• International Visitors (Congolese to America) Alumni reception
• Freezer empyting dinner at the General Counsel's & Facilities Manager's house  (they are a "tandem couple" both work for State); they depart this evening (Wed - June 4) for their next Post. After time in DC, they start their new assignments in Bucharest.
• Kinshasa Rotary Club "Gala":  the event was nice but the food & service were awful.  The rumors about the food at this event location are all true!  But, good side of the event, I did meet the wife of the Indonesian Ambassador and the wife of the new Turkish Ambassador (who arrived less than 1 month ago). 

Sunday was Walt Shepherd's last sermon, at least for a while, at the International Protestant Church of Kinshasa (IPCK).  Sunday afternoon was a jewelry show.  One of the Embassy spouses (unfortunately also departing this Post this month) is a gemologist.  She had an exposition & sale of the jewelry she has made. I, of course, bought a lovely crystal pendant and a beautiful Ruby necklace. 

Monday was regular 2 hour French class, with Jane (who also attended Calvin College and is from Grand Haven); Jane is an "English Language Fellow" & teaches at the Protestant University Medical School.  Monday evening, I attended the Italian Embassy's National Day celebration -- a lovely event with lots of good food & Italian wine.

Tuesday:  The first Tuesday of each month is the regularly scheduled meeting of the International Womens Club of Kinshasa.  This is an amazing group of ex-pats (many are diplomats' spouses) and other international women who are "permanent" residents of the Congo, and some Congolese nationals as well.  This month we met at our Residence; and we probably will continue to do so going forward.  We used to meet at a hotel but the cost was eating up too much of the $$ we otherwise would give to charities. So, we've moved the meetings to our beautiful veranda overlooking the Congo River. We had outstanding attendance.  The members all brought a sweet to share; we provided the beverages.  The speaker was Terry Tapsoba, country director of Population Services International (PSI).  She spoke about Prostitution, Women's Health Issues and PSI's work in the Congo.  She showed us a female condom, something many of us had never seen before.  She also demonstrated PUR the water purification sachet that's available in the market for 50 Franc Congolese or less than 10 cents and yet makes 10 liters even of  River water safe for drinking. Amazing!

Immediately after the IWC meeting, I went to the DCM's house for a small & private farewell lunch for the General Counsel & Facilities Manger. 

Wednesday: The IWC planning committee met at our house.  For better or for worse, I've agreed to have my name put on the slate for co-president of the club.  Elections will be in the November, but with so many of the diplomats & other ex-patriots leaving for long vacations throughout the next 2 months, we start planning early.  Nominated with me will be the Norwegian Honorary Counsel, who has lived here for decades.  She held the club together through the very difficult last 2 years.  There were a number of servere political events throughout 2006 & 2007 - generally related to the democratic elections, which was completed in October 2006.  There were 3 days of fighting here in Kinshasa in March 2007.  The political & security uncertainties drove many ex-pats, especially spouses, out of the country.  Membership dropped from more than 80 to less than 40. 

Now the the DRC democracy matures, new international businesses are coming to Congo, existing businesses are expanding, and Embassies are adding staff.  When the new Club year starts in September, we will be ready to revive and rebuild.

I am proud to be a part of this excellent group.  Last year, in spite of its reduced membership, the Club still was able to raise more than $35,000 for local charities.  Prior to 2006, the Club distributed to Congolese charities as much as $140,000 in one year. 

Similar to Women in Housing & Finance, Inc. (WHF) in DC, this Club is welcoming male members.  We currently have 2 members who are the male spouses of female ambassadors.  So we will do some minor tweaking to the Club's by-laws and have those amendments ready for a vote in September. 

Immediately after the IWC Planning Committee Meeting, I went to meet with the Jatukik Providence Foundation in Commune de KALAMU (area of Kinshasa).  I happily presented to the Foundation the US$800 and 4,850 FC (the equivalent of about US$8.00) that the Embassy Marine contingent raised at the Pig Roast they hosted.  I also gave the Foundation another US$100 that was contributed by various Embassy employees.  This money is in addition to the money that was collected in the U.S. through the U.S. Jatukik Foundation, to which so many of you contributed.  Please visit www.CongoOrphans.PledgePage.com to read more about our work with the Grace de Dieu orphanage. 

After my meeting with Jatukik, I chatted with the Embassy General Services Officer (GSO).  Unfortunately, cement now is in short supply here and prices have risen.  Jatukik is getting a new estimate tomorrow for the work we want to do at the Orphanage.  I am confident that we will have enough to refurbish the toilets and showers as originally proposed. But we also hope to raise the walls and put in ventation  blocks since the bunk beds of the children almost brush  roof.  The orphanage also needs a new roof (tin).  So, if you haven't contributed but would like to, we still need more resources.  There is so much to do here -- the need is so great. 

Today, I also interviewed a candidate to be our new steward.  One of our household staff  - Justine - is going to Washington as nanny for the children of one of the Embassy employees whose next assignment is in DC.  Justine is a trained professional nanny who has been working for us as a "steward" (stewardess just doesn't sound right!) since December 2007.  We are very happy that she now has the opportunity to move back into her profession and to travel to the U.S. too. She will leave us after the July 4th event.

Continuing my "week in review":

Thursday, i.e., tomorrow:  I have the second meeting of the Embassy's Democracy & Human Rights Committee. We will complete the first round of identifying projects eligible for this year's Ambassador's grant program.  There are some amazing proposals focused on teaching women & street kids (most oftn but also some focused on the general population) about their role in a democracy and about their rights.  There are other project proposals the focus on improving and monitoring prison conditions.  And, others are designed to work specifically with women subject to the war atrocities/gender-based violence and with the rehibilitation of child soldiers. These are small grants (no more than $25,000 but mostly in the $5k-$10k range) often to remote regions of the country or to the poorest areas of the cities. 

After that meeting, I have a lunch with Embassy employees who are helping me manage the food preparation for the 4th of July event.  After lunch we'll meet with our 2 chefs and 2 stewards to begin the huge tasks of preparing most of the food.  A few of the items will be prepared by caterers. 

Bill should arrive home around 6 p.m.; however, I will be at the American School's graduation ceremony, where Sam Brock - Charge in Bill's absence - is the keynote speaker. 

Friday we host our regular monthly lunch for another section of the Embassy; this week it's the "second half" of USAID (we couldn't accomdate all USAID employees at one lunch).  One of the participants is a young "dutchman" from Western Michigan; he's an intern for USAID environmental programs.  Let me tell you, there's no escaping the Western Michigan dutchmen - we're all over!

Well that's my week --- with commentary.  Until the next posting, I wish you all well.