Transcontinental Terrorism
Imagine my surprise when we sit down in this palm tree frawn covered, round pitched roof restaurant and someone turns on BBC. In the first place, a television in Beira is rare, much one with cable and foreign cable, even stranger. And then, to see the place where I stood just 24 hours previously, burning. I couldn’t belive it.
When Tony Blair came on the television, the entire restaurant came to a halt. I was surrounded by foreigners — many of whom are European and here on work. We sat quietly and listened as Blair tried to choke back tears and express his frustration. The total attention of those in the restaurant, the waves crashing on the neighboring beach, the mosquitos buzzing in the distance and the familiar sorrow of this news broadcast will long remain in my memory. The Mozambicans sitting with us kept asking, “Why do they keep bombing you?”
By “you” I assume they mean “whites.” Good question.
I’m staying with a house of young Americans. They are here working on a housing project and at the orphanages for a summer volunteer stint. It is kind of like “the Real World” without the cameras, or luxury. A bunch of random 20-something Americans living in a huge house together. So far, so good. They are very nice and were happy to see a new face. They’ve created a meal schedule and each person is assigned one dinner. I’ve got Sunday, I think. This reminds me that I need to get some money changed and get to the one grocery in town.
This trip is already so much better than my last. The sleeping pills were a very good idea, the weather is lovely (the high today will be 70) and there are plenty of Americans around when I get lonely. All is well.
Amanda, I’m glad you are safe.
Cheers,
AfricanKelli
*Do not judge my spelling. I’m paying by the minute.
