oh the places I go!

One of the fabulous things about being a Peace Corps volunteer is the opportunity to travel and visit other volunteers and their sites!  Traveling is a great way to see the different parts of the country…and in Moz these parts can be very different from one another…which makes it all the more important to travel as much as possible. 

However, it should be noted that traveling within Mozambique is a total bitch (please excuse the language but it is), and this is especially true in the north of the country, where I live.  The main mode of transport is Chapa.  A chapa can be several things, however most commonly it is either an oversized van (think 20 people smashed into a space for 15 people) or a pick-up/flat bed truck in which case people ride in the back in the open air. 

Anyways.. a few weeks ago my site mate (the other Peace Corps volunteer) and I traveled down 2 whole provinces to Vilankulo.  Vilankulo is located in northern Inhame Province and is right on the Indian Ocean.  It is absolutely gorgeous.  The water is a beautiful blue and there is beach for miles.  Vil is a total tourist town, attracting vacationing South Africans and others, which gives it a completely different feel than other places in Moz. 

We spent time hanging out with the volunteers that are living there.  The highlight of our time there was horseback riding on the beach.  It was breath-taking and so much fun.  My horse was named Brutes and he was a great horse.  We started out riding along the shore of the Indian Ocean and then went inland up a few hills and got to have amazing views of the coast.  It was great! 

Equally amazing was getting to know the woman who owns the horse riding business.  She is an expelled Zimbabwean that has been living in Mozambique for the last few years.  Talking with her and hearing her story, especially as it relates to being forced to leave Zimbabwe was extremely interesting.  She had a beautiful spirit and I very much enjoyed her company. 

Overheard on a Chapa

First I’m sure you are all wondering what the hell a Chapa is???

A Chapa is the most popular form of public transportation in Mozambique.  Essentially a chapa is a large van that people pile into to travel from one place to another.  You can take chapas very short distances as well as extremely long distances.  The chapas normally can fit 14 people comfortably…however there is often many more people crammed into these vans.  There is NO personal space whatsoever…and you have to pray that there will be a good breeze otherwise you won’t only be crammed in with people but you will be mad hot as well. 

While riding on the chapa there is the potential that you can hear/see some very interesting things.  So I thought it would fun to share with you what exactly can be overheard on a chapa.  As my Portuguese gets better I will be able to share more things that I overhear on the various chapas that I use to get around Mozambique. 

The first story doesn’t need language translation…it was simply a young boy, probably about 8 or 9 years old singing the chorus to Alejandro!  Yes, the Lady Gaga song Ale, Ale, Alejandro! When I first heard it, I thought for a second but then decided that I didn’t really hear him singing it.  But after really listening to him I realized that he was indeed singing Alejandro.  And it was literally heaven.

Hearing this boy sing “Alejandro” made me think about the impact that Globalization has had on Mozambique and the rest of the developing world.  Globalization has done so much to stifle and harm local communities and the environment.  It has pushed on the developing world western and mainly American ideals and businesses over those of the local community and culture.  And while doing that it has often destroyed the environment and exploited people and communities.    

But after hearing that young Mozambiquan boy singing the latest Lady Gaga song, Alejandro, I can’t help but think that maybe globalization isn’t all bad.  I mean isn’t life a little better with GaGa around?  Quite possibly.  Actually…it is…for me at least.  GaGa’s music, lyrics, message, and image are a powerful testament to freedom, originality, equality and positivity.  And can’t every place in the world use a little more of these things?    

So when I wake up in the small Mozambiquan village I have been staying in for the last 2 months, and hear “Bad Romance” blaring from a neighbor’s house, a huge smile comes across my face.  I secretly thank god for some globalization and I feel GaGa, and all that she stands for.  And because of globalization other Mozambiquans can feel GaGa too!

Peace, love and GaGa