Life’s been busy – kids are back in school, which helps a lot, but also requires new planning, on a daily basis. Back to work. Already tired, believe it or not! In order to temporarily stop the madness, found Brooke‘s (The World That We Live In) request for the State Dept Blog RoundUp. Theme: “Favorite Places” – and in Brooke’s words: places you have discovered on your travels that you have loved or that have kept you sane in some way or another.
My favorite places? I hold Southern Africa in a very special place, really close to my heart, for several reasons: our first overseas experience as a family, the first encounter with a reality that I never assumed existed, in good and not so good ways; and my first experience as a single full-time working parent… All in all, great moments, which I’m sharing now:
We moved from Washington, DC to Maputo, Mozambique in October 2006, for a 2-yr hard-to-fill assignment. Our only child then, had just turned 1. Little did we know, I’d end up staying until Oct 2009 with our two children, honoring a work commitment – while husband had to return to DC – but this is probably a too long of a story, and I’ll leave it to another opportunity…
We were very fortunate to meet many different and attractive personalties, each one with an unique life story, with whom we share work experiences, concerns, happy moments. We did travel quite a bit throughout the country: for work and leisure. Visited all the ten provinces, bringing back home material mementos, as well as pictures we could have taken only with our hearts.
During our time in Southern Africa we also visited the neighboring Swaziland, a couple of times. Calming, relaxing, intriguing country. We got to attend the internationally famous Reed Dance, and were quite moved by it.
I couldn’t forget to mention another neighboring country, South Africa, birth place of our middle child, who’s now 3,5. Between safaris at Kruger Park, visits to the wine country and the cosmopolitan Cape Town, caravan trips with friends to Richard’s Bay, visits to avocado farms (and also med-evac flights!), South Africa was a sure choice for a delightful getaway…
Some people say that the sunset over African waters is almost like a poem… it might very well be!
But the best part of traveling and visiting places, is getting to know people, making true friends. I’m very grateful to the ones we met during our time in Africa, and the many more who’ll come along…
Friends are, in fact, the most special gift one could bring from any new place… Khanimambo!
3rdculturechildren 
I featured your blog with this as my most favorite.
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Thank you so much! 😮 I was very pleased to find out about that!
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I was trying to find something in your blog and came across this. It’s such a wonderful post with wonderful pictures. I’ve seen and read a lot of blog posts about their travel to Africa. The extra unique culture really makes any tourists loved their visit in a very special way. Again, great pictures.
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Thank you so very much! For your curiosity and interest… And thanks for keep coming back! 😮
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I have to say the sunset over Africa is my fav. Simply stunning. Thanks for sharing!
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Really glad it’s appreciated… It was the goal: to share the images, the experience, the stories. It helps us to keep adapting/adjusting to new places. An ongoing task. But we love it! Thanks for commenting!
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You have lovely children and so a family..Africa is indeed beautiful,your photos has evidence of it.Very rich in photographic possibilities…
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Thank you for your kind words, John! My pleasure! 😮
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Love the photos! It’s almost as if I was there myself 🙂
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Thank you, Gracie. Glad you liked it…
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Hey there! Thanks again for the visit and please, we would love if you could take a moment to check out our Updated TravelBlog on Instagram! It would be great to hear your feedback/comments on our IG profile! Just click here and enjoy! ☺ Thank you in advance! https://www.instagram.com/expatmomof3
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Fantastic! Beautiful photographs, love them all especially the ‘welcoming our first daughter’ picture. You look great and so happy! Definitely agree that friends are the best thing about travelling & moving. Without them, where would we be?
Áine
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thank you so much, Aine!!! Thanks for your kind words.. very emotional period of my life, in particular… I decided it would make a nice way to showcase our favorite places…
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Hey there! Thanks again for the visit and please, we would love if you could take a moment to check out our Updated TravelBlog on Instagram! It would be great to hear your feedback/comments on our IG profile! Just click here and enjoy! ☺ Thank you in advance! https://www.instagram.com/expatmomof3
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question…what is the state department round up? is it a group of people with blogs…or a newsletter you receive?
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Melissa – here, it’s easier if I give you this site…
http://adaringadventure.typepad.com
I guess now, it’s up to 410 sites ((?) but not everybody contributes at the same time. Also, you can check the state.gov page, regarding “publications”, there’s link for the list of family/spouses blogs.. pretty interesting, I’d say – it keeps us moving, going, sane… 😮 let me know if it works for you… beijinhos, R.
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yeah our photo….this post made me so “homesick” for Africa. Will you get here already??
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I have to thank you and Paty for the pics… so many memories.. i was trying to sort thru our pics from Africa… so many… so much fun… that’s why I like the initiative for the RoundUp… it motivates people… 😮 we’ll be there… already sent an email to the school, inquiring for more info…
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