Guess what?
Not one but TWO new girlfriends will be moving to Maputo at the end of October! And Lord knows I miss hanging out with girls. There's something about women getting together that is like a sweet balm for the soul, even if you are doing nothing more than talking about a new yoga routine or how you want to redecorate the living room.
One of the girls I met a few months ago when she was visiting Maputo. She's fabulous! The other girl I've only met virtually, but she too seems to be exactly the kind of person I'd choose as a friend. And there is even the possibility of a third new friend moving her with her husband, although that one seems to be up in the air still.
Keeping a blog has paid off, as that's how all these girls found me.
Understatement of the year: I can't wait for them to arrive!
13 comments:
Those are wonderful news :)
Just popping in off my blogging break!
I've been doing lots of hanging with the sisters this Ramadan, so I know exactly what you mean. I'm glad you're feeling better, stay true to yourself, it's served you well so far.
Just wondering, your friends seem mostly to be other ex-pats. Do you find it difficult to find friends among the local population? All the best to you ... I know that is not always easy, but it will probably be a surefire way to enrich your time in another country.
Even in a country you love, without friends, it's going to be a nightmare! Good they're coming! :)
Yay! I wish some of my bloggy friends lived where I live. That will be good for you.
The high scool group at our church is going to come to your neck of the woods in the sping. We are raising money for them. It should be a neat experience.
oxox to you :)
~Argos - I did find that lyric in your blog. I like the idea of the light getting in due to imperfections. Thanks for sharing this.
~La Vie - Yeah. It will be great to have girlfriends that I relate to.
~Kanuthya - Yay!! I think so, too.
~Safiya - I know you've been out for Ramadan and I hope it's going well for you. Can't wait to have you back and blogging.
~Anonymous - Can I ask you something? Why didn't you leave your name? Are you afraid I'd be offended by your question, because I'm not...
Anyhow, when I talk about having 2 friends here one of them is Tracy my American friend, and the other is a Mozambican girl my age. The reason I rarely blog about the Mozambican girl is that she is from a very, very high up political family and I have mixed feelings about blogging about who she is and what we do together.
I am slowly making other local friends. One of them is a woman I've met through the crafts fairs I participate in. She seems to be very nice. I've invited her to tea this afternoon and hopefully it will be the start of a nice friendship.
I have found it difficult to make local friends, but I've also found it difficult to make expat friends for that matter. :)
The problem with the expats is that they are never here for too long, or I find they are of the "embassy mentality" where they aren't really willing to make a break with their lifestyles back home and "go local". They are typically the ones that drive the huge new 4x4s, eat at Western restaurants all the time, hang out exclusively with other expats. And then they leave after 2 years max to go onto another project or posting.
With the Mozambicans, I've found it hard as well to make friends, but for different reasons. A main one revolves around who I am and the perceived notions about what I have to offer as a "rich American/Brazilian". It's been very difficult to find people that are keen to hang out with me because they want to be genuine friends.
Rather, people are many times interested in the possibility that I can get them a job, that I represent some sort of status symbol, that I can give them a leg up in whatever it is they are trying to accomlish in life. And that's okay, understandable even given the dynamics of Mozambique and the role expats usually play.
It takes time to make it to the other side of this and see if there is the makings of a true friendship. Sometimes it works out, sometimes you just have a nice superficial relationship with someone and that's that.
Please understand I speak in general here. I'm sure there are exceptions to what I speak of, it's just been my overwhelming experience.
~Ladybird - Yes, friends are essential to being happy anywhere you go.
~Amber - Sounds like a great opportunity for those kids. Where will they be going?
You got a great blog. Great histories.
What a blessing! Talk about serendipity, an answer to prayer, putting your desires out there and getting answers! I am so excited for you!
Ali, sounds like it's gonna be quite a girls' club over there :)
I would so like to visit you sometime, just for the fun of it. Who knows, maybe I will really get to schedule it before you actually have enough of it and move on to a different country :P
Hooray! That will make your life much more pleasant, particularly in Rico´s absence.
~Alex - Valeu! Gostei do teu blog tb, a arte que vc faz é muito legal. Vou visitar mais vezes.
~Kristine - I know!! Isn't it wonderful? I'm so glad I decided to keep a blog - and that I wasn't afraid to talk about how isolated and lonely I feel sometimes - because that's how these lovely girls found me. I am so lucky...
~Alina - You are always welcome here, it would be such a cool opportunity to actually get to meet you. If you are ever feeling like a big adventure, let me know and we will plan it!
~Paris Parfait - Yay for girlfriends. It's just what I need, whether Rico is away or not.
Post a Comment