Just across the street from our compound

This info just came in via email: Allegedly, an expat family was robbed at gunpoint at the Mundo Verde Shop, Talatona. After doing their purchases at the shop, they were confronted by an unknown amount of armed robbers. Their money were taken off them and then the criminals took off. Whilst this was in progress, an armed soldier who was in the vicinity, took a shot at the criminals, but instead shot an innocent bystander. It is not known what happened afterwards with the injured person. Everything has become a bit threatening because of the upcoming elections in late August. Unfortunately, the school starts in mid August again.... So you see, you should always be very aware of your surroundings around here. You can not just go anywhere you would like to, not even walk across the street to do your grocery shopping.

Just wondering,

how smart is it to exchange Angolan winter for Dutch summer? About to find out!

Antimalarials?

Last day of school yesterday and Maarten and I started the summer break off (or should I say winter break?) by visiting the clinic and got tested for malaria. Luckily, we both tested negative, however, discussing the antimalarial medications with the physician made me even more confused. How do I make the right decision for my child?

School Report Year 2

Teacher Comments: ...he often catches insects and brings them into class to share with the other students. He is appreciative of all life forms and shows great care when handling lizards, centipedes, grasshopers and moths... Student Reflections: ...I learned that when the grass dies the grasshoppers die, when there are no grasshopers the frogs die, when there are no frogs, the snakes will die. When there are no animals we will be sad. Some people are not nice and throw garbage on the ground. I made a butterfly out of materials to show the life cycle...

Scout Wacky Olympics

During our pre assignment visit we met a nice couple who told us about a group of Boys Scouts here in Luanda. And because Maarten did enjoy the Scouting in Belgium (well, until his beloved leader got married) I thought this might be something for him. On Sunday the Girls Scouts and Boys Scouts together organized the Wacky Olympics. They started with carrying the torch around the park before participating in numerous fun games, most involving water. All the kids had a blast and after a medal ceremony there was also a vegetarian buffet but more important, they had grilled hot dogs! Maarten was sold! PS: I noticed that at all this kind of events we come across the same people again and again. It's just like in the Truman show.

Children's Day

After weeks of preparations today there was a party at the orphanage organized by a group of volunteers to celebrate the Day of the Child. It was a great event full of dancing and singing. However, there was something that I disapproved. Some expat ladies forced the small kids to take a picture with them. They just approached them and tried to make them smile only for the photo leaving a confused child behind without a hug or a friendly word.