Spring Break Blues

Every year we have to renew our Angolan visa.
This is quite a time consuming process. First the employer needs to collect several documents to create a visa application package that needs to be approved by the Angolan Ministry of Petroleum. Then together with our passports it goes to the Immigration Services who issue the visa.
We started this process in the beginning of January which is almost 12 weeks ago!
Tomorrow is the first day of spring break and we will be stuck in Luanda.  Without our passports we are not able to travel not even within Angola.
Most kids will be gone. There are not many safe places to go with a child.  Also our private company beach is open only during the weekend.
Last time while walking through the farmlands below our compound we got surrounded by a group of quite aggressive young men asking for money. I don't dare to take Maarten there anymore.
There are many (expat) restaurants and public beaches but the security keep us warning about the increase in violent crime over the last couple months (see below) so I'm not really comfortable to go out with Maarten.

I guess, that's part of this hardship assignment.  We'll have some interesting weeks ahead!

"...there have been several reports of armed robberies involving expatriates and diplomats at all hours of the day and night, in vehicles and while walking. Most disturbing is the level of violence used by assailants in perpetrating these robberies. There have been at least three confirmed cases where victims were shot even after surrendering their valuables. The details of these incidents have been anecdotal and I look forward to hearing more from our members at our next meeting.

The Kinaxixi area, Altas Cruzes Cemetery, ESCOM building and close proximity to the U.S. Embassy continue to be problematic areas. A relatively new dynamic has emerged where assailants target individuals as they exit local banks, or ATM machines and confront victims on the street. In addition, there have been multiple reports of incidents on the Ilha as victims enter and exit vehicles, and at banks.

The U.S. Department of State has rated Luanda City Critical for both residential and non-residential crime. Although there appeared to be a relative decrease over the last six months following national elections, it is clear that crime is on the rise within the city and turning more violent.

A recent home invasion in the Miramar neighborhood demonstrates how criminals have become more brazen, and are not deterred by Local Guards. While the occupants of the residence slept – a burglar entered the residence, stole a number of valuables from a occupied bedroom and exited without alerting the Local Guard outside."

Most recent reports:

On Friday, at approximately 09:00 hrs., an expat was shot by two young men on motorcycle as he departed ShopRite in the Bellas Shopping Center. (supermarket nearby our compound where I usually do the groceries)The expat sustained injuries to both legs and his condition is unknown at this time.

On Monday, at approximately 18:00 hrs., another expat was a victim of an armed robbery as he walked from his office to housing compound – a brief distance. He was uninjured in that incident.