Hi,

So this is my first blog post ever. Just giving you that caveat. For the next couple of weeks I am going to write a bit about my travels to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). I imagine it’s going to be an eye-opening and adventuresome time. I can tell because I haven’t even left North America and already I’ve had an odyssey of losing my oral vaccines, a bout of fake typhoid, and two Congolese visa applications being shepherded between Washington DC and rural Nova Scotia (only one of them was successful. and now Fedex is bullying us into paying $600 to deliver it the next day. Um, isn’t it their job to deliver things quickly and (relatively) affordably?!). And I haven’t even picked up my $8000 in cash, which I will have to hide on my person for several weeks–ANY SUGGESTIONS?!

But, pre-trip shenanigans aside, I am getting extremely excited about this, my first time to the DRC. If any of my readers know me, you’ll remember my ongoing obsession with this country. I am in love with the place and we haven’t even yet met properly. Can you imagine living in a country that has not seen peace in over twenty years (and prior to that, a state of “peace” is very much debatable)? The strength and resilience you must have and which must have been passed down to you from previous generations? One of my favourite authors on the Congo, Trefon Théodore, puts it this way: ” the people of Kinshasa … are reinventing order. The concept refers to the dynamic new forms of social organization that are constantly taking shape to compensate for the overwhelming failures of the post-colonial nation-state. It is a rapidly shifting process that enables people simply to carry on with life and get things done” (Trefon, Reinventing Order in the Congo, 2004). People just se débrouille–an expression coined in Kinshasa, which refers to making do, just getting by. I can’t wait to see this dynamism in action. Kinshasa is going to be an absolute trip.

And the mountains! I am going to be in the Albertine Rift, Africa’s largest area of uninterrupted forest….which, I might add, might not be around for much longer. I may even see some monkeys from my car window, though, unfortunately, I won’t make it to the lowland gorillas on this trip. This will be an unforgettable experience. I’ll take lots of pictures. Also from the window of my car (!)

So this is my medium to stay in touch with you all, dear readers. I’m not sure how reliable my internet will be, but when I can, I will write you some of my reflections on what I witness. I know I am travelling to one of the most troubled places in the world. I’m keeping my heart open to all the sadness and trauma that I will likely encounter in the people I meet. But I know I’ll be safe and protected. I think the things I will see will be unbelievable and beautiful and inspiring. It’s the trip of a lifetime.

Until next time,

r