City Life! (Nampula, Mozambique)

Before leaving for Mozambique, I searched the internet for as many blogs, YouTube videos, and websites as I could find to help me create some type of picture in my mind as to what I could expect. One blog in particular still sticks in my mind. Written by a woman from South Africa who now lives in Nampula, the blog reflects the hustling and beautifully chaotic nature of Nampula. She described the constant dust, chapas (private mini-buses) packed with people, motorcycles zooming here and there, and bumpy roads. She finished off with saying that she thoroughly enjoys the city that she now calls home. After living here for just a short time, her descriptions seems pretty acurate! …And I’m enjoying every part of it! (Except the long lines at the grocery store check-out and bank.)

(This picture makes me miss the rural areas!)

                After nearly a month on the road traveling through the north parts of the country (Districts of Nampula and Cabo Delgado), we are now back at our ‘home-base’—Nampula. I miss those few weeks of visiting the rural communities every day, but I am enjoying this completely new experience of ‘staying put’ in one place. I have been graciously welcomed into the home of one of my work buddies…which means I’ve been enjoying home cooked meals, people in and out all the time, and a place I can call home for a little.

                At 7:00 AM we catch the bus out to the agricultural research station (IIAM-Nampula) and head to the office. Of the original 8 members on our enumeration team, we have 4 helping us out with all the data that we’ve collected over the past few weeks! By 3:30 we are wrapping up the day and hopping on the station bus to head back to the city and eat some lunch (I’m still getting used to the different eating schedule). Afternoons are full of errands…like daily bread runs to the bakery. The picture here features a laughing employee at the padaria who thought it was pretty funny that I wanted to take of picture of him (I just wanted to document a normal day!). 

Below is a picture of one of our meals with my host family: xima (a ground corn mix), veggies, and lula (squid).... yumm. It's normal practice to always wash your hands before meals and then eat without utensils. I try to do this, but (as you can see from the picture) I cheat sometimes and bring out the silverware. Also pictured is one of the family members fetching a coconut for me...gosh that's more work than I expected, including the part where one needs to climb on top of the house (although I didn't do that...I just documented it with my camera).  

Until next time... tchau (bye)!!