Goma cheese

Thankfully, cheese is easier to find and cheaper here.. AND we found out that there is a cheese maker in Goma, and you can find his cheese--which is much like gouda--here in Kinshasa.  See here for a great article about him and his work, http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-25979401.

I have since found one with hot chili pepper too.. yum!!

Shana tova!

In past years, we have had big dinners for Rosh Hashannah.  However, our kitchen is currently equipped with a pie pan, two small frying pans, one biggish pot, and two small saucepans.  I guess I could get creative, but.. no.  So, we got in the spirit a little more simply:

 

Apples and honey!

 

Matzoh ball soup

 

Apple cake

 

And, a bunch of dancing to two favorite songs, each played on a loop for about 20 minutes each.. until Zeric and I couldn't stand it anymore:

 

The Fountainheads, Dip your apple - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FlcxEDy-lr0

Rosh Hashannah Rock Anthem - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T_M5-qthA8w

Cork Trees

 

We arrived in Kinshasa on August 27th.  We have now been in temporary housing for quite a loooong time.  The apartment is small, but nice (if you ignore the termites and their dust).. and its in a compound called Cork Tree.  Why?  Zeric found out that it's because there are lots and lots of cork trees here.  They are tall and beautiful!

photo credits to Eben

The Congo River

The Congo River is huge and amazing.. and this is the dry season.  See those waves in the middle?  They are about 6 feet tall already, and too rough for rafting. 

 

Closer to the shore..

Primus, or not

"The most popular, and possibly the least tasty beer in DRC," Zeric says.

Better to ask for a Tembo.

Lycee Francais Rene Descartes

First day of school in Kinshasa!  Now 4th and 3rd grades (CM1, CE2).

Big, French-speaking kids!!

Bilembo

Bilembo is a fantastic art space not far from where we are staying (although nothing is really far from anything in Gombe).  We went to explore one of our first weekends here, and now Jaffa and her friend Angie take art classes there every Wednesday afternoon.  The space is an old textile factory, it's very cool!  The upstairs is an exhibition space where they also show movies.  Very cool!

 

s/he plugs in!

the holes in the floor are where the textile machines used to be

Ebs and his buddy Amin, near a nest made of razor wire.. it prompted lots of good discussion about what is art!