Now that is a white christmas
a coconut tree
the man, Patrick Mohundro, in his element
minha casa
Jamie basking
mary and the pups
typical scenery surrounding my house
Moving on, the lastest on the mozambican news circuit is that I am a complete mess whenever over seas. I have become someone who is guaranteed to loose nearly everything when traveling. I don't know how this has managed to happen but it is a fact, I cannot deny it and I have moved on with life. The fortunate outcome is that I have been learning valuable lessons without paying the price. For example...
I was casually working on the electricity of my house when I needed to test the current to a bulb fixture. I turned the switch off but just to be sure I used my screwdriver to try and get a little spark assuming there would be none. This, of course, was not the case. Sparks occurred and the entire energy to my house went out. I walked next door to locate the problem and an official for the school told me he would send someone over. I ceased the opportunity to make all the changes I needed to while the electricity was out. Afterwards two students who were "experts" with electricity showed up to help. They were two students that had already helped me before and I trusted them and definitely preferred them be shocked by 220v as opposed to me, so I accepted the help. One student and I spent about 45 minutes locating the problem and some wire while the other decided to hit on Jamie in broken English and unintelligible Portuguese. After fixing the power they left and we began to prepare some dinner. About two hours went by before we realized that both of our brand new cameras missing. I immediately went looking for the boys, who I knew lived close. Nobody could tell me anything other than they had gone home. I finally sought the help of a elderly neighbor of mine who I knew was home with her kids visiting and surely she would help me find them. Two of her kids and I set off on a goose hunt for the boys. The older of the two felt that this was an opportunity to get accepted to an American university and forgot the urgency of the situation (in all reality his education probably is more important than my camera). After about 45 minutes we located one of the boys and they assured me that sending in a "spy" to see if he was there would be better than confronting him in case he decided to flee. Well, the "spy" simply told him that we were waiting for him and he decided not to flee. I told him the situation and he assured me it was not him. Knowing that he was the only one alone in the house that day I decided to play his game, not make him mad and try to continue on the search with him involved. We began to search for the other student, the one who had not left my side. After an hour of failing I decided to head back home where Jamie had been waiting for two hours. I told the boy that if he had truly not taken the camera then we were still friends and a friend would help me retrieve the cameras. After he assured me that was the case I told him that if I did not get the cameras that night I would talk to the school, peace corps and the police the following day and that the police would likely speak with them since they were the only two in the house. He told me he would find the other student and come to my house to help me find them that night. Two stressful hours later he showed up on my doorstep with the cameras. Lesson learned...no price paid.
Round 2. I had just left the airport, where I had watched Jamie leave, and I was seeking a chapa (make-shift taxi). The chapa stop was a popular one I knew that it was going to be a fight to get a spot on the chapa I needed. We have been told a million times about the pick-pocketing that goes on during these situations and I had already removed my wallet from my pocket and put it in my bag. My phone had been there too but I was using it to call a friend and had quickly put it back in my pocket when the chapa rolled up (it should also be said that deep down I have a striking suspicion that I am better than pick-pocketers and therefore feel immune to their antics). The rush for this chapa was incredible and at first I was going to let it go and get the next one but then I decided to go for it. I snuck in there with best of them and pushed some old ladies over (in a george constanza manner). I had definitely secured myself a spot when I felt it...that unmistakable sensation of some jackass stealing my cellphone. I immediately turned around expecting to see my phone and be able to grab it. Unfortunately, they were so fast I saw nothing. I was pissed. I looked around and started accusing people and demanding it back. There was some hesitation as to what to do next...should I get on the chapa, no, the thief is off the chapa stay here until he gets scared and gives himself away. So that is what I did I stayed there and began to inspect people as the chapa filled up. One of the men standing next to me told me it was someone in the chapa so I started yelling at people and asking who he had seen take my phone. He was unclear so I told him to help me confront the guy. He told the driver not to go anywhere and accused a man in the front seat of taking it. He got out of the car and demanding the accuser search his pockets. The accuser refused and told him to give the phone back. Needless to say, there was a lot of yelling and I egged on every bit of it because it seemed to be working. The commotion grew until there was a timid hand appeared from the packed chapa holding a phone resembling mine. Someone grabbed it and asked me if it was mine. I confirmed that it was and the chapa drove off. Standing dazed and confused with yet a phone in my possession, I had learned another lesson without paying a price. Lesson...perhaps I am not immune but the fact stands that they didn't get my phone.
That was a lot. I am sorry if it was too much but here are some pictures to enjoy.
