måndag 31 maj 2010
New friend in Pemba
Today Magda arrived in Pemba! She had a rough trip coming here with a suitcase catching fire on the bus, then she almost got thrown in the river when refusing to pay extra for the boat crossing the border, awful guest houses on the way and a 24-hour ride from Dar to Mtwara. But - yes, she is still alive, just a bit tired… We’ve had a nice evening catching up at Russell’s and soon we will head home to C’s house where we will stay a couple of nights when she is in Maputo. Tomorrow we’ll start the “grand tour of Pemba”.
onsdag 26 maj 2010
Yeah!
The last couple of nights I’ve kept forgetting to send a text message to Jo asking for her running plans this week. Freud?!?
Must be because I am kind of half in a training mood, half in a vacation mood and half in a “want to start work soon” mood. I guess it’s a bit hard from time to time to pull yourself together and do the less easy things when you don’t HAVE to. I definitely find it easy to get a bit lazy, but eventually my body always wants me to change into a healthier lifestyle – kind of amazing actually. If I don’t eat enough vegetables for a while my body starts to crave them (same goes for chocolate unfortunately…) and if I don’t exercise enough; same thing. I am very happy about that – it makes it so much easier to live the way I prefer!
So => today I ran the full 10 k’s!! I was kind of close the 2 first runs last week as well, but only went 8 + 7 on those. Which I am very happy with, but today it feels goooood :) And I did it with my training top inside out AND backwards. But, you know, it was 5.00 am when I got dressed… Don’t know if anybody noticed - hope not.
After breakfast I walked into town (another 8 km! Yeesss) to immigrations to start the work on my monthly extension of the visa. And, of course, they sent me right back home. But actually because I came one week too early this time, so that’s not too bad. Hope it works out smoothly next week instead.
Today I also had my first private lesson in Portuguese! It feels great to finally get started. I have been trying to learn on my own, but it is kind of hard. I’m still at the same level as 3 weeks ago; I can order food and ask the guarda to do my laundry and stuff like that but that’s a bit too far from where I want to be. But I’m sure Marcia will get me there in no time :)
Must be because I am kind of half in a training mood, half in a vacation mood and half in a “want to start work soon” mood. I guess it’s a bit hard from time to time to pull yourself together and do the less easy things when you don’t HAVE to. I definitely find it easy to get a bit lazy, but eventually my body always wants me to change into a healthier lifestyle – kind of amazing actually. If I don’t eat enough vegetables for a while my body starts to crave them (same goes for chocolate unfortunately…) and if I don’t exercise enough; same thing. I am very happy about that – it makes it so much easier to live the way I prefer!
So => today I ran the full 10 k’s!! I was kind of close the 2 first runs last week as well, but only went 8 + 7 on those. Which I am very happy with, but today it feels goooood :) And I did it with my training top inside out AND backwards. But, you know, it was 5.00 am when I got dressed… Don’t know if anybody noticed - hope not.
After breakfast I walked into town (another 8 km! Yeesss) to immigrations to start the work on my monthly extension of the visa. And, of course, they sent me right back home. But actually because I came one week too early this time, so that’s not too bad. Hope it works out smoothly next week instead.
Today I also had my first private lesson in Portuguese! It feels great to finally get started. I have been trying to learn on my own, but it is kind of hard. I’m still at the same level as 3 weeks ago; I can order food and ask the guarda to do my laundry and stuff like that but that’s a bit too far from where I want to be. But I’m sure Marcia will get me there in no time :)
tisdag 25 maj 2010
Dad
Saturday was my dad’s birthday and I wish I could have been in Krokek, celebrating him with my family! I miss both them and all my friends back home very much. Good for me I have some new friends here; otherwise I’ll probably be heading home soon. But C, Frank & Jutta (among others) are really great!
And next week is Magda coming from Zanzibar to visit. She wants to check Pemba out and see if she will move here instead. She is a teacher from Poland and will hopefully success in finding a job here. Then we just have to find her a place to stay and she’ll be all set :)
I've been diving twice this last week and it’s been awesome! Have seen tons of fish and at least 3 Stingrays (bigger than the ones in Zanzibar). They look so cool just fluddering around in the water!
And - finally I’ve found a place where I can give massage. It’s a gym, no longer in use, just 5 minutes walk from my house. Perfect! Saturday we moved the massage table from Frank’s house and now I can start any day. I just hope Frank hasn’t been talking to too many people about what he called “the torture session”… But he wants to get another one - so I guess he’s ok ;)
Today I discovered I have taken over 2 500 pics already on this trip. So here are some from my new neighborhood:
My casa in Pemba
Low tide fishermen, my everyday view from the balcony
Next door neighbors
I just had to put in another sunset...
Frank working on my massage table - thank you so so much Frank!!
And next week is Magda coming from Zanzibar to visit. She wants to check Pemba out and see if she will move here instead. She is a teacher from Poland and will hopefully success in finding a job here. Then we just have to find her a place to stay and she’ll be all set :)
I've been diving twice this last week and it’s been awesome! Have seen tons of fish and at least 3 Stingrays (bigger than the ones in Zanzibar). They look so cool just fluddering around in the water!
And - finally I’ve found a place where I can give massage. It’s a gym, no longer in use, just 5 minutes walk from my house. Perfect! Saturday we moved the massage table from Frank’s house and now I can start any day. I just hope Frank hasn’t been talking to too many people about what he called “the torture session”… But he wants to get another one - so I guess he’s ok ;)
Today I discovered I have taken over 2 500 pics already on this trip. So here are some from my new neighborhood:
My casa in Pemba
Low tide fishermen, my everyday view from the balcony
Next door neighbors
I just had to put in another sunset...
Frank working on my massage table - thank you so so much Frank!!
måndag 17 maj 2010
Frustration
I bought some DVDs last week and have now been watching some of them. There are about 10-20 something movies on each DVD and not all of them are what I hoped...
First of all; half of them are French spoken with French subtitles (it says English on the cover of course). And that would have been great if I wanted to study French, but for now I’m quite satisfied with Portuguese… Then there is one both English spoken and with English subtitles – it’s just that either the subtitles belonged to another movie, or the person writing them was extremely creative. That’s ok since I do understand English, but sometimes the noise from the road outside my window is so loud I can’t hear what they are saying.
Then I watched Denzel Washington in “The Debater”, I must say his French is terrific. This time it was with English subtitles though, so I could actually understand the whole movie. And, finally, I also saw “John Q”. Heartbreaking story and I really hope it all ended well! The after texts broke off the movie 10-15 minutes early…
Well, well – can’t do much about it. At least I can’t complain about life being too predictable here in Africa!
My cold is now over and I have started my way back to full exercise again. Long walks every morning since Friday. And tomorrow I have a jogging date with Jo at 05.15 and 10 k’s to look forward to. I really don’t know if I’m up for the full 10 yet, but I’ll definitely give it a shot! My aim is to run every other day and walk every other day. Obviously it’s needed for more reasons than feeling good and taking care of my health => last week I met my diving buddy Gerry one day and he murmured something I didn’t hear. When I asked him to repeat he goes “you’re FAT!” No beating around the bush there :) :)
First of all; half of them are French spoken with French subtitles (it says English on the cover of course). And that would have been great if I wanted to study French, but for now I’m quite satisfied with Portuguese… Then there is one both English spoken and with English subtitles – it’s just that either the subtitles belonged to another movie, or the person writing them was extremely creative. That’s ok since I do understand English, but sometimes the noise from the road outside my window is so loud I can’t hear what they are saying.
Then I watched Denzel Washington in “The Debater”, I must say his French is terrific. This time it was with English subtitles though, so I could actually understand the whole movie. And, finally, I also saw “John Q”. Heartbreaking story and I really hope it all ended well! The after texts broke off the movie 10-15 minutes early…
Well, well – can’t do much about it. At least I can’t complain about life being too predictable here in Africa!
My cold is now over and I have started my way back to full exercise again. Long walks every morning since Friday. And tomorrow I have a jogging date with Jo at 05.15 and 10 k’s to look forward to. I really don’t know if I’m up for the full 10 yet, but I’ll definitely give it a shot! My aim is to run every other day and walk every other day. Obviously it’s needed for more reasons than feeling good and taking care of my health => last week I met my diving buddy Gerry one day and he murmured something I didn’t hear. When I asked him to repeat he goes “you’re FAT!” No beating around the bush there :) :)
fredag 14 maj 2010
torsdag 13 maj 2010
Adapter…
The last couple of days nothing much have happened… I have a cold and have been kind of taking it easy trying to get rid of it. Although, on Monday C helped me do a big shopping; e.g. 40 liter water, wash detergent, milk etc. A lot of heavy stuff that’s hard to shop for if you don’t have a car.
Tuesday I stayed inside all day with my cold. Was watching 4 movies on my computer and went to bed at 8.00 pm. Mom & dad called from New York! They are having a great time of course, but the weather is a bit cold, obviously not what they were hoping for! I wish I was there (and not only for the fresh and cool air... ;))
Yesterday I discovered a wonderful and fast Internet connection. You can imagine my frustration when my battery died and the power outlets were Southafrican... Especially since I have an adapter with me!!! But today it's ok again - I'm back WITH adapter, expecting to get a bunch of things done. Including uploading lots of pics from Zanzibar :)
And I feel a lot better so everything is great today!
Tuesday I stayed inside all day with my cold. Was watching 4 movies on my computer and went to bed at 8.00 pm. Mom & dad called from New York! They are having a great time of course, but the weather is a bit cold, obviously not what they were hoping for! I wish I was there (and not only for the fresh and cool air... ;))
Yesterday I discovered a wonderful and fast Internet connection. You can imagine my frustration when my battery died and the power outlets were Southafrican... Especially since I have an adapter with me!!! But today it's ok again - I'm back WITH adapter, expecting to get a bunch of things done. Including uploading lots of pics from Zanzibar :)
And I feel a lot better so everything is great today!
onsdag 12 maj 2010
Finally
Lots of pics :)
Dar-es-Salaam
Stone Town, Zanzibar
Kidawa - the "very nice receptionist"
Kendwa
New friends :)
Back in Stone Town
Dar-es-Salaam
Stone Town, Zanzibar
Kidawa - the "very nice receptionist"
Kendwa
New friends :)
Back in Stone Town
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