Countdown

Two days to go. 

The office comes together more and more each hitch. 

I almost took a side trip assignment to help an expat get home to New Zealand who has a broken leg but just too much travel all around and more work. Time for a home break.   South Africa next hitch so that should be good.  

More office friends too. Not much wildlife in Luanda outside insects, dogs, cats, birds and fish. 

Daily realities

Just a reality check and some if the reason out medical clinics are here for. 

One of my colleagues recently got malaria.

Another colleague got chikungunya- a mosquito borne virus. 

Recently an employee had rabies. For those that don't know, if you truly get rabies, it is increadibly painful and there is no cure.  

While health care here is getting better all the time, there are still real risks.  

Casa 20

Moved to a generally better room at staff house once a few things get fixed.  Different views and I can sit in a shared deck at least. Any progress is good. 

The growing city. 

School across the way that seems to be active well through the evening. 

Carnival

Carnival is a holiday here in Angola. There is a big parade and festivities near our Chicala office which makes it impossible for any one to have access to it. But since my office is at the medical clinic, I just worked all day as usual. Quiet in general except for random carnival spillover passing by singing. 

New Room #20

Back in Luanda and moved rooms at the staff house. Upstairs, better space, better windows, better.  Every little thing helps. 

No suffering today

What a difference a half day on the beach makes drinking beer, eating great BBQ, swimming in the ocean, boogie boarding and lounging.  

Truly impressive what these guys have done over the years on this beach. 

Loved how this guy cooked these birds. Can of Heineken with beer and special spice sauce in them. Then shove the can in the bird, and it steams right into the bird.  

Pretty interesting with wells all out in the distance, ships in the water, and helo's flyer over.  It is truly exactly like the tv show M.A.S.H.   

Friends showed up

Few days absent but back to sharing the space with the bats, cats and other critters. 

Malongo life

I was fortunate to be invited by a colleague to their beach place.  Seems many groups of people have their own hang out.  They often BBQ and have some beers.  

These guys over the years built this beach place with power, a BBQ, water, fridge and more. They BBQ here every week.  We had good BBQ and beer.  That's good therapy. 

Turtle nesting below. 

Get to watch the lights on the water after sundown. Lots of candles out there. 

Cabinda

Back to Cabinda.  Life is very different here. More remote, more poverty and less education opportunities.  Much more of a jungle environment as well.  They have wild animals like antelope, elephants and apes. 

Our Cabinda clinic.  It's two stories and gets a lot of use.  

A better room this time in Malongo camp. 

Medical clinic Malongo

Nice and busy clinic in Malongo. Getting a facelift as well with some new training rooms.  

Can take a walk after work too. 

Little jackel chillin in the grass. 

Local Customs

I learned today that it is tradition when loved ones pass away that people often shave their head or braid their hair for one month to show respect.  I think it depends on the family relation and not sure what else is practiced. My colleague has her hair braided for one month and her and her family only wear one color shirt for a month.  I'm sure there is more to the story but that's what she told me.  

Unfortunately there is a high mortality rate here. Typically people have large families and a life expectancy of around 53.  However, a large majority of the Angolan population is younger now and below 25.  

Education 2.1.2

The national symbol of Angola is a subspecies of giant sable antelope that is native and endemic to Angola. It is also endangered.  In Portuguese it is called Palanca-negra-gigante. 

You see a lot of references to this animal around the country, on money, emblems, billboards and more.  

Education 2.1.1

-Angola is the 23rd largest country 

-November 11, 1975 Angola gained independence from Portugal 

-70% of Angolans population is under 24

-Life expectancy is around 53

-Angola has one of the highest mortality rates worldwide 

-Angola is the birthplace of dreadlocks hair style 

-National tree is the imbondeiro tree. This means giant tree and sometimes called the upside down tree since the branches resemble roots. 

Daily Views

I take in the sites each day walking to and from. 

Next to the office is a Suzuki dealer and even have a GXR Moto in the showroom. 

Also a fashionable clothing shop, bank, liquor store, cafe and barber shop.  Just another city sort of. You just don't get it until you are in it but plenty of options and choice.  

Lunch was cuttlefish, plantains, usual corn, carrots, green beans. I'm getting all my nutrients at the staff house.  Cuttlefish is like calamari or conch. Chewy.  Lots of it here.  Great fruit today which is a treat.  Again, the little things. 

Holiday

February 4 is the Day of Armed Struggle in memory of the Baixa de Cassanje revolt. Began out of a worker protest for better working conditions which seems all too of a common theme in our past and still today. 

So, no one is working today except the rotator workforce.  Time to get some work done and I don't mind the quiet office today.  

Colleague came in last night so we went out to dinner on the ilia.  Caribe resteraunt.  Not bad. Was the first time I have seen a large young Portuguese crowd of people. Interesting they all were smoking (I have not seen many locals smoking) which may slowly be on the rise here. 

Different and Change

As noted our office experience is not the norm chevron office.  I guess pros and cons.  We have a kitchen and small conference room but still not as nice as the standard offices. Cozy.  Some others I have met here ask where my office is and they just have no idea. At least I just get up and walk 5 minutes there and don't need a ride. But we have no work team or community for us either.  

The women that sell fruit from baskets on their head sit out front though. I saw some huge pineapples the other day and think I will buy one next time. Organic for sure.  

They do try here to keep things nice within the walls of the staff house. I'll give them credit. 

The government is also trying to fix up the city but it has a long way to go.  Lots of government billboards around about how things have improved. But they are now also saying all citizens are in for a tough year due to oil prices. There is going to be some cuts and changes this year for sure.  

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