Actually, first of all, something less serious than all this summing up. I did promise a picture of my new favourite national team's lastest strip, so here it is!
So, on a slightly more serious note, what have I learnt about Mozambique?
- Most are content with the little they have. If their neighbours don't have more than them, they seem satisfied.
- Some people eat cats!... Not dogs, only cats.
- Plastic is very much not biodegradable! I did already know this but most Mozambicans really should take note.
- Civil war has held Mozambique back and that’s a huge reason why it’s behind its neighbours i.e. Zimbabwe and South Africa. Whilst they were busy developing, Mozambique was in the grips of a 15-year war.
- This bit deserves a blog in itself but I won't: A white person is called a "mulungu". Apparently this is more of a label than an insult (Mulandi is the unused label for locals). I can't say I'm a fan of the name, but a polite "not mulungu, my name is Tom" will suffice. Having said that, I still found chants of "MULUNGU, MULUNGU" during village football matches slightly offensive. This did make me wonder - given the controversies around racism in English football - how an equivalent situation would go down back home.
- It seems that culturally, there are hardly any thoughts towards the future...
- Therefore, ultimately it's up to Mozambique or even Africa to change itself. I already knew that volunteers don't make much difference, but there really needs to be a desire for change among the local people themselves.
I wish I could offer Mozambique more than one person can, and even though I've only been there for such a short time, it's reinforced the fact that I can't. What I've done is a tiny, tiny drop of water in an expansive country of dry sand and dirt. I hope that what I've done can be built on and irrespective of that, in time Mozambique will be able to help itself.
And what have I learnt about myself?
- My cooking isn't that bad but I could do with increasing my repertoire.
- Kids are all right in small doses.
- I can talk to anyone. Given my job as a tutor, that's kind of a given, but when you're not on home territory it's a different matter.
- Cold showers aren't that bad. I find that head first and body second decreases the shock
- I don't want to be a schoolteacher.
- I enjoy choice and I enjoy having access to things easily: Africa may not be the best location to enable this!
- I like food. I also missed food quite a lot!
- I still like and appreciate music of all kinds. I was worried that I'd lost my enthusiasm for it. I'm still not sure if it's what I want to do as a job.
- I really could handle the Mozambican rural lifestyle and could probably even kill a few things if I had to. At the same time, I'm very glad that I have the choice to come home.
- Reading books seems to free up my mind for all sorts of things.
- I will say 'yes' to a lot more things. There's also no such thing as 'should'.
- I can stand my own company - I didn't think I was very good at that.
- Being away has made me realise how important friends are.
- I like to travel but I don't want to be nomadic. I think I need a proper base and to travel when I can - to branch out like the spokes on a wheel.
- I still haven't decided exactly what I want from life but I've cleared a few things up.
- I still want a dog!
And finally, in no particular order, I thought I'd leave you with my favourite people, pictures and memories:
And so that's it, that's all. To you, dear reader; thank you for reading and sharing my experiences. I do hope you found some use of it all, entertaining maybe, educational possibly or most likely, mildly interesting.
Until my next blogging exploits, over and out,
Tom x
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