Bem-vindo! or Welcome!

In this blog I will be sharing my experiences in Angola. As a newcomer planning to live here for the next 2-3 years, I have much to learn and discover. I want to meet "real" people, shop in local shops, eat traditional food and hopefully make some Angolan friends.

Living as an expatriate, it is easy to stay within a comfort bubble surrounded by other expats. While this will be part of my reality, I am hoping to see and experience some of the "real" Angola.

Africa evokes so many different images and many misconceptions, I myself was very excited and anxious as to how I would find Luanda, the capital.

This is a view from our 5th. floor, modern apartment. We are the highest building in the surrounding blocks, but there are much higher buildings than ours not too far away, closer to the ocean. New construction projects are all over town and cranes are everywhere.

We can see the American Embassy across the haze that seems to be blanketing the city. The haze will slowly disappear in the coming weeks as the rainy season arrives.

So, how to post pictures from a city where a camera is suspicious? Our travel guide warns from taking pictures of public buildings and to expect the police to question us if we do... These are from the car as we drive:

A city of contrasts to be sure! I am still in that phase of excitement and wonder. Every day life will soon begin and I wonder how my family will fare here?