Crazy Nights

O.K. so things here in Kinshasa have settled down a little. Monday night we had some action around town. The elections results were released on Sunday night and some shooting occurred but then on Monday night while I had a stomach virus I was awoken by gun shoots. I went out onto our porch in the darkness and listened to the sounds of the installation next to us as they got amped up to go into town and shoot up the joint. The women ran up and down the streets screaming and yelling and then every now and then they would get into a chant. It was cool after the intimidation was over.
We heard a tank fire up and try to make it down the street but it kept breaking down and then they finally got it fixed right and away it went and within ten minutes the night fell silent around us. My wife and I were left with questions to ponder about life and death and war and peace. Personally I only wanted to sleep. However, I was sick.
Sickness for the first time here in the Congo is an interesting proposition in the best of times but when the city is in uproar it is worse. The first thought when you are doubled over on the floor is "O my Gosh I have malaria" and then you have to try to determine if the symptoms are really malaria or not. However, since you have never had it you don't know what to look for so instead you go with the only advice you have received and that is that you will be the sickest you have ever been. I then tried to talk myself out of malaria because I would not make it into town since that is where the bullets were flying. I eventually realized that I had experienced this feeling before and it would "come to pass" so to speak. Anywho, we had two days off of school and then we finished the week at school.
I have some great kids but we all shared our experiences about the past week and some of the kids had a really wild ride. I do not envy them at all. We (those of us here in Kinshasa) all have to endure crazy nights. There is always yelling and chanting and and noises and fears that are standard to darkness but when you have a war threatening on your doorstep over things you don't understand or think are ridiculous it gets worse. I thought teaching was going to be the adventure and it turns out to be the easy part and life is the hard part. So bring it on Congo I am ready for a wild ride bring on the good stuff. Readers buckle your seat belts cause this ain't over yet. As long as I can I will keep you posted. (No pun intended, o.k. a pun was intended but only a little)