Between two worlds...

The pictures are of the day in which I officially translated for the english nurse--at work.

This weekend I found myself in-between two worlds. I was able to experience another little world here in Kinshasa—the world of going out—I was able to go to a club with some friends and it was one of my most surreal moments I have experienced.

We went to a brand new club that had just opened with a group of people that were obviously well known in this world—no cover, direct entrance to a table, etc—and going into the club it felt like I could have been in Europe or in a good club in the U.S. I had lots of fun dancing and meeting other people—mostly foreigners, but also some local Congolese who were obviously very well off. To think that that morning I had been teaching English to nursing students that come from areas in the Congo were fighting still continues…

The next morning I woke up to go to a church that the University choir had been invited to sing at. Some of the friends that I have in the choir invited me to go and I hopped in a taxi and went to the church (I have now taken the local transport by myself about 3 times, its been so nice re-gaining some of my independence and everyone has been super nice and helpful when I have taken it J--although I will only do it when necessary). I ended up getting there a bit earlier and found some of the choir members that had also arrived. We sat there waiting for the others coming from the university—but it turns out that they had left really late—so with only about 15 people there they told me that I should also sing with them. I said ok, knowing that I would be walking into a mass with about 300 people and a choir of only 15, with a mundele singing in it. What an experience! Later on the rest of the choir arrived (about 40 others) and I was able to hide in-between the crowd. I had to act like I know the French songs, moving my mouth, since we where being taped by various people—the Choir has a lot of fame here in Kinshasa!

There are little details here and there that I have left out, but as you can see I was able to go in-between two drastic realities within the time period of 12 hours and I think I have yet to digest it. I wanted to see what the ex-pat world was like here in Kinshasa during the night because so many of the foreign friends I have made rave about it, but I think that one experience like this one might suffice. This country is one of drastic worlds, of opposites, hummers and land rovers driving around side-by-side small vans packed with about 20 to 25 people hoping that the breaks will work properly or that those hanging on to the side wont fall off. I’m lucky that I have come to know the reality of this country and get to know the local population—so many of the foreigners here live in their little worlds without getting to know the reality. I know that this is a coping mechanism that many need because the reality might be to difficult, but at the same time the reality is one of the most beautiful things—happiness and life that surpass all the suffering that exists.