First days in Maputo

Training in Maputo

We've spent the first two days in Maputo in a really nice hotel that we are not allowed to leave -- and for good reason. This morning we were given lots of training sessions, including Safety and Security training, which should really be re-named to "U.S. Embassy Officials Scare the Crap out of You". Other fun events have included lots of shots -- one of which I had not-fun reaction to, and even more medical clearance. The malaria medicine we got today to start taking has been known to induce extremely vivid nightmares and suicidal thoughts that may or may not go away after you stop taking it. Fun. But if you somehow get malaria anyway, you take the non-FDA approved meds that have their own slew of side effects.

On the upside, we have internet here, and running water and electricity, not to mention delicious buffets of food at every meal and a pool on the lawn that overlooks all of Maputo. If only we had the free time to enjoy it.

The gorgeous view of Maputo from the Hotel Cardoso.

Next Stage: Training

Tomorrow morning, bright and early, we leave for Namaacha, a smaller place about an hour and a half from Maputo. This is the town where we will be spending then next 10 weeks for training, staying with a host family and learning about cross-cultural stuff, technical skills, and lots and lots and lots of language skills.  We are all pretty anxious about meeting our host families, adjusting to the *real* Mozambican way of life (not the bubble we've been living in in the hotel). I probably won't have internet there, and we haven't set up our phones yet (we're working on it) so this may be my last communication for some time -- there is only one place in Namaacha that has internet available, and if you flash your laptop there you're kind of asking to have it stolen from you.

I have a feeling that, as the saying goes, "Shit is about to go down."