If you like reading
11 May 2007 | Litterature, links | 1 Comment
…and like me you spend your time trying to discover new authors, you might like the authors blog ring. I’ve only found this recently. link.
I should really update this blog more often lol
3 May 2007 | Afrique, Culture, Laughter heals, Odd, RDC | 3 Comments
There’s way too many things going on in the private sphere.
Perhaps it’ll share soon. In the meantime a bit of fun with the sapeurs:
I cannot look at those with a straight face. lol
You find the craziest things on youtube!
oooh Kinshasa…
23 March 2007 | Afrique, Politique, RDC | 6 Comments
WTF??!
This whole this is just crazy. I have no words to describe how upset I am, because we saw this happening. I’m very surprised the government didn’t take preventive measures (they’ve had time and support to make things happen). We all knew disarming the militias could go out of control.
We’ve had fighting within the city before. We’ve seen the lootings, etc. But nothing’s been this worse. I think the scariest part is that Bemba doesn’t look like he really controls his troop. If you ask me, it was pretty obvious since August.
I heard that parts of the National Army are actually looting government buildings (wtf), some of them have joined Bemba’s camp. But on the other end Bemba’s men are moving away from the centre towards Limete and calling for support (parts of the militia are just outside the city). Seriously all the info is confusing. I hear half the BIAC building was destroyed too, in addition to some oil depot. it’s a mess. really a mess.
Apologies for the lack of posts. Way too busy, and no internet access. I came here because I feel powerless I guess. Some of my family is still stuck in offices, and others been evacuated. So you call, send text messages… there’s nothing more you can do really.
The other day I was in a meeting, speaking to various people (europeans). They were quite disappointed when I spoke with hope about the future of Congo and the rest of Africa. That was shocking to me… the refusal to accept that the picture isn’t all bleak. and now this…
anyway I’m rambling. trying to get as much info as I can.
The problem with visas
13 December 2006 | Diaspora, Travel, diary | 3 Comments
Music for this Post: Petit Pompier by Magic System. This has got to be one of the most hilarious songs I’ve heard this year. Enjoy!
I need a visa to go almost anywhere in the world. Applying for a visa is the most annoying thing to do.
The only reason I haven’t returned to “continental” Europe is because I don’t feel like spending so much energy on going back & forth to embassies, to justify everything about my life. Despite the numerous family events and various invitations, I’ve always refused. I mean I don’t even want to hear about it. Same for the US.. I don’t want to deal with all that drama. At least our fellow Africans are more or less okay. Except during ebola outbreaks - and in those cases it doesn’t matter if you haven’t been to Congo/living in another continent. Every Congolese is potentially ill with ebola. (true story, btw)
In this family we’ve got visa stories for days. Stories full of what I can only call nonsense or lack of administrative common sense (if there’s such a thing).
Anyway
With the kind of passport that I have, you already know that you need to provide a lot more than the “required documents” list. You need to make that extra effort. But they in turn don’t make efforts. Obviously they can see that that they’ve already delivered 6 visas to you in the past. You’ve got visas for other countries too. You’re not a criminal. Your lifestyle shows that you have no interested in settling down in their countries. You’re not ill. You aren’t trying to get access to public funds. You’ve got enough resources to support yourself. You speak and write their language perfectly (sometimes better than their own immigration officers).
I mean WHAT MORE DO THEY WANT?
Speaking of Immigration officers… last time at Heathrow I had to explain the geography of the West Midlands to one of them. That was not part of small talk either. The lady had an attitude to start with. I understand immigration officers have *certain* powers and may choose to be arrogant towards people. But if you’re going to to do that, at least try to be a smart arse too! I don’t think she was trying to test me, she just really seemed clueless. It had to be one of those “I just got my British citizenship, so I’m better than you” people.
*rolls eyes*
Anyway it’s the same thing every time. You have to start over with applications. It doesn’t matter if you’ve applied a hundred times before. It matters even less if they’ve actually delivered the visa each time. You just have to start all over again. Yes, you get used to it. But eventually it’s tiring.
You go through all that trouble to justify your life. You pay a high administration fee too! But at the end you always get the visa. The most annoying thing? You meet your fellow country men and they proceed to describe how they’ve received their visas in no time. AND unlike you ,their paperwork isn’t totally legit. That really gets to me.
The good guys loose again.
Visas are ruining my life right now.
Sometimes I wish I was from a normal country
15 November 2006 | RDC, diary | 7 Comments
election results were out a few mins ago
now folks are patiently waiting for the crazy shit to start
isn’t it sad when you actually patiently wait for things to explode?
*sigh*
today I really really really hate my country
some things can’t be undone now
I’d still go back to live there
but things will never be the same again
call it nostalgia or whatever
there were certain things I was looking forward to experience again
….won’t happen.
I actually think nothing major will happen (security-wise) in the next few days.
They’re not stupid. They’ll wait for the observers and the eufor and everybody else to leave first.
The problem with these elections is that nobody was prepared to lose. Not the candidates, and certainly not their fanatics.
I am soo sooo tired of this election, you have no idea.
I hope this will be over soon because the passion and irrationality this has generated is scary.
Actually I don’t care who wins anymore….but I think we all knew who would win.
I just want this country to become normal.
Last weekend I saw Lumumba (the film, directed by Raoul Peck) for the first time. It was so depressing to watch, because every speech he made still resonates today.
This country is traumatised.
I hope this election’s losers will actually be brave enough to see that something greater than their egos is at stake here.
