A First for Everything

Main Boulevard

       The morning revealed buildings of every color lining one of the major streets that runs from the Boulevard to the airport. The buildings were mostly one story occasionally interrupted by some larger buildings. Driving here is nearly impossible to describe, but will be a constant issue during my time here because no matter how bad it gets there is always worse around the corner. Cars are all over the road because there are no lane lines, no signs, people walking everywhere, cars parked on the street, and no rules. There is trash everywhere. As we entered the neighborhood where Clement’s parents live, the roads turn to dirt with some slabs of concrete on occasion. Some of the land is legitimately owned with permanent cement buildings, but much of it is owned by the railroad and people have erected shacks covering the land between the railroad and the river. These people are quite poor, living in wooden huts covered in cloth or tin. I am not sure how to write out the address, but a way to narrow it down would be this: City – Kinshasa, Commune – Limete, Quartier – Socopao 1, Avenue – Jardin No. 8. Flory, Clement, Patrick, and I walked all around the neighborhood, which was very interesting…people just sit along the sides of the road selling everything from bread to phone cards. The creek looks toxic and smells like a sewer. As it is the dry season, the stagnant water breeds mosquitoes and stores trash. There is no trash collection in the city, so it all ends up on the ground burning in piles on left on the side of the road.  I wasn’t brave enough to bring my camera along the first time, but later I did to capture their lifestyle. The first several days I was afraid to bring my camera anywhere since I had read of people being arrested or detained by police. However, I learned that people here were more than willing to have their picture taken as there is practically no human trafficking in the country.

People Walk Everywhere

My first time taking a shower was interesting because the water is freezing and ‘shower’ was a tube with a hose, but there was running water so, who am I to complain? I was also afraid because I was sure the water was going to kill me while I was there. Polio is very prevalent throughout this side of the country and is mainly spread through fresh water.

Today was also my first trip downtown…people everywhere trying to sell you everything. There are people to ‘help’ you park that you have to pay and police everywhere also looking for tips. The store we went to sold many things from water and clothing to electronics, it was interesting that it was so nice inside. The bakery across the street was even better serving delicious croissants! At first I was REALLY nervous to have people crowded around you, never knowing if they were going to kill you or just take everything you are carrying, but I guess you get used to it. Then we drove by the embassy buildings and diplomatic residences that were mansions. Of course, you couldn’t see the houses because they were behind a 12 foot cement walls with two rolls of barbed wire on top and two security guards at the front gate. We drove as close as possible to Kabila’s house, but the two blocks around where he lives is closed off to public traffic. The roads here were in much better condition and clean.



Clement’s mom is wonderful and spoke some English despite her lack of confidence. No matter how poor their English is, it is so much better than my handful of words in French. Clement’s sister, Rosette, is very nice and so pleasant to have a conversation with. She studied the past couple years in London and speaks great English. We ate goat, fish, fufu (Congolese version of bread made with cassava flour), rice, cassava leaves, and eggplant for dinner. I tried the goat which was ok, really liked the fufu (though they laughed at me because apparently that is a black people food), avoided the fish, and attempted the leaves, which were rather bitter. Electricity went out during dinner, but we just sat visiting afterward.

That evening we attended a traditional wedding…it was quite an adventure. We left really late, several hours after the wedding supposedly started but according to Congolese tradition anyone showing up on time is way early and four hours late is the norm. So we left late, but then we were in traffic for nearly two hours, however Getal, the bride, refused to begin the ceremony without the shoes that Clement was bringing from the states or Patrick who was supposed to take the photos. There was a lot of loud music that sounded a lot more like American rap than African traditional music. I carefully picked my way through some of the food and used a shack that was nothing like a bathroom….But the bride was beautiful!

 



Apartment where we are staying