a new normal

Approaching the halfway mark of my time here in mozambique life has been a continual adjustment into a new normal. Things that are now normal didn't become that way overnight, but it has instead been a process and constant transition period. A list of common things that are now normal:

• having dirty feet
• coming home to having no electricity, water or combination both
• traffic that turns a two lane road into a six lane road out of nowhere
• sticking out due to a lack of melanin
• seeing people urinate on the side of the road
• seeing at least a dozen goats on the way to or from school each day
• overcrowded chappas with body parts hanging out the windows
• ducks walking around the neighbors yard
• driving down the left side of the road
• a huge lack of trash cans
• cooking everything from scratch
• sleeping under a mosquito net
• seeing a whole cow head being cooked over coals
• the sun coming up at 4:30 a.m.
• men carrying huge AK-47s around
• being able to pick fresh mangoes whenever I'd like
• seeing women carry a variety of things on their heads including tables, propane tanks, and sacks of potatoes

Despite all of these things I sometimes have the tendency to forget that I am actually living in Africa. That my life looks different now than it ever did before. Yet it is a variety of these new things and experiences that I have come to accept and love about living here. There are very few dull moments. I have a new normalcy in my life and most of these things rarely cause me to even turn my head for another glance anymore.

street serenade

A couple days ago I was visiting with the Blanks (fellow WorldVenture missionaries) at their house and these guys walked up wanting to play a song for Rob. I thought I'd share their talent, or lack thereof, with you. They said they would return when they master another song.

the "Golden" wedding

Mr. Golden is one of my colleagues at CAM. He teaches third grade. On December 4th he got married and had the spectacular "golden wedding." Golden because of many reasons his first name is Golden, his suit was gold, his bride's dress was gold, and the teachers at CAM even got together to give him the "golden" tree. The weddings here typically last two days. We were fortunate enough to make it for the reception (and the delicious food). 

One common Mozambican tradition is for the bride to look as sad as possible. I have heard this is because she is to be mourning the fact that she is leaving her family. I find this something almost foreign to me, since American culture is very emotional and excited during a wedding! Also when the bride and groom arrive they have to do a sort of dance together. 

After the meal, everyone is to present their gifts to the bride and groom. The twist is that every person, or group of people, must do a song and dance as the gift is brought forward. Being a table of foreigners, mostly American mixed with Zimbabwean, Swazi, Indian, Dutch and Russian, we had a difficult time trying to come up with a song and dance to go along with it. So we improvised with a song in Shangaan that about half of us knew.

Who said money doesn't grow on trees?

swaziland

The day after Thanksgiving I was able to go to go to Swaziland with my neighbor, Mary, and her two children, Angel and Angelo. Friday morning we caught a chappa into Maputo and got off close to the bus station. We went into the bus station and found the sign for the one going to Swazi. We got in handed over our passports and waited. Little did I know that the buses aren't on a schedule like they are in America, but just wait until the bus is full to depart. We actually ended up waiting for about 2 and 1/2 hours just to leave the bus station. The trip to Swazi wasn't too bad. I was grateful that they only allow the bus to be filled with one person in each seat, as opposed to as many as physically possible like they do in Maputo. We crossed the border, unloaded the mini-bus, then caught a chappa to the town that Mary's parents live in. When we made it to their house I was shocked at how nice the house is. It had carpet, which reminded me very much of American houses (in Maputo I don't think I've seen any houses with wall-to-wall carpeting. We then sat down to a lovely meal in the formal dining room and I was able to meet the different members of her family. There was a great-grandma, two grandmothers, an uncle, mom and dad, two sisters, three more adopted sisters that were orphans, a younger brother, another adopted brother, and even a friendly dog. They were very hospitable and glad to finally meet me after hearing about me from Mary.

The view from the front yard of their house in Swaziland.

The next day we were getting ready to go a birthday party for a family friend. Much to my surprise it was another 2 hours away. (After a quick run to the mall in Mbabane, which was more like an outdoor plaza, but very clean and highly populated with security guards.) We started on our beautiful and scenic drive through the hills of Swazi to the birthday party. It was at this man's house on a compound in the bush, actually very close to the Mozambican border. By the time we arrived most of the people were already there. We soon started feasting. There was so much food. I was surprised at first by the amount of food that was prepared, but then I was shocked by the fact that it actually fed all of the people there. I'm guessing it was easily close to 100 people. The food was delicious and some of it very foreign, yet new, to me!

My plate of food including salad, chicken, rice, cabbage, beets, potatoes, beef and goat.

I soon asked Mary's mom about how they knew this man as she was telling me that she is close to all of the people. At one point they all lived in Rwanda together, but when the war broke out they were forced out of the country just for the sake of remaining alive. Many people went to many different countries as displaced people. This was the community that went to Swaziland. Over the years they have kept their community strong and helped each other remember their identity as wandis, as well as swatis, living in a new land that is not their home. This was amazing to me as I was seeing how these people were still a sort of family after so many years, and hearing stories of how they depended on and learned from each other as they were in a new place with nothing but what they could manage to flee with. The resilience was astounding! But they still remember, they can't forget, and they still have hope. Many of the people present were educated even having a masters or phD. They have made their new land their own, but they still speak of Rwanda as home. They only gather like this on very special occasions, this day being a 50th birthday.

I was able to take part of and see some of the differences in Rwandan culture, specifically within a community that is located in another country. Africa is Africa, but there are definite differences among Africans from different countries, tribes and regions. Even the Mozambican and Rwandan greetings are different. In Mozambique you give a kiss on each cheek, I've gotten quite accustomed to this now and do it without even thinking about it. In Rwanda they give a hug, and not on both sides, so I had to quickly re-adjust what I've gotten used to.

When the time for cake came everyone sang and clapped for the birthday boy (man), Nsanze. He then had to say a speech. Like most good Africans, it was a little lengthy. He talked about when they came from Rwanda and talked about each of their kids and his wife and how they were the ones who helped him keep going when he was at some of the lowest points. He then talked about different people who were present who also helped him start from nothing and support him and his family during rough times. 

Cutting the birthday cake.

macaco, macaco!

"macaco, macaco!" (Portuguese for monkey) was the phrase I heard repeated over and over on Tuesday afternoon. On the way home from school we drove down a different road. In the community there was a monkey hanging out in someone's yard. I didn't believe it at first. Mary, my neighbor, kept trying to show me where it was. So we got out to look. Instantly there was a group of kids that crowded around us as we were trying to look at the monkey. A girl then told us to come into the yard to get a closer look. So we followed her, hesitantly, into the yard to get a closer look. He was jumping around, and luckily tied to a rope, from limb to limb. Mary then told me that she had a banana in the car. So we hurried to go get it. One of the boys that walked us into the yard then tossed it up to the monkey and he caught it, quickly peeled it, and started eating it. I managed to take a few pictures to share with you.

brief video update

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BBNVKw7Yffc

cultures and the nations

International Potluck happened last night. It was a night set apart at CAM to celebrate the many cultures represented at the school. This year there are 19 countries represented among students and teachers. This is impressive considering there are only around 60 students that attend CAM. 

The night consisted of outfits, foods, trivia, and even dances done from different countries. The costumes were very diverse and representative of the different countries ranging from India to the Philippines to Nigeria to Brazil to Russia to Canada to Holland. There were even tables with foods from each country represented. That was probably my favorite part. Overall the turnout was great! In honor of Halloween I even shared some treats and candy corn with my students!

I'm so grateful to be able to be living and teaching in Mozambique. Something that I love about my job is getting to be in a setting that does have so many cultures present. One of the challenges has been trying to teach my high school US history class. In the class there are only two Americans, neither of which have spent very many years actually living in the U.S. I must say that I have had to think of creative ways and gain new perspectives on the United States while teaching it here. The amount of languages that the students are able to speak amazes me. It has been wonderful to be able to be in such a culturally rich environment. 

Learning about culture is a huge part of moving halfway across the world. Often times I wonder about why things are done a certain way, then I think why does that seem so strange to me? Then I think why do I do certain things the way that I do? It has really changed my perspective on culture in general. Things that I never even realized are such a part of American culture that it is hard to even identify unless it is confronted. 

I am grateful for the gospel. The fact that it transcends culture. The fact that regardless of how we "do" things or what we are normally "comfortable" with we are all still people that left to ourselves are caught up in our sin. Jesus came into the world to save sinners. Regardless of our culture, or even preferences, we are still dead in our sin and the only hope is Christ. And regardless of the culture or language, because of His great love, in His mercy he came so we could have life and come back into community with the Father. That's beautiful, and it's a beautiful thing to see a variety of cultures gathered together in unity because we've been washed by the blood.

Oh sing to the LORD a new song,

   for he has done marvelous things!

His right hand and his holy arm

   have worked salvation for him.

The LORD has made known his salvation;

   he has revealed his righteousness in the sight of the nations.

psalm 98.1-2