January 2, 2009:  Bill officiated for a performance award and a promotion for two of our Marines.  I'd been looking forward to this. Although other Marines have been promoted since we arrived, the ceremonies always happened when Bill was out of the country. Sam officiated as Chargé d’Affaires.  This is a fun activity for any Ambassador, to pin the new rank on the promoted Marine. In this case, the Marine earned the rank of Staff Sergeant, a big accomplishment especially considering that Richard is quite young for the achievement.  Danny, another Marine, was honored for his outstanding work in preparing for the Marines recent inspection.  It was a wonderful event, low-keyed but joyful nonetheless. A great honor for Ambassador Garvelink as well.  I will post photos to my FLICKR account, just give a little more time www.flickr.com/photos/congoambassador).

 

January 6 was the first meeting of the International Women’s Club in the new calendar year. It was a small meeting, about 30 people.  We just had tea and chatted, no program since so many of our members were still out of town.  The IWC now has more than 70 members and growing with each meeting.  We also have lots of activities: regular yoga, crafts, & Jujitsu classes along with visit to businesses and charities in Kinshasa.  We also still have our monthly Lunch Out at a local restaurant.  While I was gone, the Club funded the construction of toilets and showers for Stand Proud (www.standproud.org), a US not-for-profit that funds surgeries and provides rehabilitation for children and some adults with lower limb paralysis and other disabilities.  The Club is planning various fund-raising events that will benefit many other charities in Congo.  Our next meeting is on February 3; the speaker will be Gisele from the World Bank, she will discuss the issue of Child Soldiers in Congo. 

 

On January 7 Bill hosted 35 or so members of the Embassy staff: State, USAID, Centers for Disease Control, Military, etc. for a working session (& lunch) to begin development of the Mission’s Strategic Plan for FY2011. 

 

On January 12, I returned to French classes.  My time away from everyday French shows; I am again mixing Spanish words with French. But, the good news is that it’s coming back quickly and I think my grammar is actually improving.  I’m never going to be a native speaker but I do communicate – successfully most of the time.

 

On January 15, we had our first meeting to discuss our July 4, 2009 festivities.  I am still chairman; the Ambassador has not ousted me and the Embassy staff has not revolted. So I’m leading the charge again. We decided to hold the official July 4 event on Friday, July 3.  It’s more convenient for our diplomatic and government guests to have the event on a weekday (I speak from experience as a guest at other national days).  That means we can have the American Community celebration on Saturday, July 4.  This year we are going to feature local Congo products such as cassava, plantains, and cosa cosas (fresh water shrimp).  The Embassy sections are already working on preparing the guest lists (not a small task for more than 1,500 invitations).

 

January 15 evening was the first “Hail & Farewell” since we returned. We’re saying good-bye to way too many wonderful officers. But we welcomed a nice contingent of new faces and families.  Such is the Foreign Services live.  This Embassy is blessed with very qualified personnel.

 

January 16 & 17 are Congolese holidays, the Embassy was closed (although Bill and others, of course, did work).  The days are “Heroes Days,” the 16^th is the anniversary of the assassination of Laurent Kabila, father of the current president, and the 17^th is the anniversary of the assassination of Lumumba, one of the fathers of Congo’s independence.  January 19, of course, was Martin Luther King Day.  Therefore, the Embassy had a nice long holiday weekend.  A few officers took advantage and went to Pointe Noire in the Republic of Congo.  There is a very nice resort there that I am determined Bill & I will get to sometime this year.

 

January 19:  Ambassador Stuart Symington & his wife Susan (U.S. Ambassador to Rwanda) arrived.

 

January 20 morning:  The Symingtons & I along with a very nice representation of the official Embassy-Kinshasa community boarded speed boats to cross the Congo River to Brazzaville. Ambassador Al Eastham and his wife Carolyn hosted the opening of the new Embassy building in Brazzaville, Republic of Congo.  It was a lovely and touching affair. It was very emotion to watch the Marines raise the US flag over the Embassy for the first time.  After the ceremony and a tour of the new facilities, the Easthams took the Symingtons and me to lunch at Mama Wata (mother waters) , an open-air restaurant situation on the banks of the Congo River.  Shortly before 1:30 p.m. the Symingtons and I were back on the boat for the 10 minute crossing of the Congo River. 

 

Back in Kinshasa, we visited Stand Proud (www.standproud.org). I wanted to show the Symingtons a project that is supported both by USAID and the International Women’s Club of Kinshasa.  I also wanted to see the new toilets and showers that were built while I was away.  I have wonderful photos of the kids playing soccer very nimbly in their braces.  I will post them to FLICKR in the next few days.

 

January 20 evening:  We hosted a reception for 70 government ministers, national assembly personnel and diplomats to watch the inauguration of President Obama and to witness the peaceful transition of power in a 232 year old democracy.  We had 2 large screen TVs position on our covered veranda.  Although we’d been having trouble receiving AFN (Armed Forces Network) due to heavy rains and storms, reception on Tuesday evening was almost perfect.  The other TV was tuned to DSTV (out of South Africa) the France 24 channel.  So we had both English and French commentary.  It was a big success even though only a small number of the invited government representatives were able to attend. The diplomats, including China’s ambassador, were there, impressed and touched. 

 

Bill did not go to Brazza because President Kabila called a meeting with all the ambassadors of UN Security Council member countries to discuss the situation in the East.  Bill did not share the details of this meeting with me….can you believe it, he may be concerned about my ability to keep a secret!

 

Janaury 21:  The Symingtons had to leave at 5:30 a.m. to catch the MONUC (UN Mission to Congo) flight back to Goma, from where they drove back to Kigali, Rwanda.  I’m ashamed to say, I slept through their departure. But our steward Bruno was up to give them coffee and a light breakfast. Alas, what happened to being able to “party” late and get up early!!!  Bill had set his alarm but it went off in the afternoon at 5:10 p.m. – they a.m./p.m. button is tricky!

 

January 22: today – I have to go now to get ready for the Board meeting of the International Women’s Club. 

 

But quickly, a comment on the Rwandans in the East…I’ve received a number of questions.  I preface this with a reminder that this is my opinion, nothing official of the Embassy and not based on anything in particular that Bill may have mentioned to me.  I do read the papers and watch local television newscasts.  It is my understanding that the Rwandans are here at the invitation of and with the agreement of the Congolese Government. They are working together.  Since the rebel groups purport to be fighting the “genocidiers” of the 1990s genocide, the DRC and Rwanda governments are working together to eliminate that problem With the genocidier problem minimized, the rebels will either have to resort to peace or admit that their purpose is other than protecting Tutsis and other DRC residents, i.e., to destabilize the duly elected, democratic government. I am hopeful (and I think all of Congo is hopeful) that this will lead to greater cooperation and a practical solution to the decade old issues between Rwanda and DRC.  Pray for peace and an end to the senseless fighting, murder, rape and mutilations in Eastern Congo. 

 

Until next time….

 

I'm actually embarrassed to say that I've been back in Kinshasa for 5 weeks and have not updated this blog.  I have lots of excuses but I'll just get into the story. Also, I'll break this post into a few so those who finally get to this part can stop if they don't want to read about my more personal issues.

 

The trip from DC was long: Dulles to Atlanta to Brussels to Yaoundé, Cameroon to Kinshasa.  In Atlanta I met Sam, one of Marine contingent who had returned home due to his father's illness. All worked out well on that front, thank God.  Sam graciously helped me with my bags and moral support for the rest of the trip. In January Sam left Kinshasa for his new assignment - Saudi Arabia. 

 

Brussels has changed terminals for African flights. Now all African flights depart form Terminal T; a convoluted walk and transfer via shuttle bus is required.  The Embassy had arranged for an electric cart and an assistant to help me in Brussels. I first thought it was silly but when I got there, it was much appreciated.  The flight ended up being delayed by about 2 hours. But overall, each of the flights was good, no problems or unpleasantness.

 

I was glad for my delayed return.  By the time I had arrived, schools were on holiday break, many people had already started their holiday travels, so Embassy and diplomatic activities were at a minimum.  I found that I did have to cancel out of a dinner hosted by the European Union the Monday after I returned.  I just did not have the stamina.  But I did attend a Carolling session at the Bristish Ambassador's house and a progressive dinner at the homes of 3 Embassy employees who all live in the same apartment building.  Both were delightful Christmas activities.

 

Since returning, I have been in a slight malaise.  I think it was a combination of post-operation, having spent 2.5 months in the States, and returning to find that nothing had really changed in Kinshasa, except to get worse maybe.  The pot holes are bigger. Because school is out & because of the holidays, there are more in number, older and more aggressive street kids, and traffic is worse (probably because of the pot holes & the street kids).  I found the Residence to be a cocoon.  I rested, wrote emails to family and friends, got caught up on bookkeeping – even started to prepare for taxes.  These are good things but I haven’t felt involved in the Congo.

 

Until now....with that I’ll end this post, except a quick update on my health.

 

No problems with the kidney whatsoever. I had occasional pain, which the surgeon told me was the healing inside.  As for my arm, I can now raise it completely over my head although I have slight pain – really aches – when I do so.  The only time I really notice any problem is when I reach up; reach is still limited.  And, it’s hard to dry the back of my hair – so I’ve kept it cut very short.  I do know how fortunate and blessed I have been throughout this whole experience.