It begins!

The pics are what I see from my bedroom window.

I promise I will keep the next one’s shorter—but the first one always has to be longer!

Well…let’s just say that the start of my trip did not go as smoothly as planned. J I got this false security in me that at least if I had all my bases covered before the trip then at least I had done all I could to prevent anything from going wrong once I arrived.

While packing up all my last minute things in Paris the night before I left I remembered I had to take my malaria medicine before I left…I reached to the front pocket where I had left it to remind myself and much to my surprise…it was gone.

This is something that I would have expected once I arrived—not in Paris. It must have happened in the wee hours of the morning when I had arrived and was changing my money…oh well. A few moments of a freak out, but then wise words from my uncle and parents put me to sleep.

I got the prescription e-mailed to me and once I checked in (didn’t get charged for overweight!!!!—for all those who know how much I worry about that) I went to the pharmacy and the pharmacist didn’t even need to see my prescription--got the medicine without a fuss!

Two of my battles had been won for the day…but I knew that my greatest battle of all was what awaited me in N’jili airport.

As we descended into Kinshasa I got a beautiful glimpse of the Congo River. I have to be honest…I had almost no fear during the flight. All I had to do was look across the aisle and see this Spanish looking man holding on to the seat with dear life any time there was a tiny bit of turbulence. He had the bases covered when it came to fear, I had nothing else to be frightened of.

Coming out into the heat you could say it hit me—but I kept a smile on my face and walked like I knew exactly where I was going. There were a massive amount of guards—which was expected…then the massive amount of handlers that await trying to get you to hire them so you can make it through passport control and baggage claim without a problem. I looked for no one and went straight into the line—“Expatriates.” With the amount of other non-Congolese that were there, I felt ok. I made it through the passport check with only a “Ca va?”—“Oui, merci. Et vous?”—“Ca va…” As I passed the doors to the baggage claim I was ready for anything…especially since I didn’t know who was picking me up…forgot that part. J But I went in and just kept walking like I knew where I was, then a sign with my name and a friendly face! Joelle was so happy to see me!! Three kisses in Kinshasa—not 2, not 1, but 3!

We got the luggage with a bit of pushing, shoving and marking our place—everything in perfect order and on we went to venture into more baggage handlers. Then Christian was waiting for us outside to drive us through the mayhem of Kinshasa—to my beautiful residence. More on that another time. J