Written Friday, December 28, 2012
MY MOM IS IN AFRICAAA!!!!!! This is wild! Totally and
completely insane. I keep thinking that this is just some strange thing- like a
freak apparition or something. But NO! she is actually here! Jet lagged and
everything haha.
Let me digress though – Merry Christmas to everyone, I hope
the holiday season finds everyone safe and healthy, enjoying family time and
all that the holidays bring. I spent my Christmas at Tofo Beach – one of the
worlds top vacation spots (not to shabby right?). I left site on Sunday morning
with some fellow volunteers who had stayed the night with me. We stayed in
Inhambane City at a fellow Volunteers house Sunday night, and enjoyed
everything the city has to offer.
The next morning we all headed to the beach! We stayed in
Tofo Backpackers – a nice location right on the beach, cheap dorm room beds,
friendly staff, and lots of fun. We had 20some people with us on the trip, so
there was always a group around town, at the beach, or at the hostel. I took a
surfing lesson, laid on the beach, spent all day in the water, and just totally
enjoyed myself. It’s a tough life here I tell ya.
We had great cooks with us (some fellow volunteers) so we
all ate really well this trip. The one night we did a huge set of appetizers –
like hard boiled eggs, bruschetta, mango salsa, latkes, etc. and of cours e
there was lots of alcohol involved. It was a holiday with a bunch of Americans
after all. Tuesday it was the same thing, we went out surfing early in the
morning, went back for breakfast (french toast, banana bread, apple sauce etc)
then went back to the beach. I did a bit of exploring in the town that day (had
to pull myself away from the ocean) but I’m glad I did, I talked with some
really nice people, had an ice cream cone, and just enjoyed the laid back vibe
of a beach town. Being at this amazing place made me forget that I live in a
“third world country”. I often
forget that I do. . .well that’s a lie. I suppose it is hard to explain what I
mean. I have all the necessities, I live in a BEAUTIFUL place, I can travel, I
have no complaints for the most part.
So then on Wed I headed back to site (a travel day that was
a bit rough) spent a quick afternoon there preparing for mom’s visit – did
laundry, took the dog for a walk, cleaned a bit etc. Then Thursday bright and
early I was on the side of the road trying to catch a boliea (hitchhike/free
ride). I finally caught one that
took me to Macia (about 3 hours south of my site) but then they realized that I
wasn’t planning on paying – although I was very upfront about it, they kicked
me out of the car haha. So there I was stranded on the side of the road, in the
pouring down rain, luckily a nice semi-truck driver took pity on me, and gave
me a lift into Maptuo. I caught a chapa to my hostel here, and checked in. A
fellow volunteer’s friend had just arrived in town, and his baggage was lost,
so he needed a place to stay, so I helped him out a bit, got him a bed here at
the hostel and we met up with some people for dinner right down the road.
I then hopped a taxi to the airport to meet mom – only to
get there, wait 20 or so minutes, and get a phone call saying “missed my
plane!”. So I returned to the hostel alone (sad face) – but had a really nice
night here. The best part of hostels are the different clientele that they get.
I sat and chatted with 3 people from South Africa, another PCV from Malawi, and
another American who is living in Lesotho. Really cool group of people,
interesting conversation, just an overall good time.
Oh and did I mention the running water here? Loving it.
So this morning, I took a walk up to the Peace Corps office,
took care of some business there, chatted with my supervisors etc (all great
people) and then caught a taxi off to the airport one more time. This time I
was successful!! MY MOM IS IN MOZAMBIQUE! Madness. Pure and utter madness.
Took the taxi back to the hostel, we had a mini-christmas
right there in our dorm room:
THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR THE GIFTS!!!!!
I cannot even BEGIN to express how incredible you all are.
Mom just kept pulling things out of her bag saying “oh this is from _____, this
is from _______” my mind was BLOWN.
I will say it again
THANK YOU.
To know that I am that loved, that so many people were
thinking about me over the holidays, that you all went out of your way to
purchase me gifts is beyond thoughtful. If the postal system here was a bit
more functional I would send each and everyone of you a personalized thank you
note. So I am sorry that is a general blog post “thanks” but please know that I
am very very very very thankful for everything.
So after we unpacked, and then re-packed everything into a
more ‘moz’ travel friendly set-up, we went exploring through Maptuo. I gotta
hand it to my mom, missing a connecting flight, having to spend the night in
Johannesburg, to then get into a totally foreign country (did I mention it was
seriously hot today too?) and let me drag her around this big, noisy, dirty
city. . . . the woman is a trooper.
But we went up to the craft market, she got a nice wallet,
and a cool purse, and we scoped out some really cool craft things. If anyone
wants something, let me or her know! I would be HAPPY to send you all things
back with her. . .the international Sherpa haha. So we wandered for a bit, I took
her to one of my favorite local watering holes (I had a beer, she an orange
fanta) then we headed back to the hostel. Which is where I am currently writing
this blog post. She is taking a nap. . .not going to let her sleep too long (I know
she is jet-lagged, but it’ll help to get on Moz time). We are going to grab
some dinner tonight, thai food I think, then hit the hay early. Tomorrow is
going to be another “experience” for her.
We have to take a bus up north to my site (Quissico) . .
.about a 5 or 6 hour trip in a hot, smelly beat up greyhound type bus. God.
This woman is a trooper. Hat’s off to her.
My mother is in Africa. Wild.
Merry Christmas to everyone, and a very Happy New Year.
Big hug and kiss from your perspiring friend in the big city
of Maputo.
t
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