Moving in with a new host family is always an experience and a half. This being my 4th time (2nd in Mozambique) I’d like to think I’m becoming something of an expert. But I’m not sure it is ever possible. At least this time I could speak the language! Turns out they STILL try to overfeed you even when you CAN tell them you really don’t need, or want, any more.
Two weeks ago I moved in with a family here in Tete where I am working with the agricultural extensionists at the Christian Council of Mozambique to introduce conservation agriculture techniques in the district. I am staying with one of the admin assistants from the Christian Council of Mozambique. No one thought to tell me I’d be living with my colleague until the car pulled up to pick me up and she was inside! Dalia is the same age as me and lives with her parents, a couple brothers (also around our age), and one or two young nieces that come and go. That night, we ate rice and beans and watched brazilian soap operas on TV. After two weeks living with another Canadian MCC family in Tete, life was finally back to normal. A good normal.
Saturday I played soccer with Dalia and a group of her female friends/colleagues. With a couple of exceptions, most of them were as obviously bad at playing as I was, so we had a fantastic time! Her brothers had great fun tending the one goal and ref-ing the game. We grabbed a quick lunch at home and sang happy birthday to my host dad. We then ran off to church for choir practice (I tagged along since I obviously couldn’t stay home alone). Dalia wrote out the words for the songs so I could sing along. Saturday evening we hung out at home under the mango tree and I learned a new card game. By the end of the evening I only half understood the game (which involved a whole lot of table talk I couldn’t follow!) Sunday I went to the front of the Uneão Batista church and sang with the rest of the choir. What an introduction to the small, welcoming church! Sunday afternoon, we grilled one of the ducks they keep in the backyard and played cards until the sun set.
Moving in with a new host family always makes you take notice of things that in a familiar environment you stop noticing. Your go-to person for killing spiders is suddenly not there, so you have to find a new one. You notice things you used to take for granted, like knowing how to plug in a kettle, which you now need help with (trust me, it is scary). Finding balance between the time you spend alone and with others. What you do to actively help out around the house. Letting others show they care for you in their own way, even if that now means giving a call when you are out past 9. How to find time for quality quiet time. The beauty of a good night’s sleep, which you suddenly need now more than ever.
Little by little, I am getting settled. I finally started winning occasionally at the card game. I then taught them a new one; we’ve been playing Dutch Blitz every evening and my brother might now be almost as good as I am! Almost. True, I’m still afraid to plug in the kettle, and sometimes have trouble starting my motorcycle in the morning. But the good news is you don't need to do it alone... that’s what brothers are for.
My first Sunday at church in Tete- I learned this song during practice on Saturday. Someone told me the meaning and it was something like come follow Jesus.
As for my work, I've been going out to the field quite regularly and meeting with the agricultural extensionists working there. My first week I was so exhausted at the end of every day that I think I went to bed before 9 at least 3 times. This past week I've been busy helping to train 3 new extension workers, and now I am getting ready to leave in a few days for an agricultural conference in Zambia. I am going with one of my mozambican colleagues, and my main responsibility will be to translate for him. It seems like a daunting task seeing as I only started learning Portuguese 5 months ago, but I am sure it will be a great experience for the both of us!
