I am not your Mommi

Finally, the jet lag has subsided and I’m feeling like a normally functioning Wino.  Because of that normalcy, I’ve been out and about to explore my small area of safety all on my own.  Other than almost being hit by cars twice due to not being used to looking the opposite direction, things have been pretty interesting and uneventful.  I’ll either quickly learn to adjust to the change in which side of the street people drive, or I will most likely learn the hard way which is the less preferred method.

Other than sleeping for a copious amount of time this weekend, some frustrating Skype connection issues with my other half and the fact that it gets dark here at 5:30, things have been pretty normal and very similar to home.   There are some great outdoor cafes and restaurants, live music – including some of the best street musicians I have experienced in some time – and nice pricing here.  It’s much cheaper here than at home thanks to favorable exchange rates.  I have been making sure to enjoy this time, little stress and comforts of home because it appears that all of this may abruptly change once I step my little piggies into Mozambique.  Which, by all accounts, is much more chaotic and challenging than here.  I’ll keep you posted on that one. For sure the hotel where I’m booked there had some less than favorable reviews – the kind that make you dread your pending stay.  I hope to find an apartment as soon as possible!

So my hotel room faces the main street, which has resulted in some interesting nights.  No matter where you are, there will be drunks screaming and laughing at all hours of the night and for some reason, abrupt sing-alongs that break out at odd times.  I can’t say that I mind it because it’s new, but I could see how it would wear out its welcome if you were here for a much longer time.  The street people and beggars haven’t been an issue either because I don’t speak the language so I’m oddly spared the explanation of the need for my change – but they do call you “Mommi” here all the time – Ms. Scowby will have to fill me in on the meaning of that one.  To my knowledge, I haven’t birthed no babies, but I doubt seriously that’s what it means J Probably something more like %!#@& you white bitch.  Ignorance is bliss!

Today I went to the African outdoor market.  More really gifted musicians, but not too interesting of items except for the Batik cloth, but I decided to wait to purchase any of that.  Not much haggling either and anyone who knows the Hillbilly knows that I just love the art of crafting “the deal” but there wasn’t much budging so it wasn’t much fun.  Did acquire a shirt and skirt, but can’t say I was blowin’ em over with any huge savings – thankfully they were pretty affordable from the start.  Much of my wardrobe has been purchased on the street in other countries, so I plan on continuing that trend.  I will really be screwed if and when I ever obtain a normal office job as very little of it would fly in that environment.  I’ll make sure to be concerned about that later, but until then, I will continue to exist as the wild-mid-life-child that I am.  Oh yea, the good kind of wild J 

Musicians rocking their marimbas

I will close with a few observations – the continuous horn honking and whistling has at moments almost made me homicidal.  This is due to the mini buses that drive along honking while hoping to attract passengers by letting EVERYONE know they are coming.  The whistling is the result of informal parking attendants who stand in the street and guide people into empty spaces in hope of some spare change.  In general the people here are “big” – in all senses of the word – girth, height, big behinds – not necessarily fat, just big.  A co-worker told me that to be thin or too thin is not a sign of success and also makes people wonder what is wrong with you due to the AIDs epidemic.  That would not be a current concern with my appearance thanks to having sold all of my kitchen appliances five weeks before I left and having to eat out.  Trust me, the Wino has been eating lots of salads and healthy alternatives to recover from that dangerous moment in history!  Especially salads as I’m not sure how often I will be able to enjoy them while in Mozambique where I was cautioned against eating anything I couldn’t clean myself or that didn’t exist behind the safety of a peel.  Being that I will most likely be walking a mile or so each way to work, I would prefer to avoid any emergency gastro-intestinal issues during my stroll to and from.  So, I’ll heed those warnings. 

I hope everyone had an enjoyable 4^th – I heard it was a rainy one back at home.  I’m off to accomplish a bit of work at the local café.  So until next time!

Drink of the afternoon – a sassy, chilled chardonnay