Learning

I am learning plenty including-

- lots of work to do here in developing the master strategy for health and wellness

- each day they have a fish, meat and chicken option at the staff house. Be careful. I have eaten corn, tomatoes, cucumber, rice, veggies, bread, and they have coke zero to help me stay up and rot my stomach. They have cakes for desert too.  

- I can get my laundry done each day. It works but tough on the cloths a bit. It is nice though

- some big bats flying around at night

- I have a fridge in my room

- they clean my room each day

- careful walking since streets and sidewalks when they have are uneven to say the least

- I'm making a list of things to bring next time : lock and cable, more trail mix, bathmat, mattress pad, more mouthwash for brushing teeth, trail mix, pb&j, drugs- legal, more power outlet adapters, lite, cloths I don't care about, trail mix with just m&ms/almonds/cashews and chocolate

My room with a view

Little work out room at staff house. Like the AC and garbage cans. The treadmill too. 

Interesting architecture here and there. I like the random metal on this building.  

The little things.

End of day 1. 

Nothing exciting but it's the little things that will add up for sure. Of note:

- I sat with some other Americans at the staff house dinner meal. I was able to understand the language which was a treat 

- One guy said at least the chicken was cooked through tonight.

- I am really happy that another guy cued me in to the wifi code I need to get some access in my room. He said don't expect anyone to tell you anything so you just figure it out.  

- I got some texts today

- I did not get mugged

- I picked out m&m's from trail mix for desert and that was good 

I am looking forward to more little successes. 

As you know, I like to share and take pics so a few more of staff house meal and around parts of town (they have some paved roads). 

Staying connected when I can get access

Just some pics of the place.  Not here for the amenities or view for sure.  

Luanda is really spread out and under a lot of change. Staff house below and my pad.  

Made it Mom

I am in country now and will have good stories to share already.  

Tahoe escape

Tahoe in the summer is to nice. Took a short trip to getaway before I really get away.

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Most expensive city - bummer

Ask someone to guess the world's two most expensive cities and it's a safe bet that the capitals of Chad and Angola — two of Africa's more impoverished nations — won't leap to mind. Geneva, perhaps, the home of Rolex watches, or one of those moneyed Asian capitals — Hong Kong, Shanghai, Singapore or Tokyo — or maybe, if you're thinking Nordically, somewhere in Scandinavia, somewhere like, say, Oslo, where a beer in a pub can famously set you back $15....

http://www.npr.org/blogs/goatsandsoda/2014/07/16/331749318/move-over-tokyo-the-worlds-priciest-cities-are-in-angola-and-chad?sc=17&f=1001

Africa lesson

I think I should learn something about where I am heading and many people have asked me since most don't know much about Angola.
Hope this begins to help...

• Africa- the 2nd largest and 2nd most populous continent in the world
• The Republic of Angola- 
• Portuguese is the official language
• They experienced a devastating civil war from 1975-2002
• From 2001-2010 Angola had the highest annual average GDP growth 
• Diamond and Oil are the primary revenue streams
• Luanda is the capital (where I will be most of the time)
• Luanda was rated the most expensive city in the world for expats
• There is an annual Jazz Festival in late July-August
• Malaria is one of the biggest threats to visitor

Happiness

Angolan Consulate

My introduction to Angola. Long lines and waiting (3.5 hrs) But I finally got fingerprinted so the trip was a success.  I am going to excel in patience after this year.