Please excuse my long hiatus from my blog. I'll resume it shortly. For a long time, I had nothing to say, just due to my inability to express my feelings about my experiences. But I think its better for me to say what I can, even if its not profound, so you can know what's going on in DRC. I get emails from friends sometimes which say - why don't you make any more sign of life (signe de vie)? I hate to hear it really - but one thing I've learned is that keeping in touch is quite difficult despite the enabling technology. To correct this, here is at long last - a signe de vie!
Since my last update in April, a lot has happened:
May:
-trip to Bunia, capital of Ituri District; between Epulu and Bunia, there is a rather abrupt transition from forest to savannah in Bunia, the elevation makes nights chilly
-visit from American friends to Epulu (Brandon, Chelsie and Megan) who teach at Christian Bilingual University of Congo in Beni; we visited the okapis, got attacked by ants, played bananagrams, hiked to the local inselberg, ate like kings & queens (thanks to two mamas doing the cooking!) - They got to see another part of Congo and I got to share Epulu living with them.
June
-visit from the Myhres to Epulu - the Myhres are a missionary family who have lived in western Uganda (5km from the Congo border) for the last 17 years. All four of their kids grew up in Uganda. The two youngest - Julia (13) and Jack(12) came with Scott & Jennifer to help Jennifer complete one of her life goals - to visit the okapi. Having lived through scary years of 1996-98 when a Ugandan rebel group attacked their home area of w. Uganda and then slunk back into the jungles across the border in Congo - it was nearly impossible (and uninviting) to visit eastern Congo. They will soon be moving to Kenya, thus limiting this time as literally the only possible window for the visit. We had a perfect visit. Again, visited inselbergs and ate well courtesy of Mamas Asumpta & Marceline.
-we visit Nyankunde near Bunia - a mission station set up by African Inland Mission and other missionaries - which thrived as a nursing school, hospital, and well-known primary and secondary schools. Nyankunde was destroyed in 2002 by an ugly massacre during the civil war (or African World War) - one of the only places in Congo where there was actually Congolese tribes fighting each other. An older American couple carried out some of the early construction in Nyankunde between 1965-85, raising their kids there. Now long after their kids have grown, they're back to rebuild some of the same buildings they built in the first place. Amazing people - Rich and Ruth Dix.
-leave Congo with the Myhres, watch world cup, go chimp-tracking, visit friends Carol, Zaituni, Godfrey, and Evelyne in Kampala
-arrive back in the USA after one full year away. Back with Dad & Mom again!
-meet Brayden Haringa, newborn son of Matt and Samantha.
July 5 - Aug 6
-Spent 5 weeks studying French in La Ville de Québec, which quickly become one of my favorite cities. Exploring old Quebec and making new friends gave me lots of practice opportunities. My level was Enriched Intermediate - maybe a little to high for someone who has never taken a French class, but it pushed me and now I have a higher level of confidence. In Quebec, I have found my new favorite vacation spot. Its got its own lovely and proud culture - not European or American. I'll return there frequently to practice my adopted (and loved) second language - French.
August
- visit from college buddies: Cory W, Steve & Emily - and young Henry! - we did Boston like it was their FIRST time! Duck boat tours, fighting some redcoats, dunkin' donuts, perfecting the Boston accent, Boston creme this and that, lots of catching up and rehashing the days past
- trip to North Carolina to visit my dear sister Leah. We hit the beach and slapped the bass big time. Also got to meet Asher Frey, son of friends Craig and Rachel
- trip to New York to visit the big bosses and sleep a few nights in the Bronx Zoo - an odd place to navigate at night!. Also I picked up 8 trunks which were my responsibility all the way to Congo.
September
- back to Africa!
- back in Epulu, not much has changed -
-Minnie, our little cat had a little kitty of her own - called Kidogo, which is Swahili for "small"
-Ashley, a British chap, will be my roommate all year - he's great company!
-Joelle, our cuisinière's baby is 11+ months old, has a little ponytail, and is readying to walk and talk
Now I'm glad to be back. There's a lot of work here in Epulu! Also, my life here is pretty simple and I don't have the responsibilities of cooking, cleaning, or doing comparison shopping, buying piles of equipment! I just work and enjoy village life.
Thanks for reading! More soon - about Epulu, my home village; which is easily one of the most historic places in DR Congo.
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