Being an expat is always fun. You always connect with the most random people and anyone you just meet can become an immediate friend if you happen to have a common background (or maybe without it). So here I was, planning a quiet weekend in Xai-Xai, probably the last quiet weekend in the Summer. And then DP asked if he could join (I would ask to, after loving so much the orphanage!) and off course I was happy to have his company for the ride. And then Frank and Heather want to join, because Heather was a development worker before and is delighted to get to know Mozambique better. And you know me, I am always delighted to show a bit more of what I love to people! But them coming meant I was back to driving alone up there! Oh well, last minute this morning, two students arrived, guess where, from Boston College! So my expat feeling just invited them to come along for the weekend, especially since there is a 4th of July celebration going on at the beach! I am back to driving in good company in the car and get to know new people and new stories. By the way things have been going here, I am pretty sure we will have someone that we know in common, just as with every other expat that I know here in Maputo! Have a great weekend, more news when I am back!
I heard what is likely to become one of my top 3 favourite quotes on a podcast on Friday. "Time is the only real democratic asset. We are all awarded the same time, it is what we do with it that distinguishes us". Now, I recognise that most of us need to work with survive and that is not democratic throughout. But on an equal opportunity basis, this is an interesting way of putting it. For many years I did not understand why MS thought my resume was so interesting. In fact, they chased me during the entire recruitment process, even though I had no idea of moving to London or Finance. I wanted to be a consultant and stay in Lisbon forever. But traditional consultants in Portugal saw nothing in me, and MS did not let me go. When I started screening resumes and hiring people a couple of years later is when I understood why I was different. TIME. I was truly different about what I did with my time. Not necessarily the basics - choice of degree or anything. But really ...
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