Survival of Street Kids, a Wrong Turn & Our Great Personal Flood of 2009

here's a quick look back at the end of  my first project in the DRC:

...it is November of  2009 in the city of Kinshasa of the Democratic Republic of the Congo

one late night after having to let our driver go early to take care of his sick kid and having dinner, we headed back home in our not so conspicuous vehicle (an orange H2 hummer--picture shown), only to turn the corner with a flat tire.

thank goodness, that we were being followed/escorted home by our local friends/co-workers! 

BUT what a coincidence when we pulled over, there were guys standing on the side of the street telling us that they would be able to take the tire off and take it over to the shack just off the street to fix the tire.  no other choice as there is no such thing as road side assistance like AAA and no option to leave the car to get it the next day as it would not be there the next day!

But of course, to our luck, it starts to rain as we were on the side of the road.  Being pulled over to the side of the road in the hummer with 2 other cars waiting with us, only attracts the attention of the street kids aka shea-gays (spelled according to pronunciation).  We have now become the main attraction on the boulevard!

Let me give you a little bit of background of my introduction and experience with street kids.  Shea-gays are street kids--they are everywhere in the city.  They will come up to your car when you are stuck in traffic asking for money; they will come up to you when you are coming out of buildings, shops, walking on the street (which we were not allowed to do).  You have to beware as they are known to pickpocket, steal, snatch & run and sometimes, will get really ballsy & attack.  All of our local staff knows to warn us of areas heavily populated of the shea-gays and to always act as protection of shoe-ing them away!  They are slick and sneaky so you must hold on tight to anything and everything!  With that said, let me go on with the rest of the night's account. 


A few hours later, the tire is fixed and back on the H2.  We are getting ready to pile into the car to head home when the small group of shea-gays starts to circle our car with more shea-gays coming in different directions to surround our other cars.  Mind you, we all pile in the cars in time to take off BUT we are surrounded with the shea-gays pulling at the doors and pounding at the windows.  At one point, one of the shea-gays managed to pull on the handle of the trunk that had all of our laptops.  Thankfully, on of our locals, jumped out to close and secure the trunk and break off the swarm of shea-gays we had.  We were able to get home free of shea-gays with ourselves and possessions in tact but not without feeling the cars shaken by the shea-gays and shea-gays running after us for a block!  Here's a picture of me pre-rain and pre-sheagay swarm on the side of the street, which is only lit by the surrounding buildings as there are no street lights on the main boulevard until 2 years later.


Our Great Personal Flood of '09:
For me, the weather in Kinshasa is hot and humid or rainy, hot & humid with of course the varying degrees of heat, humidity and how heavy the rain is.  Now, when it rains there, it does not get cooler; it can actually get hotter or more humid.  yuck for those of us who do not fend well in the heat AND humidity and used to nice dry heat weather, with the occasional breaks of cooler temperatures (all you so cal peeps know what I'm talking about).  Let's talk about the rain...when it rains, it pours in Kinshasa.  The craziest rains I've ever experienced have been in Kinshasa.  Let me give you the great flood of '09.

Another late night at the office, starving with limited places to eat at.  Unfortunately, there are NO 24 hour places or nothing fast food there.  We head to one of our regular dining spots just as it starts to rain.  Never did we imagine that the rain would come pouring down in all directions nor did we imagine it to not let up.  Well, it is pouring like crazy, does not even look like it is going to let up, we are headed home praying that we will have electricity.  We had no idea what was in store for us when we got home!

In the DRC, most houses have security guards who watch over the house 24-7 (aka sentinels).  They open and close the entrance gate to the house when you come and go at the honk of the horn.  On this night, when we honked the horn, not only were we waiting a lot longer for the gate to open, but we see our sentinel's hands with all his might prying open the entrance gates.  

The gates open to gushing water!

Our house was flooded--knee deep of water--sewer trash water.  (can't even think what was in the water floating, swimming...whatever)  

Before getting out of the car, we roll up our pants, take off our shoes and decide that the game plan is to grab what we need to get through a few nights in a hotel and any of our valuables.  Thank goodness, all our computers and electronics were with us from the office in our laptop bags.  

We open the front door to our house, completely flooded, with suitcase floating around the house.  We put what we can on top of tables couches, on the bed etc.  You can just imagine see all our stuff just floating around in this sewer water or worse, lost and completely drenched in it.  

We are barely in for 5 minutes when our driver is yelling "current, current, current!!"  The water has now rose to above our knees by time we grab what we needed and back out to the car.  Our local friends were nearby (also the owner of the house) so they were there to witness our great flood.  

 Unfortunately, none of us have pictures to document that night BUT we have aftermath pictures.  

We did not return back for 3 days as we had to wait for the house to be cleaned by a crew of 12 and things to be aired out and dried.  

Here is the craziest thing of all, the next day was a sunny and scorching hot day with not a cloud or drop of rain in sight!  take a look at the pictures.

Sunday…the day of rest

…nah, of course not.

This Sunday marks the first night I really cooked in Congo. So, of course, I had to pay homage to my parents’ homeland and fulfill the request and cravings of others here with me with Pad Thai. Surprisingly enough…the necessary ingredients are able to be found here in Congo…not that it didn’t take going to 3 different markets to find it all. In actuality, 4 markets but the last one closed on us. In any case, we were successful in finding enough to make an authentic pad thai my mom would be quite proud of. The good ole days of being in the kitchen at my parents’ restaurant came rushing back to me…as I could not remember the last time I even cooked pad thai. It has been a very long time since I’ve cooked this dish. But of course, my mom’s recipe is ingrained into my memory. I will never be as great of a cook as my mom but I do know that tonight would have made her beam with pride as it was enjoyed by all who had a taste.





What is it about cooking that is so soothing and therapeutic? How one can just spend countless hours away in the kitchen…it’s magical actually. Ok, so maybe for someone like me who isn’t in the kitchen ALL the time, really enjoys the time I do spend in the kitchen…well, for me, cooking for others to come together to share a meal together is enough reason for me to have a go in the kitchen. What better reason to bring good people together if not for good food?? So this of course leads me to the upcoming holiday feasts we all look forward to. I always love this time of year….from Halloween to the end of the year/beginning of the new year–even though this has been the busiest time of the year for me work-wise for the last 5 years—I love this time of year. I started a tradition many years ago—having a holiday dinner party at my parents’ house. It was only a 5 year run BUT it may have to come out of hiatus upon my return back home to the states this year especially since I will be in congo for thanksgiving. The first ever thanksgiving I have not been with my family for. I am super bummed that I will not be home so for all of you who are home with your family, please enjoy extra for me and give even greater thanks to be together. Have an extra round at the table and an extra slice of pumpkin, pecan and/or apple pie for me!

$10 spent…a bit of sadness

Note to self:

Today, $10 was spent…quite possibly the worst $10 spent here but more so the saddest $10 spent thus far by yours truly in congo. I needed to handle some work business which needed the support of steady and speedy internet SO with that being said, I headed to the lobby atrium café to get connected to the wireless internet to handle it. Being a nice patron, I will purchase a beverage to consume while using the net. Re-tard me, ordered a coca-light (aka diet coke). Bonehead move….as that is one of the MOST expensive drinks on the menu…more so than those comprising alcohol. Hello?? What was I thinking?? A lesson to be learned, noted and NOT to be repeated, thank you very much.

End note to self: please NO repeat offense in future.

A bit of surprise…this Friday the 13th

Eating Congolese cuisine at the #1 restaurant in Kinshasa—INZIA. This was not the first time I have eaten there since I’ve been here but the other times; I was only at level 1—just chicken-very flavorful and delicious; just boring to report home about. Now, there are 7 levels to Congolese cuisine…7 being the most exotic and adventurous. I’ve made it to level 3 on this Friday the 13th….on my plate, it included goat, antelope and fried caterpillars. It was the fried little things that bumped me to level 3. I plan on progressing to the higher levels and will definitely document as I do so.



Here’s another picture for kicks for you all…a picture of me surprised to have the champagne cork knick my shoulder from across the home…a bit of a surprise…enjoy!

home sweet congo home…

my apologies for not blogging about this first and foremost upon my arrival to Kinshasa. Before I even start, I must give an enormous amount of appreciation and gratitude to Nathalie and her family for allowing us to stay in this beautiful house. Living in this house has definitely been a major impact and influence on getting situated and settled here. The energy from the moment I walked into the house was of comfort, warmth and security—definitely a sense one seeks and yearns for when being a guest of a completely foreign country. Another BIG and SPECIAL thanks goes to my 2nd mom for ensuring that the house was set up properly with the right amenities, utilities and staff. Altogether, a very smooth transition in getting situated and settled into what has become…home sweet congo home.

On another side note, by default being the only lady in the house, I got the master bedroom…my own private space and very important, bathroom. It has become my place of sanctity and tranquility…very much like my own room back at home in good ole California. With that being said….take a look.








Another little disclaimer, the room I have here in Congo is about twice the size of my room back home…haha. Could you just imagine if I had my congo room back in the states, just how packed it would be??? Just a thought, actually a scary thought….for those of you who know me and have seen my room at home in the states….my room is MY CLOSET filled with shoes, bag, clothes, more shoes, more bags….just a closet that has made baby closets…haha. One great thing about my room here in congo, it will not be anything like my room back home in the states-for I am living a far less materialistic and much more simplistic and minimalist life (a very deserving amen to that).

For those of you who have ever been to Thailand and have seen and/or stayed at a house out there, these pictures will take you back a bit and remind you a little bit of being in Thailand. Here are some more pictures around the house.

Zi-thro-maaaaaxxxx

…to the rescue!!! I must say that the great beauty of access to certain pharmaceuticals in Asia/Africa is awesome…ALMOST all is over the counter in these continents. I am sure that we are all very familiar with one of the wonderful miracle antibiotics…zithromax. It is 3 days and you are done. Most antibiotics are 5 plus days…which we all complain of being a pain in the a**, but hey, you got to let the meds do its thang and work its magic the way it is supposed to.

So, being here less than 2 weeks, I fell ill. Apparently, there has been a cold/flu kind of thing going around town…of course, right now, all in your heads, you are all thinking the worst, yikes, she got malaria!!! It wasn’t, thank goodness!! BUT then again, please let me remind you folks that I am taking my malaria pills on the daily to ensure and prevent from getting it!

Anyways, it sucks to be sick in general. It sucks a whole lot more on a different level when you get sick far far far away from home and family. Now, it has already happened to me here…but thanks to zithromax, I was only down for one day. And for that one day, I was pretty much knocked out. Keeping this one short and sweet and talking about being ill and sick is not good for anyone and I rather pass on re-living the experience by re-counting about it. Just wanted to give my props to zithromax for coming to my rescue in the extra punch power of 500 mg baby!!

no rules

when it comes to driving here. just wanted to post a quick note about my ride to the office. there was tons of traffic and of course, our driver weaved through traffic as he owned the roads and streets here. you can kind of see how he will go on the other side of the street to pass cars in traffic. he will even go in a certain entrance and play chicken if someone else is driving straight on with him. i wish i could have video'ed yesterday's ride as he made the other back up for him to go forward. it is really funny how much he gets away with in driving a hummer--considered a flashy car and since you never know who is riding in it, one can drive like havoc. haha. please note: pictures taken from the back seat by yours truly.







on another note, the government is making improvements throughout the city. one of the major projects underway is expanding the roads and streets here. they have made it to our part of the street in our hood...re-paving the street, roping it off for no one to drive across until it is dries. well, in congo, let's just say that protocol was not followed. by the morning, the ropes were broked, crossed over and the new pavement driven on. the semi-good thing is that majority of it has dried but there are still sections that have not. in this picture, it shows just how jammed packed the cars will get to one another to fit.. on the very left you can kind of see it.



one disclaimer--taking pictures in congo is not as easy or even acceptable as it is in the states. one must be careful when and where you are taking your pictures. we basically have to get ninja when it comes to taking pictures.

it's a TRIAL run...

here i am at the office in congo. we are on a TRIAL with internet service provider til the end of the week. SO, we have all been staying here pretty late to milk the trial period as much as possible...we are on 1 megabyte unlimited. to put some perspective of things here in congo, all you folks in the states are on 4 megabytes unlimited AND it is definitely not costing you 4k a month. if we were to stay on this internet plan, that is how much it would cost us....BIG YIKES!! internet is a MAJOR luxury here in congo as there is no fiber optic line laid in the continent of africa yet. fiber optics is in the works but not going to be seen for at least another year...this continent has no idea of what is going to happen when it finally makes it!! so all you folks back home, please enjoy the internet connection for me!! now, you know why it has been hard for me to update my blog with pictures and what have you BUT we are working on alternative and affordable internet service that will still allow me to do my thang here. woo-hoo!!!

the days and nights have been filled with pre-production. i am here working on a documentary, which we will start shooting in december for 20 days, heading to the east as well as here in the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kinshasa, AND a tv show which will start production mid-january. as you must imagine, things here move at a whole different pace than what we are used to back in la-la land of california.

ok, so i know that i mentioned this before...driving in congo has NO rules...there are no lines, there aren't really any traffic lights and if there are any, no one really pays any attention to them. for instance, last night, en route to drop someone off, we were in a part of town, we never have been in yet and there was a row of 3 traffic lights, the first we've seen that were actually on and working. but of course, our driver just drove straight through the red light only to laugh at the rest of us when we were like it is a red light...c'est rouge, stop!

but the ONE functional traffic light that we see on the daily and that the congolese obide to are the human traffic lights...see picture.



these police officers stand on these metal stands in the middle of huge intersections and will stop to direct traffic during the busy times of the day. let me just say that this is the only way i would be able to cross the street here in congo safely. no other way would i even dare to cross the street. cars so do not yield to pedestrians AT ALL, including our driver, who by the way is the BEST driver in congo, hands down. he knows all the short cuts, can manuever through traffic no problem and is ballsy as heck. it is definitely an adventure every ride that we've taken with him.

here are some more pictures of the city:






the view of the city from the office balcony.

My 1st night in CONGO & full day…

First night in Congo…headed out to OKTOBERFEST…but of course, it is celebrated here like anywhere else in the world with all sorts of people coming together for beer, food and music. Unfortunately, your dear friend here only lasted til a little past midnight…the long journey kicked in and knocked me out.



It was such a nice surprise how there was such an eclectic mix of people in DRC—I mean at Oktoberfest, they were ALL out…UN people…ex-pats…ALL were out n about boozing it up!! What a nice connection we all have…around alcohol…haha…no need to speak the others’ language as long as you can raise a glass and smile…instant friendship! For me, of course, I raised my beer mug FULL of water!


In the picture with Ryan & David (my housemates) and in the middle is Luke, our translator.

The first full day here in Kinshasa included seeing the farmland out by the Congo river…the river of all rivers…the river that eats other rivers. This river is HUGE. Congo is such a beautiful country…so many resources and riches unexplored, undeveloped and untainted…still very raw, organic…real.



Lucky enough to have seen the river via speed boat. That was fun taking out the speed boat for 2 rounds around the river...ran out of "petro" during round two. ended up pulling into one of the fishing villages to get a refill, which ended up being a bit of a problematic situation as the owner of the boat was not pleased with his boat driver doing that. it is considered unsafe and risky to do that especially when it is a boat filled with "foreigners."





One HUGE thing here in the DRC is that there are very clear lines of distinction among classes; especially when you are dealing with governmental and/or military officials...very clear and distinct with no classes defined in the middle. it is very apparent driving and walking around the city--seeing the way people live to survive. it really makes me appreciate and be grateful for how my life is and how i am able to live my life with the many luxuries that I, as I am sure many others, just take for granted, not even realizing that SO MANY in the world deal without and not because they just can't but because they never have.



My life here in the DRC is way above the norm of a Congolese. In America, what is provided for me and the others here with me would be considered as "ballin" and "pimpin." I mean, really, the house has a watchman (aka a sentinel)-all he is required to do is watch the house day and night-a houseman (cleans and does laundry on the daily)-a driver and car to get around town AND also a translator so that we do not get stuck, stranded or ripped off as we are ALL still very very very rusty on our French.


Picture of Luke, our translator (on left) and Alain, our driver with the Hummer we are rolling in.

Let's not forget to mention that we have an additional host, aside from our boss, who is around to help us AND one of our boss' partners around to help us as well. Considering all of that, we are being very WELL taken care of, you might even think we are royalty...haha. It is like Thailand, help is affordable...hard to find and trust but comes at a very low cost. It is amazing how human nature is when it comes to kindness, generosity and loyalty...it is quite universal. My life continues to be blessed as I am a guest in this country-very unknown, unexplored and unfamiliar to me. Can't wait to be acquainted...much excitement and enthusiasm.

72 hours later…

WOW…has it been quite the 72 hours…half of which was spent on a plane and/or airport BUT mainly on a plane. Ok, so the first 24 hours was spent packing for the trip. I must admit quite a challenge for a relatively girlie girl like myself. When it came to packing, knowing that what must be packed and taken along for this trip are things that I could not live without or better yet, not possible to even find and buy here in Congo, was quite the challenge. With that being said leads to the next little fiasco…LAX.

Long story short, luggage overweight…had to buy a box to move the extra weight over…2 of us travelling together with 5 pieces of luggage, 2 carry-ons and personal bags. Those 2 carry ons later became an issue with overhead compartment space and had to be checked into cargo below. SO, now, the 2 of us had 7 pieces of luggage to be picked up and claimed for when we finally reached Kinshasa, DRC. 7 pieces of luggage between the both of us...enough said or should I say, economy class. Haha.

First thought off the plane…SO GOOD to have my feet on the ground and no longer sitting in a plane. It was hot and humid as expected…a bit of a reminder of Thailand. There is so much here that reminds me of Thailand…especially the driving-no rules, no lane distinction (not really) AND the people MUST mind the cars, NOT cars yielding to pedestrians. It is definitely NOT an easy task to cross any of the streets here in Congo-not sure if I would even try to.





We have been fortunate enough to be staying in a house here in Congo (courtesy of Nathalie-one of our hosts here)…nice, comfortable and cozy…even came with an adorable house dog, named MILA.




PICTURES TO FOLLOW...once i can find a place here in congo to upload it fast enough-with the modem i am working with, it would take days to get these photos up. i am on a mission to find a spot here in the city that has internet fast enough so i can post the pictures i have taken here!

improntu visit....on my way home....yesterday

so i am getting used to the daily upkeep that is necessary for this blog...so alright, i am on a bit of a delay with this blog and i haven't even made it to the congo yet! haha. won't make any promises but will definitely put forth effort to keep it updated and current!

a day later...last night i had an improntu visit. well, i needed to pick up a little something from my dear friend, armand. what a nice surprise to walk into his house full of friends! it was so great to see them all last night!



remember folks, there will be many great and happy happenings i will return to hear about...you know what i am talking about and who...don't worry i will remember what i will be calling you all out on!!! :) haha.

it has been a nice break from what i really need to focus on. it is getting down to the last wire...my departure as i leave the place of being a permanent guest of to a territory never explored or travelled by yours truly. can't wait to tell the world my experience and journey of "whose guest i am."

2 more days...

to CONGO...well, technically, 4 more days since it takes close to 2 days to get there. no such thing as a direct flight to the congo. if you're lucky, you have 1 layover. i'm extra special as i have 4 stopovers before i set foot into kinshasa, congo. my first destination city of this very exotic and adventurous country.

as the time nears to my departure, i am getting more excited! this past sunday, that feeling of excitement was mixed with feeling anxious, overwhelmed and nervous of the unknown and unexpected. sunday was the day that it really hit me that i was going!!

i had a very intimate bon voyage dinner with family and friends.



thanks mom and dad for treating the dinner as my send off gift and thanks for all those who were able to make it out to the dinner considering how very last minute it was thrown together. those who could not make it, no worries, as all your well wishes of love, luck, safety, security and health very appreciated and well received. much love to you all dear family and friends always. xoxo

5 more days...

it is FINALLY the weekend for me...but it just seems like all the days just blend into one another! it is good to be in the comforts of home...a feeling i will definitely miss as i embark on a once in a lifetime experience and journey to....CONGO.

so, i will have to pay my respects and mind the customs as i will now become a GUEST of a country i have never set foot in...

BUT before i set off on this adventure, let me please give LOTS of LOVE and RESPECT to my family at home...a place i am a permanent guest at and may all of you be as fortunate and blessed as i am to have the same.

here i am at home, enjoying one of my comfort foods...my mom's noodle soup. one of the requests made before i leave and a request i will make upon my return. what is it about mom's homecooking? we all say that our moms are the BEST cooks EVER but hey, we didn't try any other cook's food before mom's! not suggesting anything because believe you me, my mom is a fantastic cook. AND to think that her cooking is the reason why i will miss her during my two months away. (a crack she made at me earlier this evening) PLEAZE, that's my mooggers we are talking about. if i could put her in my pocket, i would take her everywhere with me. :) she is almost teeney weeney enough.

aaaah, the time is getting closer to departure, many things to do, many things to pack, many friends to say, see you in awhile crocodile...best get cracking :)