Monday, September 29, 2014

Packing, vaccinated, land mines and still waiting....


I have another temporary visa in hand (thanks CVX immigration team), travel services are booking me on the red eye out of SFO and I'm packing all I can.  I'm allowed three 70 lbs bags and I will probably do about that (one just with food).  

Our sweet clinic staff in San Ramon have now shot me with about all the vaccines I could ever need.  I got my last rabies shot last week and strangly enough Zero had a vet appointment last week too and got his rabies shot. 

Still waiting on the real work visa.  Uncertainty is just temporary, or a way of life now.  Still lucky all around.  Pretty much drinking, eating and seeing special friends every day till I go.  

On another note, interesting reading on Angolan landmines. 
- Angola still has millions of unexploded mines 
- The government was expected to have all mines cleared by 2012 but has requested a 5 year extension due to the mass numbers 
- One out of eight Angolans lives in a landmine rittled community
More than 80,000 Angolans have been maimed or killed by landmines since Angola’s 27-year civil war started in 1975
Since 2008, trained deminers have cleared just over 160 million square metres of land, and helped rid the country of over 297,000 anti-personnel mines, 9,508 anti-tank mines and 491,767 other unexploded ordnance devices, such as artillery and mortar shells, rockets and bombs.
-  The clearing helps Angolans develop their agriculture industry and gain access to the rich soil

On a contrasting note, my last bit of zen nature at the park. 


Monday, September 22, 2014

October 5

Looks like I am allowed back for 30 days so heading back out on October 5 for the first real hitch. 

I did get some continued exposure for what I'm in for while in Houston.  
- When I got back to the office the entire fire department was there and we could not enter for about an hour due to red alert ( turned out to be smoke).  But all was well and I took a walk about.  I expect this randomness much more in Angola. It is wise to not expect things to always go as planned.  Better yet, just know all is temporary and will work out.  

The consolate visit was better this time to look at the bright side. And I could smile and say "Ola, bom dia, como esta, obrigado" to the women approving me.  

Time to pack up soon but enjoy til then and mentally prepare. At least got to the coast last weekend and tomorrow I will close down my office for a long while.  

Wednesday, September 17, 2014

Closer to a Schedule

Getting approved for another 30 days hopefully on Monday in Houston.  It's great that for every visa applied for I need to go to the Angolan consulate in Houston.  Hopefully my third trip will be my last for a while once I get that visa approved. 

Slated to ship out in a couple of weeks for first hitch.  I look forward to knowing my schedule soon and can then plan my trips with people a bit better.  Potential:
- South Africa 

- Namibia http://www.namibiatourism.com.na 

- Seychelles http://www.seychelles.travel/en/plan_your_visit/special_offers.php

- Spain
 
- Bahamas http://www.bahamas.com

- Kilimanjaro http://www.climbmountkilimanjaro.com

Any suggestions welcome. And I'm game for meeting up on my time off for those special friends. 

Sunday, September 14, 2014

Update Quatro


Update 4 
-My back to back started his first official shift
-Getting closer to a temporary approval
--got a 7 day approved but need a 30 day. The Angolan way I am getting used to. Back to the Houston consulate most likely this week or next. 
-More learning as requested:
--I go=Eu vou
--I am ready=Estou pronto
--I am here for business=Estou aqui em negocios
--I want to go=Eu quero ir
--I need to go to=Eu preciso de ir
--Can you pick me up=Pode apanhar-me
--Have a good weekend=Bom fin de semana
--Pleased to meet you=Muito prezar

-My brother and family were featured in this design network TV show- Tiki episode

I hung out and medicated with friends and family just to make sure the Tiki bar worked





Sunday, September 7, 2014

Happy Sunday

While I still can, might as well enjoy good friends, pups and riding.  


Tuesday, September 2, 2014

Working and Waiting

While I'm working back in the states and waiting for my rejected visa to get approved, I am seeing friends and getting out for some good activity. 

This long weekend was hike, pup, BBQ, motorcycle, and the last sail in SF bay for a while. We are moving the boat to LA for some nicer weather and water.  My studio will be gone in the city but I'll have a place to stay in LA now.  

It was one of those epic days on the bay. 
The marina
Yes we see porpoise in the bay sometimes


We even jumped in on the east side of angel island. 
The old broken bay bridge with the new. 
A seal. No, that is just Zero doing his laps. He loves the water like me.  

So now I will have to charter my own boat in the Bahamas or another tropical place- anyone game?  Maybe charter a boat in South Africa or some remote islands during my time off.  

Hopefully I will be back in Angola within a month and continue the project moving.  Until then.....