First impressions

I'm back in Africa! And I love it.

I've been here almost a week now, and maybe the two major lessons I've learnt is that French will be a greater challenge than I thought, and that it might not be possible to put as many pictures as I want on the blog. Internet is SLOW, at best. And I'm still in Kinshasa, I don't want to imagine the situation in Goma or Bunia (have to mention both, because even though my departure is tomorrow, it's still not been decided where I'll work!)

Apart from that, most things are as expected, slow but steady. Although, it hadn't struck me before that UN missions look the same everywhere, something thatn would make me feel so much like in Kathmandu. Everytime I walk in to an office, I feel like askinf,' so and so hunuhunchha?' And then I remember this is a French speaking mission, not nepali speaking. Feeling as if I was in Kathmandu, it was hard realising that I don't know anybody, I don't know my way around, and I don't know where to go to find people. Alright, I'm not looking for Thamel, but it was easier arriving to a mission where I knew everyone beforehand, then coming alone to a mission where I'm constantly told never to walk anywhere, not to leave my things at the hotel, and not to carry them around. The immediate conclusion has to be that I have to stay with my belongings at the hotel...

Still, I am happy to be in Africa again, and I am excited to go in to the country tomorrow. As soon as I have a place to live more permanent than a hotel, I'll start uploading pictures. If I start uploading in the morning before going to work, hopefully I'll have something to post when I get back home so that next post can be better looking.