A Volta por Cima

After yesterday's bad news, today we received some good news.

We have been awarded not one, but TWO contracts to do consulting work for the IFC (International Finance Corporation) here in Maputo. We will be working on their behalf to develop business plans and investment memoranda for two local small businesses. Our consulting team for these projects consists of myself, Rico, B. and a Zimbabwean guy named Monty who is an agricultural economist. The two contracts will be carried out simultaneously during the next 6 weeks. Since the workload will be so intense, B. and Monty will fly here to Maputo on Sunday so that we can work together more effectively and meet our deadline.

In order to keep our costs low, B. and Monty will be staying with us instead of paying for a hotel. That means Rico and I have to get the flat in proper guest-receiving and working conditions. We will spend the next few days buying 3 mattresses (1 queen and 2 single - FINALLY!), having a trundle bed made so that Monty and B. have adequate places to sleep, buying fabric to make into curtains, and purchasing a laser printer and assorted office supplies. I am optimistic and excited about this experience, but am a bit curious as to how 4 people and 2 kittens will get along in our modest flat...

Seriously, though, this is the break we've been waiting all year to get. Our work with the IFC will open so many doors for us as consultants here in Mozambique, and it should definitely help us put the instability of the past months behind us for good. I am so proud, but also anxious. We have a LOT of work ahead of us in the coming weeks.