Travel Diaries: Kinshasa Trip 2019

At the end of the day, reality will always prevail

-CTG

off to Kinshasa

Thoughts from my connecting flight to Kinshasa (Washington DC to Brussels, Belgium):

Initially with all the drama that occurred prior to my flight, I changed my mind about traveling to Kinshasa. But now on this flight to Belgium after several cups of wine, I'm grateful to be going to Kinshasa. I don't know what's ahead but I'm grateful to my Lord Jesus Christ for this opportunity.

Thoughts from my direct flight to Kinshasa (Brussels, Belgium to Kinshasa, DRC)

You can always go home

In a few hours, I will be in my homeland. The excitement has finally appeared. I'm looking forward to eating some delicious food and observing everything.

Day 1 Sunday Dec 8, 2019

Memorial for Congolese soldier

I woke up exhausted and jet lag. I spent the whole day hanging out at one of my maternal uncle's house. It was nice to see him and his family.

I literally spent all day siting outside in the patio underneath the mango tree talking to another uncle of mine, a lawyer about Congo related things.

There was no WiFi. Nothing good on TV to watch. I didn't even take my phone out to take pictures. I just enjoyed the moment. Walking back into my past.

Day 2 Monday Dec 9 2019

Fun Fact: this area of Kinshasa was named after the first president of the DRC: Joseph Kasa-Vubu.

Kasa-Vubu

Kasa-Vubu

I couldn't sleep at all last night because I was worried about an issue that was about to arise.

I spent all day running errands for one of my baby sister's wedding. I ate some delicious food and was exhausted.

We came home and relaxed.

Day 3 Tuesday Dec 10 2019

nighttime areal view of Kinshasa

the first shopping mall in Kinshasa

roof view from the restaurant at Le Premier Shopping Mall

rooftop view from the restaurant at Le Premier Shopping Mall

having fun at the Pullman Hotel

inside one of the mall

my siblings makes me laugh

proud of Congolese Designers. I want this dress!!

having fun at the mall

Kin Plaza Mall

I spent the majority of my day at home relaxing and enjoying the company of my family. My aunts and siblings came over to visit. We took some photos. Then my aunt made a delicious meal for the household. After dinner, my cousin A took us around to give us a small teaser of what the rich side of Kinshasa looks like. There are currently 3 shopping malls in Kinshasa!!!!!!!!! When I left Kinshasa in the 90s, there were 0. We visited 2 of the 3 malls, they are very similar to the malls we have the U.S. These malls had restaurants, playground, booth, cinema etc within the mall. One of the mall, Kin Plaza Mall had a hotel and several bars attached to it. The Premier Mall had a beautiful rooftop restaurant. Then we visited the Pullman Hotel which was filled with foreigners and well to do Congolese. It was there that I took my pictures playing chess.

horsing around at the Pullman Hotel

Honestly, Kinshasa has taken a huge step towards development. It has the potential for so much more.

Day 4 Wednesday Dec 11, 2019

Meet people where they are NOT where you want them to be

view from my apartment

view from my bedroom patio. you can see the Congo river

my bedroom view

the 3rd shopping mall in Kinshasa

driving down blvd de 30 Juin

I spent all day at home. I had made plans for the afternoon but for reason unknown at the time of writing this post my plans were changed. But it ok, I made the best of it. I read, wrote and prayed about the issues that was bothering me. Sometimes it nice having a moment to breathe.

There's beauty in the DRC. I'm proud of the strength of my countrymen and their hustle.
I spent majority of the day at home alone reading, writing, dreaming and people watching through my window. 

I decided to check out my bedroom balcony and I saw that I could see a little glimpse of the river 

from here.

After dinner, my brother took me to my paternal uncle house to pay my respect. 
We got lost going to uncle's house. We ask for direction and was told that they were bandits roaming around the neighborhood with machetes, so we all made the decision to go home.

On the way home, my brother took me to the Blvd de 30 Juin. The road was clean and well paved. 

The entire boulevard had nice buildings, restaurants, nightclubs and stores.

I saw the 3rd mall in Kinshasa, the CTC shopping mall. We even drove past the building that the former Congolese version of the FBI had used to torture, murder and do inhumane things to politicians and civilians. I don't know what the building is being used for now and I didn't take a picture of it...may the souls of those who lost their lives there rest in peace. I also saw the American School of 

Kinshasa. It's a huge campus. I wish I took pictures of it.

Like every city in the world, the amount of money you have and are willing to spend determines the 

type of lifestyle you will have in that city. This is very true for Kinshasa. I've seen mansions with 

high walls, security cameras and guards but are located in the slums with unpaved roads or dirt roads.

Day 5 Thursday Dec 12th, 2019

working on decoration

Today was a great day. 

My sisters and I spent the entire day at home. We did not leave our apartment at all. We were 

organizing the wedding decoration for our little sister D wedding.

My little sister is having her religious wedding ceremony and reception on Saturday and us, the 

sisterszillas are in charged. 

It's been a while since we hung out with each other like this. We listen to Christian music, talked and 

laughed while we work on the wedding decoration.

Then our cousin A came and he told us about the time he got caught by the machete bandits. They 

stoled every thing from him and left him with his boxers, socks and SIMS card. Then they told him to start running before they attack him....we laughed at this point because he claimed that, that day he 

ran better than Usain Bolt. Survival makes you brave.

Day 6 Friday Dec 13th, 2019 the dress rehearsal

Kasa-Vubu

We woke and got ready to go to the Hall to drop off the decorations. Afterwards, we are supposed to go to the church for rehearsal. 

Due to lack of transportation, we arrived at hall at 2pm, 2hrs after the church appointment of 12pm. 
After getting settled at our hotel/hall, we finally left for church for the dress rehearsal. 

At the dress rehearsal, my sisters and I took over. One of my sisters was the director and in charge of music. The other was  wedding coordinator, directing people and in charge of the bridal party. 
Since some Bridesmaid were missing, one of my sisters and I serve as stand in bridesmaid. 
We are determined to make sure our little sister D wedding goes well. 

After the rehearsal, due to transportation issue, some of us walked from the church to the hall/hotel. We took the back roads, it was a good experience. Although, the roads were dirt, muddy, uneven, 

litter and crowed with people, I was safe. Well to be honest I was with my soon to be bro in law, 

cousins and one of my sisters. I didn't have anything with me except my sunglasses.

When we arrived back to the hotel, we sat down and rest while waiting for dinner. The little girls in 

the wedding party randomly started singing the Congolese anthem, followed by the French version of Hail Mary and the Lord Prayer.

I took some pictures of the view from our hotel room since we were in Kasa-Vubu section of 

Kinshasa. 

Day 7 Saturday Dec 14th 2019 Lil D wedding day 

my baby girl
The day started early around 5am. My sisters and I got up and helped get the wedding party get ready.

 Afterwards, my sisters, cousins and I went to the hall and started decorating. We stop at 12pm and 

got ready for the church ceremony. 
The church ceremony went well. I'm happy with how things worked out.

Then the wedding party went around town taking photos, while we went back to the hall to finish 

decorating and to get ready for the reception. 

ready to party

The reception started at 9pm instead of 7pm as scheduled because we are African. It was a great reception. We danced and celebrated my sister and her hubby. The party ended in 5am. By 6am we started cleaning up the hall and  removing our decorations that we brought. We ended around 10am. 

Day 8 Sunday Dec 15th 2019

the statute of the first president of the DRC

I didn't sleep at all because we stayed up until 10am after cleaning. We got home by 3pm. I went 

directly to my maternal uncle house to say good bye and spend time with them before I left the next 

day. 

I hug them, took a lot of photos and even took a nap. I'm grateful to call them my family.
Afterwards, my brother took us to one of his favorite restaurant in the area. We ate a delicious feast 

then went home to sleep.

Day 9 Monday Dec 16th 2019 going home

I woke up and finished packing. Then left to check in. Here in Kinshasa, you don't drop your luggage off at the airport. You do at the airlines designated official areas around town and then go the airport when it's time for departure.

After dealing with the luggage issue, I went to my brother office and reunited with one of my uncle. Then we drove to Maluku-Mais which is the mountain rural areas near Congo river of Kinshasa. 

Maluku-Mais

We ate there and just had a great day there. It was nice to be around clean air, country side and nature.

my sisters enjoying the view

Across the river was Congo-Brazzaville. Afterwards, they drove me to the airport for my first 

connecting flight home.

Happy

my last sunset in Kinshasa

Thoughts from my flight back to the U.S:

There will be a next time. This is not my last time in my homeland. I will be back to the DRC but next time it will be for 2 weeks. There's a lot to see.

Lessons Learned in Kinshasa:

• always take into account the people, customs and tradition of the land in which you want to work in...especially if you want to do something for them
• it's not what you know but who you know

What I did not like about the DRC:

• corruption. There's corruption every where in the world but not like this. In Kinshasa, it is in plain sight. For example, at the airport I had pay $20 to exit the airport. Not for parking. Just to walk out of the door. I would later find out that I was scammed by the people who works there. Then there was an incident with the traffic cop trying to seize civilians cars in broad daylight until they pay him a bribe. I saw this with my own eyes. I was in one of the cars that a cop tried to do this.
• Roads condition. My country needs to fix at least 50% of its road not just the 3 blvds and the rich side. 

~xoxo