The football clothes.

So after collecting a lot of clothes from London and Copenhagen I finally was able to take some photos.
I donated everything to Samu Social and you can read a lot more on their (French though) website here, and from a previously post on my blog here.

I really want to thank everybody how helped, even though you may think you didn't do a lot, you helped tremendously!
The football clothes are from Kirstin Laursen a woman I admire very much. It was Stenløse Boldklub who had donated almost a hundred outfits to Kirstin and I was so lucky to get 9 sets to bring to Congo. You can read more about her and her families work in Gambia here.
You may wonder why the pictures are from the back, but that is because the children are under 18, and to protect their innocence the rule was made to not take portrait photos.

Samu Social isn't a orphanage, it is more of a home where the kids go to first. This is where they get medical treatment, food if they are starved and clothes if they need.
After the kids have had a full medical and mental check the crew, consisting of a doctor, a psychologist and teachers decides where the kid goes.
There are around 10 orphanages in Pointe-Noire, some work like a school with dormitories, and others work as a loving home for the kids that need special care.

Therefore I couldn't get a picture of the kids with all the clothes on, because there were only 13 kids at Samu Social today and the clothes are saved for the kids who really need it. Though I am sure I saw a couple of t-shirts I have seen before.

Now I am trying to work with Chevron in Denmark, to make them sponsor a container to Congo. And when everything is settled I will need your help to fill it up.
It brought tears to my eyes when I saw the kids faces. Running around very proud in their new clothes. I gave one pair of shoes to a little girl standing in the back all shy and barefooted. When she put the shoes on she just stood and stared at them. And then she looked op ran over to some other girls and yelled "My first pair of shoes!".
So everybody who have helped me - thank you very much!

Once a rainy day.

I have been organising my photos on my computer and found these nice pictures. So I just wanted to show you how it looks like when it rain down here. Normally the water in the pool is about 20 cm from the top of the pool. In 20 minuts (I kid you not) it rained so much that the pool was flooded.
The pictures was from October, so don't worry right now it is about 32 degrees (Celsius) outside. Even though the sun doesn't feel that warm, we really have to be careful because we are so close the the equator.
It is actually kinda strange,because this time of the year is supposed to be the wettest and warmest season of the year, but we have only had the warmth.
Not complaining at all!

My muse

So this is Trinity. The most adorable little girl I have ever met! Just spend some time with her last Saturday and Monday, and it is impossible not to fall in love with her.

I couldn't have that you missed out on her. She is a firecracker!

The last two pictures are of Trinity and her mother, and the last one is of her and her sister. Her sister is a little more shy, but I got her to laugh pretty hard last time. 

Just wanted to share some thoughts from my everyday life.

My sanctuary

Just wanted to share one of my new favorite places in Pointe-Noire. It is called Twiga, it is the daughter of the president who owns the place, and when you step in, it just feels like you are at any amazing hotel, relaxing by the pool. It is funny though, because you can really feel that there is no need for Twiga to be a big success. There is no need to earn tons of money - eventhough the place could. It is so clear that the president just gave his daughter Twiga, like you would give a child toy.
There are more waiters than costumers. It takes them at least 45min to make a pizza, and the people are, sorry to say, lazy. Every chance they get they sit down, stop and talk, or just walk around in slowmotion. The pizzas are really nice though.
I am so lucky that seafood is so cheap down here specially compared to Danish prices - mon dieu!

My b-day

So I know it was last week that i turned the big 2 0, but I've been a bit busy. There is not much to say. Had a lovely day going to the beach. Just chillin' eating some nice food (lobster and steak - not baaad).
It was nice just relaxing, without the smell of gas that always hangs in the air. And only with the sound of the waves and no generators!!
We bought some sea urchins, that was a first for me - and a last!

New Years Eve

We had an amazing New Years Eve! Just amazing! We had arranged with some friends down here to have a big party. And fortunately the woman Jose works for a big brewery down here, and they sponsored all the tables, glasses and of course the beers!

The lovely chairs and tabels that were donated. Thank God that we had such a big terrace!

When the first guests arrived

Looking at the pool.

We had arranged for a dinner that started at 8pm, and had invited about 60 people. The menu was, lobster, steak, chicken spear, fish and salatbar.
But what we didn't take in account was the congolese people down here. At 8:30pm only 10 people had arrived, so the dinner was delayed a lot. The last people arrived at 10pm, and then time flew so suddenly we were counting down - New Years Eve!
Even though I knew that we weren't allowed to have fireworks (because the president lives three houses away, and you can't even buy fireworks down here), it wasn't a real celebration because the fireworks was missing! It felt weird!

Me and Hector

My beautiful mother, gorgeous Fulvia and her lovely sons Filippe and Gustavo.

My french teacher and his beautiful fiancé

My father and friends looking good.

Teddy, me, Jean, Jose and Rosalie. Teddy is our chef, Jean is Jose and Jans chef
and Rosalie works at our neighbours house! Without these three we couldn't have
had the party - Thank you.

Everybody stoped dancing and started clapping when my father  swung my mother around!

My mom having a great time!!

Some of us youngsters dancing.

Me and my french teacher. 

And when everything was almost finished - aren't they cute?

But the party went on until 4am! We had hired one of the famous DJ's down here, and he did a great job getting everybody dancing!
Me and some of the other young people went to Ocean Rouge, to keep the party going.

I woke up on the sofa the next morning. Feeling like I had a perfect New Years Eve in Congo!
Thanks everybody who helped to make it fantastic!

Im hoping to get some more pictures soon.