My first month report (oli),Mozambique
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Oli provides a summary of their first month as a development intern in Bilibiza, Mozambique. They describe the long multi-day journey from Maputo to Bilibiza, which included many bus rides and dealing with corrupt police officers. Upon arriving in Bilibiza, Oli discusses living without running water or electricity and their work building latrines for a pre-school and planting crops. They conclude by offering advice for others interested in coming to Mozambique as a development intern.
![First Month Report from Bilibiza, Mozambique<br />Oli – May Team 2010<br /> Hello people from Hornsjo!!<br /> I know that it passed more than one month since we arrived to Mozambique, but is still First Month Report , which I would like to share with you.<br /> <br /> Travel:<br /> I will start with Maputo – Bilibiza (aprox. 3200 km) because Dimi explained the full process until there.<br /> In Maputo (actually in Machava which is near) we stayed 5 days because there were not tickets available, everything was booked. For us it was not so difficult because we were all together and we found things to do or to go. But we were also inpatients to see our project places. <br /> First days we were hitchhiking until Maputo (15 km) to explore the city, after we stayed in Machava, socializing with other DI’s and hanging around <br /> First bus was Maputo – Beira, traveling all the day, 5 people left (Dimi have project there). We arrived there during the night, we took a taxi until the recommended hotel and we were staying until 3:00AM to take the next bus.<br /> Beira – Nampula, another all day traveling which ends funny. We arrived there, we went to a hotel and after we let our luggage there we stayed in front of the hotel to see the lifestyle. Two police mans came and ask to buy them beers. We declined and they start to ask for passports, we bring the authorized copy from the room and they said that are false and we are illegal in Mozambique . They told us to follow them because they will put us under arrest. We follow them and they stopped in front of a 24h fast food when they told us to buy them 2 menus of chicken and they will let us go. Said and did, we bought the menus and we went back.<br /> Nampula – Pemba, 8 hours traveling but we were just 2 (me and Andrei) because the other 3 (Santa, Jakub and Dzintars) took another road, Nampula – Nacala. We bought 2 tickets per person because it was a totally mess with the luggage. All the time we had to look if someone take our bags or not from the bus trunk. So it was way easier to try to sleep with the luggage near you because we were totally tired.<br /> We arrived in Pemba(closest city to Bilibiza) and we asked when and how we can reach Bilibiza. The answer was: ‘’tomorrow”. After we went to see the known beaches from Pemba and in the evening back to ADPP house which is actually it was an office. The next day, we asked again when is going someone to Pemba, and the answer was of course: “tomorrow” . We stayed there 5 days. The 4th day we had luck that my project leader was there and could borrow us some money until the payment because we run completely out of. During these days we met another 3 DI’s from IICD (USA), 2 from United States and 1 from Brazil, which they are staying in the same house with us.<br /> And finally Pemba – Bilibiza (250 km), packed in the back of the car 7 people, but our enthusiasm to see the place where we will live for 6 months was to powerful to realize the uncomforted situation, so we arrived there at 19:00, it was already dark and in that day was no electricity. <br />Pemba - Bilibiza<br />Beira – Nampula<br /> Impressions:<br /> One thing you have it for sure in Africa, and that is time. Everything is happening very slowly. For every small or big thing you have to wait, for change or for check you have to wait, one hour is 3 hours, and so on.<br /> The way we are treated here is wonderful. Everyone want to help with doesn’t matter what, but in the end they wait to give them something. Sometime they ask sometimes not. <br /> Traffic is a nightmare. All the drivers are going very fast and there are people everywhere, every second can happen something. Huge trucks are going very fast, a lot of kids are playing near the road, etc. is kind of scary. More risky is if a full ‘’chapa’’ (small truck which transport people) make an accident, because is not insured at all, people hanged everywhere, anytime someone can fall and so on. <br /> Chapa Children playing near the road<br /> Living conditions jump from an extreme to another. Usually this difference is between city and village.<br /> Maputo Bilibiza<br /> My place:<br /> Bilibiza is situated in the middle of Cabo Delgado National Park, totally bush, where there are more monkeys than people, 30 minutes far from the beach, near to the Tanzanian border. <br /> We are staying 5 DI’s in a house, 2 from CICD (England), 1 from IICD (USA) and me and Andrei. There were another 3 DI’s from IICD which we met in Pemba but they already quit after 1 month.<br /> Electricity, few hours per day because we have a generator, no running water, no internet, no network, etc. Al least we can enjoy the true African life, and I am not complaining about living conditions.<br /> About food which we eat with EPF teachers I can make a top 3 <br />,[object Object]](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/myfirstmonthreportoli-110121103529-phpapp02/85/My-first-month-report-oli-Mozambique-1-320.jpg)
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- 3. Xima and beans Of course there are also some exceptions which I was very surprised that we had really good food, but also we can cook for ourselves.<br /> Our house cleaner is doing his job more than properly. We have all the time water, house is all the time clean, is washing clothes and everything which you tell him is doing without questions.<br /> DI house – Bilibiza If you are confused of “bush’’ meaning<br /> <br />My project (Farmers Club):<br /> Here in Bilibiza, Farmers Club works with giatrofa. These plants make some seeds which they are putting in some machine to press them and make oil. From that oil they make biogas and soap. <br /> My first task here was to make 2 latrines for the pre-school which we already finished in 4 days. We had to dig 2 holes 2 meter deep, after arrange the bricks inside and the top some woman show us how to make it from cement. The only thing which we have to make is to buy some bamboo and put around the latrines.<br /> We plant moringa tree, passion fruit tree and pineapple.<br /> Our next task is to build some entertainment toys for pre-school from wood.<br /> Our place is quite developed and I cannot do so much thing from 40 Green World Actions.<br /> I can say that I am working in all the projects which Bilibiza have (EPF, Farmers Club, Vocational school)<br /> <br />Advices (for people who want to come to Mozambique):<br /> First of all read the DI book of practicalities which is very useful and give you all the details.<br />Bring clothes according to the weather of the season you will be in Mozambique.<br />Bring personal medicine.<br />Bring sun cream from because here is quite expensive<br />Slippers or sandals<br />Pocket knife<br />Flash light<br />MP3/Ipod (very important)<br />Sleeping bag<br />And I think everyone knows better what they need more<br />Greetings from Mozambique and see you all in Hornsjo!<br />Oli (May Team 2010)<br /> <br />