Ó CANADA, Terre de nous aïeus – The Sky High’s and Short days – 2004/5/6/7

For some days I have tried to write about my stay in Canada and not sure if I was lazy or if I just didn’t have words to express my good feelings about this wonderful Country.

Today finally decided to write this episode at once and share with you the paramount and good things I was able to live there.

The lovely green forests, the First Nations man or woman, the very cold weather, the people, the cost of living, the Rocky Mountains and more are definitely calling me to go back to this North American Country.

First thing that was incredible when I arrived in Canada in 2004 was the way people accepted to share their life with some African Volunteers. We were in teams of different African volunteers arriving in Canada to volunteer for Canada World Youth – Jeunesse Canada Monde.


First week or month for sure it was kind of strange and somehow a bit of a disaster. I remember arriving on the first day at my Host Family House at dinner time. The food was on the table but I wasn’t feeling like eating. Canadians use to have big meals at night when in Mozambique we prefer to have big lunch and a very small meal at night. My host family was just a Woman and her husband. The funny thing from the first meal with them was that they were surprise to see me sitting at the table, using the fork and Knife same way as they use. They had a very different view of Africa that made them think that Africa is just what they see on news. So they kinda feel more embarrassed with me by not knowing what behaviors to expect from me than myself with them.

Communication was something that I really had to work on and very hard as at that time I couldn’t speak any English. Sign language and my best friend dictionary on the first month were what we‘ve mostly used at home and work places.

Quite surprising after two months representing my Country in a Canadian Community, I was able to be a guest speaker in social events; I could enjoy living in such cold environment and most important, I was happy to be a volunteer in Canada. The way people welcome you in Canada it’s so amazing and really refreshes your heart.

My counterpart for the first 6 months program was Kristen, a Canadian girl who I still remember exactly how she has helped me. I had another counterpart that joined the two of us; this time was a lovely South African girl, Siphokazi. The three of us stayed the second part of the program in Cape Town, Bredasdoorp for three months. At that time I had to learn how to share almost all my life with the two girls, like room, table, feelings, trips, etc. Living with different nationalities, cultures, habits, behaviors was the biggest objective of the program.  Bellow are my host sisters.

Me and my host sisters from Canada and France

Today I thank God for that experience and to be able to be part of such experience. This experience made me go back to Canada again and again but this time as a Project Supervisor, representing my Country. As a Project Supervisor I had a chance to supervise this fantastic program. The two new counterparts were Michelle Hannah and Laura Roberts. Both of them were Canadians and they took their time to show me a lot about their culture. Laura Roberts who I’m still in touch since 2007 has got this strong good personality and we are still taking some time of our lives to share our new experiences.

On the picture, my counterpart Laura and me.

Indeed, I have found life in Canada significantly cheaper than in Mozambique and some other countries that I had visited. The food is cheap, petrol and cars are cheap, except the Car Insurance as far as I know. Of course everything changes when we talk about the big cities like Toronto, Vancouver and Calgary.

I loved to see the Aboriginal people of Canada called First Nations. The way they dress reminds me Africa. I’ve seen that they have a very strong influence on the national culture in Canada and even with all the big developments they are still preserving their own original identities.

To finalize, this is what I think about Canada: my second home that I am not sure when I’m going back.

The City of Churches, of History and good Wine – Rome, Italy - 2007

Just Imagine, you're born and your parents practically deliver a religion for you to follow and believe more than anything in your life. Just Imagine, spend all your childhood listening to your parents talking about God, going to Church, the head of the Catholic Church - Pope, and finally find out that the Pope lives in Rome, Europe - in a different Continent. First years I thought: Europe is so far from where I live and don't know if one day I'll be able to see the Pope or even know where he lives.  Rome is part of so many people's dream, not only to learn about Christianism stamped in every corner of Rome but also because Rome is one of the most important cities of history in Europe.

When I arrived at the airport Leonardo da Vinci the first thing I thought was: I should definitely try the famous Italian Pizza, but I was completely tired and had to catch the train to Frascati, where I was supposed to stay for two days. Frascati is a town near Rome but small and with not so much history. It was cold at that time and I finally had the opportunity to eat a pizza. The pizza was tasty but I certainly admit that it was not that wonderfull as expected cause the flavor of that pizza was not new for me. The difference was the size, the cheese and price - very cheap. I was surprised the next day when at breakfast time, there was a bottle of wine at each table in the Hotel restaurant. I found it strange to see a bottle of wine so early in the morning, but didn't question it. The breakfast was huge, delicious, especially the bread.  

Two days later I was at Vatican in Rome, for the first time. There where lots of people at Vatican and from what I heard, its always extremely full, even full of local people. It is a beautiful building, full of statues and also full of souvenir vendors. On the first day I was more focused on taking pictures rather than live the place. The beauty makes you look  at each detail of each corner.  

Each corner with a church, music with piano and voices after 5pm ..., and the sound ... the same sound that we hear in any Christian Church. The sound of those voices was the only thing that made me see a similarity with my country at all.  I remember the Mosaic floors, marble walls, buildings with the colors of the season, without that strong and different colors used in my country, lol. In my country each house is painted differently, nobody cares if the  left neighbor has got yellow and if the right neighbor has got Red in his apartment, I am going to have blue and thats all, lol. This is what I call freedom of expressing tastes without asking for permission. I wondered when I walked by Rome, why the apartments were all painted with same color? To be honest, its beautiful the way they are, it seemed to be dead colors but full of history and European style. I would say that the architects in Europe are also a big designers and artists cause they certainly make architecture and art at the same time.

To see the true art and culture of Rome you just need to see the ruins and historic buildings spread around the city, there are plenty of them. Some are more prominent for sure as the Coliseum/Coliseu, the Vatican which is the Pope's residence, Castel Sant' Angelo, Fontana di Trevi, the Arch of Constantine, etc.

Funny, the Coliseum had this men dressed just like the ancient times, all stuck at the main gate. Wow, they really looked brilliant and I did not hesitate taking as many pictures I could. Amazing to see them dressing like that, making us remind of the films/movies we use to watch about Rome.

 I certainly recommend Rome for those who still never been to Italy. You will love it, I promise!

Moving to Tete – Mozambique - The City of “Imbondeiros” and Coal Mines - 2009

We all have a time of the year that we always hold: the beautiful “Summer time”. We wait for a time where we can open the windows to feel the freshly air on our faces. Mozambique is a Tropical country and most of the year we can feel the “Summer time” invading our homes and bodies. I confess that I’d rather have the cold weather in most of the year. Beginning of 2009 I decided to accept a Job offer in Tete. 

Tete is situated in Mozambique, on the Zambezi River and has got this one kilometer suspension bridge, separating the City of Tete and the City of Moatize.

So I arrived in Tete with something in my mind: This is the best place for me to stay for the next 5 years, I guess – this was my feeling as everyone has got one to follow when moving to a new place. The welcome to Tete was a terrible hot weather on my face and hair. It was almost 50 degrees and I just couldn’t believe it. The Hotel had fortunately a nice Swimming Pool and air conditioning that had to be on for the all day. I started to believe that “Summer Time” is not only delicious or refreshing at night; Summer time is different everywhere and “Unique” in Tete. However, there is not bad weather but different kinds of good weather. I couldn’t open the window to feel the freshly air on my face because there was only hot air, but for sure I could swim in a very cold water from the Hotel Swimming pool and feel something extremely fantastic. 

 It’s November 11, 2010 and I am still here, complaining every single day but somehow enjoying being part of one of the biggest project of a Coal Mine. The project is being lead by the Brazilians who have a pretty similar culture to Mozambican Culture. Their food have got a lot to teach like the way they cook the beans, the “Farofa” – Farofa it’s a cassava flour mixed with butter, and more.

I keep learning a lot about their culture, even knowing that Brasil was influenced by many Countries and has taken these different cultures. Working in one of the biggest Coal mine has changed a lot my professional skills and is making me feel I am ready for big and different interculture goals.

At the end of every long day in Tete, I just wish God’s  darkness close my tired eyes, let me sleep and wake up the next morning to proceed with playing my role until I decide to leave Tete.

Called “Imbondeiro tree”  - the postal card tree of Tete. This historical and amazing tree can be found anywhere in Tete and they can last for more than 1000 years without water. Varios parts of the big  Imbondeiro as seeds, fruit, roots, the bark, the sap or more can be used in different ways. Don’t miss the opportunity to taste the juice from the beautifull Imondeiro.

It’s called Cape Town – South Africa – 2010

Walking along the streets of this marvelous city it’s just amazing. The culture is still there and somehow a lot more developed than other cities in Africa. The night people on the long street are busy going here and getting there, and I couldn’t believe how come a Long street can become so different in no time. In the morning it’s a normal street with cars, stores with people and normal bars. At night the lights become something magic just like everyone on their fancy clothes and nobody seems to worry about time or choosing what the best place to hang out is. That’s the “Long Street” where you find lots of different people, people who are there just to have fun and get to know about “Cape’s night”. I wish I could stay longer and get to know every place but I was there for some days just for the Music Jazz Festival.

 I’ve been there before, guess in 2006, as a Volunteer helping to organize the Cape Town Festival where I had the chance to see Mr. Mandela, but this time Cape Town was different and I was there as a foreigner who was just looking for Jazz and hang out with other foreign friends from Mozambique. I stayed in an awesome Hotel called 15 on Orange, 5 stars with all you want to see in a Hotel. I have visited the Wine area where you must watch yourself otherwise you can get drunk while just testing every wine you see in front of you.

I had been in this place where there was a woman with a white traditional paint on the front door, using for the clients, a paint that the South African Woman’s use on their traditional ceremonies. I was privileged to have that paint on my face and looked really pretty.

The Jazz Festival was just amazing and I could finally see one of the Best African Jazz Singers Jonathan Butler. The smile on my face shows exactly how wonderful I felt to be there and being part of such big event with people from all over the world.

So, you cannot miss the chance to visit this wonderful place surrounded by the heavy South African Culture. Try also to visit the areas where you find the traditional people and the beautiful story of South Africa.

Warm hugs, Marciana.

In Kiswahili they call "Lake Nyassa" and we call Lake Malawi – 2010

This short time at Lake Niassa in Malawi made me so proud of Africa. The nature so natural , the lake is huge and beautiful and the houses are very similar to some European houses. I had planned to watch the Music Festival called "Lake of stars Music Festival". One of my best bands "Noisettes" was scheduled to perform and as soon as I was told that they were going to Malawi I said to myself "I cant miss the oportunity to enjoy this incredible live performance. I am staying in Tete, very close to Malawi and about 350km.The festival was organized by volunteers  to raise money  for the Country. The Malawian government believes that the promotion of tourism can generate money and development for Malawi.

Kwacha is the money they use in Malawi. This was something that made me say "WOW"!!! The money is not only big but also with lots of zeros. I have changed 100,00 dollars and got 15,000 Malawian dollars.  You could have seen my face when I got the money; I thought I could buy everything. Just imagine the changing face when I bougth a Red bull and I had to pay 500,00 Malawian dollars - myself and my friends have laughed so much.

I stayied at Sun and Sand Hotel, in front of the lake. The Hotel has got this huge rooms and big areas for Swimming, for kids and a huge Restaurants. I could see the lake in front of my room and enjoy his beauty. For some moments I felt like I am in England because of the food, the houses, some of the people's accent. The Malawians were colonized by British people and you can still see some of them behaving like British people. 

The Festival has started and I was there dancing for all night. I was surprised to see how the event was so organized and somehow I felt priviledged to be part of the Malawian grouth. 

Good times, good food, beatiful lake and nice people are everything I remember when I think about Malawi. I thank God for that experience!!!

Warm Hugs, Marciana.