RDC / DRC

It can be confusing I know.. but it is really odd that on professional sites (ie/ corporations, job search sites, etc) they still call the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Zaire. The reason it can be confusing is due to another country called simply Congo or The Congo. That this country also happens to be a neighbour to the DRCongo just adds to the mix. But the name Zaire died as of 17 May, 1997.

Usually people refer to the north/western one as Congo-Brazzaville (after the capital city) and either DRC, (RDC in French) DRCongo or Congo-Kinshasa. But definitely NOT after the Mobutu name of Zaire!

Sad week

We return most likely this week... what a position to be in. So far, unless something changes, this is approximately what we did:

Toronto - Frankfurt, Germany (stayed for 8 hours exploring)
Frankfurt - Cape Town, South Africa (stayed for about 15 days or so)
Cape Town - Jo'burg, South Africa (stayed overnight)
Jo'burg - Kinshasa, RDCongo (stayed for about 2 weeks)
Kin - Lubumbashi(do I have the spelling right now?), RDCongo (for just 1 day)
Lub - Chingola, Zambia (stayed overnight)
Chingola - Ndola, Zambia (for about 5 days)
Ndola - Lub, RDC (stayed for 2 days)
Lub - Kinshasa, RDC (stayed for 1 week)
Kin - Cape Town, SAfrica (staying for 3 days)
Cape Town - Toronto (fin)

boo hoo maintenant

The time away from the computer

We visited Lumbubashi (spelling?) in the Southern Congo (DRC) and then drove across the border into Zambia... which of itself was quite the adventure. When I can upload pics I will tell the story of the broken down car, no man's land, bribes, etc.

Dan, Suzy and I are back in the mother city of Kinshasa now having just arrived by cargo plane this morning! Hey, it was free!

We leave for Cape Town on 16 Fevrier.

What is important

The thing that I was told would strike me the most... is the thing that hits me the most here. I was told by those who had left Kinshasa that, given who I was it's the people here who would stay in my heart when I left more than any other difference or event.
This isn't a huge tourist event country.. (there is a ministry of tourism and we even saw the building but everyone just sorta laughs about that) but the things we see just walking down the streets or inside bars, pool halls (and tonight clubs) strike. The way people talk to us about the conditions, politics, philosophy, life here and elsewhere... the moaning about Isreal's involvement in Lebenon and how much of an impact that had to what is going on there right now, joking, playing, learning... well I can keep adding those type of words but never truly explain to you that there is a life here we have felt that is quite different. I wonder truly more now what will hit me when I return.

It's hard to tell certain stories without seeing the audience who is reading it. Most will have to remain until I return and talk in person... but to remind me:

1. SAA v. the Koreans
2. The military at the airport and customs officer. "Not even a coke?"
3. "HE doesn't have a ring!" avec "Dan! Yakka!" (Jay you're gonna love that one)
4. La communion

Cars and roads

So, how is it here?

Some things here in Kinshasa are different for sure. The cars are not just a bit rundown, not in the same way that they are old etc in Cuba. Here one cannot even believe that they are running with people inside! It's not just ducktaped... it's the whole thing. Dan said it best: Il a dit "the cars here look like paper that has been crumpled into a ball, then stretched back out. Every surface of some of them looks reformed."

Taxi buses in Capetown were not always in the best condition, some were downright scary too. Here they are vans held together at times by rope, where the people stick out of windows and doors as they try and hold as many people as possible. All this while the sides of the streets are clogged with others twirling their fingers (going towards the big round-about), or pointing left or right (downtown). Some roads are well paved, others are dirt with enough pressed down bottle caps, plastic and debris it forms a sort of paved road though the bumpiest ones imaginable!

Please don't get the wrong idea, I love it here... it is very different and the fact that these people can keep these things going is amazing to us. It's the details in every corner (not hidden under every, but sticking out from) that intrigue me and keep me looking, thinking, writing. I love this place.

The plane ride into Kinshasa

Je suis in the country of the Democratic Republic of the Congo now. We arrived into the Kinshasa airport just before lunch time on Monday of this week. (Updates were so long coming cause we could not find a working café)

I must admit I was expecting much more Kinois on the plane... instead the plane was mostly Mundele (spelling unsure - Lingala for white) and Koreans. That was a suprise but most of those I talked to here said its normal and expected too.

One other litte thing...the pilot from SAA made a comment that sounded well... a bit defensive upon landing. The landing was NOT smooth and he said something to the effect of "well, we are obviously in Kinshasa now folks..."

Once I was off the airplane I wanted to take a photo of Dan coming out the rear of the plane... good thing I didnt. Though the war is over, photos are still not allowed in certain areas. The Koreans with us DID take photos and right away military and civillian personnel were all over them. Whew for us.