Rough Day

Good Morning from Kinshasa, 

Well, 1) Another day passed during which we did not get our exit letter. Sigh. 

2) Shekina had a rough day. It seems that the days when we don't go out with our guide are hard for her. Too much free time on her hands? Not enough distraction? While coming back from the bathroom at the Eros restaurant and holding my hands, she purposefully collapsed on the tile floor and refused to get up. When I finally did get her up and back to the booth, she cried and cried (not too loudly, thank GOODNESS) that she had hurt her knee. The waitresses were concerned. It was embarrassing. It lasted about ten minutes, and then she resumed eating. Last night, she pulled the same kind of fit because I gave her juice with her dinner instead of one of Papa Skip's diet cokes. After about 15 minutes of crying, she came back to the table. 

3) The pool was closed for cleaning, resulting in another disappointment, because we didn't find out until we put on our suits and walked over there. 

Thank goodness for Primus and wine. Mama and Koko Vickie were quite thankful at the end of the day for those two friends. 

Truth be told, we have it quite well. We could be taking bucket showers and be living without air-conditioning. 

Regarding the exit letter: Our lawyer had previously told us we would get it last night. Nobody heard a word from him yesterday. They say that not communicating is the Congolese way of saying they have nothing to say. Hmph is all I'll say about that for right now. 

So, what it all boils down to is this: our travel plans are completely up in the air. We have paid for an extra three nights here at Sunny Days. We don't know when we'll be coming home, what time we'll be arriving, or if we'll be stopping in Istanbul to break up the flights on the way back. (I strongly, strongly hope so. Twenty-four straight hours on planes with a sometimes screaming toddler and fit-throwing five-year-old sound like hell.) All we know is we are waiting. 

Now, if I know what's good for me, I'll go take my shower before these little adorable little monsters wake up and wreak havoc. Despite the behaviors and testing of boundaries, we are in LOVE with them. Hope everyone has a fantastic day. More later. 

Anna 

Goddy was good in the restaurant. He loved watching the cars out the window. 

Shekina? Not so much! 

Waving his new Congolese flag, which, it turns out, both kids would prefer to use as a weapon.