It’s been about a year since I’ve written in my adventuress blog… and it’s been exactly one year since I packed my bags and headed out of Africa.
Transition moments in life are kind of surreal… especially if you are leaving one world for another. Last year, I remember selling most of our things, trying to pack what we could, saying good-byes and anxiously awaiting the departure date (not that I wanted to leave, but I was looking forward to seeing my family and attending my brother’s wedding).
This is not the first time I’ve made this type transition, you could kind of say I am an expert by now. I’ve learned many things along the way now, like how to make the best of relationships, how to say good-bye, how to adapt and change, and how to leave a bit of my heart and take a bit of my old world into my new world.
My favorite part about leaving a place is that last drive through town to the airport, or the shutting of the door to your home, after a long look back into a home of many memorable filled moments. It’s a mixture of emotions you can’t even describe…. even though you know it’s your last time there, it doesn’t really hit you till you’re on the plane or in your new world. I always cry… but I don’t mind anymore because I know it’s a part of the process.
Pedro and I were happy to leave Angola, we were happy to start a new part of our journey, which included being close to family and hopes of starting our own family. We were happy to think about the many things we would do in the future, like enjoy the western life and culture, and live what I would say, “more normal lives”.
Anyone who has lived in Luanda knows that life there is not easy. Pedro and I spent the first three years of our relationship/marriage there… But we wouldn’t change it for nothing. It allowed us to be adventuress, exploring Africa, African culture and enduring hardships that made our relationship tighter than ever. I will always look back at that time as a major growing phase for me. Although I had already lived in Europe for about four years previously, Africa is so different, so unique that I felt like I was constantly learning and being challenged. I love Africa. I know we will be back there one day. There are days that I miss the craziness of Luanda; the mad traffic and street life, the crazy, inspiring people, the music and culture, my good friends, the trips to the ilha and just living in the great land of Africa.
My old neighborhood...
In front of my old building... the guards keeping it safe, I mean watching TV...
Across the street from our building...
famous building where people live without any type of conditions...
Typical streets in Luanda...
My favorite ladies 
Great memories together
A view of the city from my office...
The African sun... nothing quite like it!
Looking back this past year, our transition to the U.S. hasn’t been the smoothest, but our African flexibility has allowed us to be patient and grateful for where we are now. We have enjoyed getting to be active members of our family, taking some time off to relax and travel, finding our new little home and furnishing it ourselves for the first time… And I just have to say that, I love my new neighborhood! I love the little cafes and restaurants, I love walking around the area and smelling the most beautiful flowers… that I can walk to get frozen yogurt at 9 or 10pm… and that my exercise walks are on the beach… love, love, love… one happy camper am I.
Our new corner cafe!
walking through our neighborhood...
love the gardens and flowers...
This close to the beach...
walking to 2nd Street... full of shops and restaurants
yummm... frozen yogurt
my morning and evening walking route...
Pedro as a new resident to the U.S. has a great job for a great strategy consulting company that keeps its employees local, so he doesn’t have to travel I am currently eight months pregnant with our first offspring, a little girl! We are blessed beyond belief! And we can’t wait to take her on our future adventures!
While I’ve gone from traveling every three months to a year… I feel so blessed to be where we are right now. Our past has been made up of adventures we will never forget but that ultimately shape us to enjoy our future all the more!
Cheers to where we have been and where we are going!
