin, I should mention was out of this world, and I have to recommend Fundu Lagoon to anyone who makes out there.  Designed by a fashion designer and a couple of architects, its eco-lodge meets absulute luxury.  The cabin is perched up on a hill above a beautiful beach and in the middle of a jungle, but the whole front wall is open, so you wake up staring out at the beautiful see.  Honey moon spot number one - whatever you do, DON'T GO THERE ALONE!

So, I have clearly waited long enough since my last posting, and too much has happened for a recap, so I will mention that I am in a border town of the DRC near Burundi waiting for election results.  Fingers crossed that all goes well, although there were reports of fighting in the capital yesterday, and I received copies of tracts that have gone out to notify the names of international businesses allegedly supporting the regime of the candidate most likely to win.  (So that potential pillagers will know exactly whom to target first when their chosen candidate loses).  Life is always interesting in this poor little rich country.  Fear not, I am far from the areas most likely to explode - I think.

So I've been in Kinshasa for almost a month now.  It has been up and down and i didn't know what to write before because it all seemed so crazy, and then so calm and now the past three and a half weeks feel like a lifetime in this city.  The first week was interesting, meeting lots of people and just trying to soak it all in.  By the beginning of week two, the preliminary election results were announced, and the city turned into a war zone for three days.  I will admit now that I was pretty scared, living in a hotel amidst rumours of looting and pillaging and other terrible things(that weren't really true), and the constant background of gunfire.   Matters were also made worse by me contracting malaria over the same period, so I am sure the fever both contributed to and distracted me from some of the hysteria.  After those three chaotic days, I recovered from the malaria, and the city turned incredibly calm.  The local population were clearly as pissed off as the rest of us at the two remaining presidential candidates for their (illogical to most) display of force over those days which shut down the city.  Things actually became so normal and calm in the following week, that I dare say it has been almost boring.  (I realize that I sound like a maniac with that last statement.....as if I need to fear my life in order not to be bored!) That, plus the fact that I have been here for ages, and still haven't reported to duty....this is a major problem currently being sorted out between our logistics department and MONUC 'maybe' airlines where I am not sure to lay the blame....probably a bit of both.  I will try to get on the UN flight again tomorrow and with some luck I will be at my duty station by the end of the week. What else to say, I am surprised that my previous location B'desh beat DRC as most corrupt country in the world, becuase I have never been bribed so frequently in my life.  Otherwise, all is well here, life is easy this week and calm....except that the front page of the paper is talking about the potential for Civil War in DRC with a photo of some young militants holding a rocket launcher.  I think that this country is very unpredictable and anything can happen.  For now, all is well, I'm still looking forward to gettnig into the field and actuallt starting working.

Cheers,

Lia

So, I just arrived in Kinshasa on friday, and must admit I was feeling a little nervous until I met my UNHCR colleagues today on my first day at work.  Everyone is so wonderful, and my work sounds like it will be suberbly interesting.  I can't wait to get started and head out to my duty station in Baraka.  I am floating about in UNHCR bliss today, and am really happy that I am here.  Yippee!  That's all for now. I still haven't actually done anything too interesting to talk about, but I've gotten over the scary security meeting from yesterday and am ready to roll.