Sweet Home

It's good to be home. I've said that several times, in distinct geographic locations, over the course of the last 2 months. But it's really good to be home in Maputo, in the home that Rico and I are creating for ourselves, with our boys and our work and our friends.

I had a pleasant, uneventful trip over here from Brasil. I spent $70 and went to the transit hotel for my 7 hour layover in Joburg and slept and had a shower. The result of my splurge was that I arrived in Moz rested and ready for a semi-night out with friends at our favorite Lebanese restaurant.

Today Rico and I tidied up our house and welcomed our latest houseguest, S., a girl I met several years ago in Rio who is a friend-of-a-friend-of-a-friend. She is very cool and is here for 1.5 months working on a public health project.

Speaking of work, we did manage to finish the banana project and are set to have a conference call about the business plan this week. I have also been asked to work on a grant proposal for a local NGO that supports artisans and the marketing Mozambican crafts in the international market. I worked with them before on a series of workshops to develop a strategic plan for the organization. Apparently they were pleased with the results, as they have approached me to work with them again.

So, in short, life seems to be back to normal. The boys are still naughty and seem to have doubled in size while I was away. Rico is well, busy with wrapping up an agricultural project. Maputo is still the same, save for cooler weather (thank God) and an unfortunate bout of carjackings (good thing we don't own a vehicle).

Hope you all are doing well.