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.