Thread: Employment Opportunities

Mozambican women glide...they have a way of walking, smooth, balanced and elegant.

I think it all stems from their sensible habit of carrying loads balanced on their heads. From a young girl, walking tall, and balancing a coke bottle on her head to some of the heavy and more bizarre loads....one day in Maputo I saw a woman carrying an oven on her head...a gas oven...with a cooktop...just like the one you have in your kitchen, balanced sideways on her head...and...I didn't have a camera. I hope there was someone at home to help her get it off her head.

Perfect poise, a smooth gait, walking tall....and all with a baby wrapped onto your back. Women are certainly the mainstay of Mozambican society.











I am yet to see a better system for carrying a young baby than how they carry their babies wrapped in a capulana (the ubiquitous piece of colourful cloth used for most anything). You'll never see a pram in Mozambique....I think they do better than us in that regard. We push a child out in front of us...very little contact. The systems they sell in the rip-off baby shops, with belts and buckles, just do not compare, are more expensive and not as useful.

As a footnote...my wife can carry loads so gracefully on her head....will she do it in Australia?..NEVER. It is such a shame, I would love her to carry the shopping to the car...balanced on her head. No doubt someone would complain she has not assimiliated...

Well...this is about the last of my Mozambican photos. Lets go to Timor Leste (East Timor).

Done my time in the armed forces. Couldn't pay me enough to get me over there with you.

It sounds very exciting though, bit too old to even consider it. Danger to me is driving around Melbourne.

Great pictures and story though. Know what you mean about the military guys knowing it all and you only being a contractor. After leaving the RN after nearly seven years I worked for an American IT company.

We won the contract to install rugged mini computers on ships and submarines and I was responsible for the installations. Got the "we know best" attitude many times. Funny watching them learn though.

Good fun installing our system into the Royal Yacht Brittania, I have never seen such a clean and polished engine room in my life.

Regards

Martin

Originally Posted by martinozcmax

Done my time in the armed forces. Couldn't pay me enough to get me over there with you.

It sounds very exciting though, bit too old to even consider it. Danger to me is driving around Melbourne.

Great pictures and story though. Know what you mean about the military guys knowing it all and you only being a contractor. After leaving the RN after nearly seven years I worked for an American IT company.

We won the contract to install rugged mini computers on ships and submarines and I was responsible for the installations. Got the "we know best" attitude many times. Funny watching them learn though.

Good fun installing our system into the Royal Yacht Brittania, I have never seen such a clean and polished engine room in my life.

Regards

Martin

Martin,

I am with you brother. There is nothing like the imbedded 'know-it-all' attitude you run into, with what I call the 6mth tourists. They come and go, and I have seen 4 x rotations. Each one brings their view. Education takes time. I did 24yrs 9mths of ARA time and now, it seems, my experience is not appreciated by many I even knew...maybe it is me. I think I will be finishing up here by the end of Sep 08.

Then, I am aiming at getting completely away from working as a commercial operator to the military and I will be working as a commercial operator toward other commercial operations. We shall see.

BBC - great photos... The chicken reminds me of the "pollo asado / pollo al carbon" in guatemala/mexico.

Haven't been to Africa yet, but I want to go after seeing your pics....

thanks for the amazing pics and stories BBC, seeing the real Piri Piri chicken and prawns reminds me of the portogues club in Mutare Zimbabwe, best piri piri out side of Mozambique. Spent a fair amount of time at Ponto Du Oro Just as it opened after the war and before the tourists what a beautiful place. Dont you find it truely amazing that the people you see are all smiling and happy when their lives to us seem so hard- we can all learn from this sorry about the spelling!!!

Originally Posted by malsgoing130

thanks for the amazing pics and stories BBC, seeing the real Piri Piri chicken and prawns reminds me of the portogues club in Mutare Zimbabwe, best piri piri out side of Mozambique. Spent a fair amount of time at Ponto Du Oro Just as it opened after the war and before the tourists what a beautiful place. Dont you find it truely amazing that the people you see are all smiling and happy when their lives to us seem so hard- we can all learn from this sorry about the spelling!!!

Malsgoing,

Yes, nothing quite like the real piri piri, cooked over charcoal, nearly taking the roof off!!!! You'd drive a long way for some.

Tell me more. You sound like there is a story inside you waiting to bust out.

When were you in Zim, or was it called a different place then? What were you doing?

How did you get to Ponto D'Ouro? Down past Maputo, or in through South Africa? Either way there is a good 4WD trip.

Yes, it is amazing how people can be so happy. We have forgotten what they know. Live each day as it is, and learn to laugh. I love to hear my wife back in amongst her family, speaking in Shangaan or Chope, and laughing uproariously....they really have an amazing sense of humour.

Originally Posted by isuzurover

BBC - great photos... The chicken reminds me of the "pollo asado / pollo al carbon" in guatemala/mexico.

Haven't been to Africa yet, but I want to go after seeing your pics....

Isuzurover,

I am sure it would be similar...is it chili hot hot hot....like you would not believe? Piri piri is like nothing else, and the commercial options are rather tame in comparison.

Be careful about going to Africa. It gets inside you and then you'll become a repeat offender. I see many tourists going there for the 'animal' thing but they sell themselves short by not being able to see how the people are.

WOW.

Seeing the great pics and reading of your travels was the highlight of my week.

I have been getting itchy feet for last few months after some changes in my personal life. Is tempting to look into options that exist overseas. Been tempted of late to sell up and go gypsy for a while.

The various sand pit jobs seem interesting but africa would be of great interest.

Might have to PM you for some advice.

Thanks for great story. Best wishes to you and yours. Be safe.

Thanks


Richard

(god bless the ginger beers)