In Gorogosa National Park

We have now travelled the length of the country, it has been days of driving and actually we are only half way accross the country as it is so long. The further up we have gone the hotter it has become and I am sitting in a very hot computer room in Gorongorsa National Park. With three guys next to me waiting for thier computers to connect, mine is still working...fingers crossed...Am hoping that the internet thief doesn't steal this post and it disappear in to cyber space...

We have had the most amazing time, we stayed in the village of Nwadjahane, the birth place of a national hero Eduardo Mondlane. We stayed in the house that he built and we spent time with the local women. One morning we were up at 4.30, this is the normal time that the women wake in the village. We walked to the mashambas with two young girls from the village Anita and Artemesia and with a woman called Maria. It was a wonderful 45 minute walk as the sun came up and these women don't dwardle, they walk with a fast pace and they are very stately. I actually slightly struggled to keep up.

We launched the book project and were greeted by women ululating,dancing and singing. One of the songs went 'We are very lucky this day' it was amazing. The project went down really well there and Mary Jo handed books out in thier bags. It is such a great project www.booksforkidsafrica.org

So I have been taking lots of photos and soaking it all in, I picked up my paint brush for the first time today. I have lots of ideas, they are just flowing in.
I feel a great sense of pride to be here and involved in this project. I will soon be producing this work and will be very happy when it gets in to the hands of the kids that need it!

And this morning we went for game drive and I saw more animals than I have ever seen in my life, I feel a book about a Winged Warthog brewing...

Here in Maputo

Well I am here and it is a beautiful place, it is so different yet so similar to South Africa. However it is crumbling and grand all at the same time. The people are so friendly and seem to smile and laugh easily. The colours are incredible it is actually a visual feast for me, the people are so well dressed and have such a sense of style I feel a bit shabby!

There are painting on walls and the women sway in their different fabrics, the children are really inventive with their games and Mozambicans seem to have mastered the art in relaxing.
We are driving in to the countryside tomorrow and are going for our 10 day trip trying to avoid mud. I have been taking a lot of research pictures and will attach some. They will all feed in to the books eventually. It is a great project and feel blessed to be a part of it.

Off to Mozambique

So I am about to pack my bags and go to Mozambique to work on books for children. I feel exceptionally lucky and am going with an NGO called Books For Kids Africa. www.booksforkidsafrica.org.Have a look if you can, it is a great website. We are off to research and see what comes out of it. I will most probably be working on a simple counting book and who knows where it will go from here...
Am managing my goodbyes and I wake in the night feeling sad about leaving the family, however I know it will be great, I will thoroughly weep in the car on the way to the airport and then immerse myself in the project.
Ok, anti mosquito cream, passport, money, books, paintbrushes...lists lists lists! For a quite chaotic person I am getting organised!