12.03.2006

First days and first impressions...
On Tuesday we left Hull and enjoyed British coach services for like 6 hours. The flight to Johannesburg (South African Airways) was not too comfortable and the attendats not too friendly, but the entertainment program in personal screens was cool. In joburg the weather was so nice and warm, especially considering that we came from cold, rainy England. In the airport our team split up (one went to Cape Town to spend his time until the Namibian visa arrives) and others stayed in Joburg for one day and took the bus to Maputo the next morning. Me and Danguole form Lithuania had visa problems and we flew straight to Maputo. It means, we spent about 6 hours~in Joburg Airport international transfer zone, drinking delicious smoothies in a fancy restaurant with a view to the take-off and all the planes. The border between Mozambique and SA was obvious even from the air as we were flying quite low. When approaching Maputo, the size and poverty of favelas was so amazing.. and at the same time, there was a city in the coast of Indian ocean just behind the shabby huts made out of Coca-cola boxes. When we got off the plane in a tiny airport (Mozambiqian most important airport), the heat stroke us. The air was heavier, full of new smells and new.. senses... The customs were ok, not too much pain.. Finding a taxi neither, because I simply reminded myself how I survived in South America on my own and used my Portuguese-left-overs plus natural insticts. We got to the Humana headquarters quite easily, warm wind in our hair and a live documentary scenary around us. Well, I have seen a lot of similar things in Brazil, but still... On Thursday 4.30 am we started our journey with other members of our team to Beira (check the map for instructions). To do this, we went to kind of a market for transport where there are hundreds of different buses of different sizes to choose from and they go to any place in the country (the furthest journeys take up to week I think). It was incredible, and a bit scary. The drivers were fighting who gets us to their bus. They promised different things, but for us the time was most important so we took a kind of minibus that the driver promised to take us there the same day (Beira express). As we learned later, it wasnt quite the truth. First of all, we did not leave at 6 as promised, but about 2,5 hours later. The bus only left once it was packed with people and a lot of luggage (most of it ours). And after 6 hours ride we checked the map and had moved just a tiny bit more to the north. Oh well.. the roads were partly paved, but partly NOT AT ALL. The driver was going as hell anyway, and the luggage put up to the shelfs fell down several times on the heads of people sitting in the middle (I was safely by the window). We kind of freaked when in one place some people got off and among the new passengers was a guy with two chicken (alive). He sat just between volunteers, one row before me, luckily. It was quite scary. but I guess they dont have bird flew here yet.. Everywhere and anywhere on the road were people who were selling eggs, bread, coke, water, cookies etc etc. They just run to the bus when it slows down and they block the windows, offering you the goods. I cannot describe it, it just felt like we were part of a fly paper.. Well, at around 9.30 pm when it had been pitch dark for hours, the bus stopped in front of a some village pub and the driver went to sleep on a mattress in front of the bus. The policia supposedly does not allow passenger transport during night. So we spent a restless night trying to overcome being dirtier than ever, feeling homeless, smelly and quite disgusting. The horror ended (actually continued) the next day when we took off at around 4 am again. We finally got to Lamego, the place of our projects around 9.30 am. Phuhh.. how we enjoyed the shower from bucket! Its not that bad at all, actually.. I use 3 big cops for full shower! It probably less than most people use to brush teeth once a day..
To be continued, when I can use the net again. It takes me at least 1,5 hours of jorney to be able to do it. So please dont freak when I cannot contact for some time. Iºm allright, enjoying and getting to know beautiful and hot Mozambique..Take care Kristiinaps! sometimes walking around i feel like in zoo and i am the animal!!!