From Salsa to Savanna

It was my first night out after two years of pregnancy, breastfeeding, and the baby phase. I even got butterflies in my stomach since I had been out of social life for as long as I could remember. I had discovered this place during my last trip to Congo in 2023, so I had an idea of what to expect. What I didn’t know, however, was that I would return home with an immense need to write about my daily life, the people of Congo, their culture, habits and idiosyncrasies. But also about how many similarities I found between the two countries where I feel rooted: Cuba and Congo. The night started with me meeting up with a friend of mine, who is a local and loves salsa more than me (which is not that difficult, since I am not exactly a salsa lover). She introduced me to a friend of hers, who turn out to know my niece, my French teacher and the only German guy I know in all of Brazzaville. What a small world!, I thought. I ordered a cider -not my first alcoholic drink since finishing breas...

Yesterday, I was at this Congolese restaurant where they play salsa and Latin music every week, and I met so many great people that I could no longer resist the idea of writing about my "new normal," now that I've migrated from Germany to Congo. And here I am, writing my first post after a night of good music, interesting people, meaningful conversations, and a torrential downpour. Be my guest in joining me on a journey to break stereotypes, better understand the "others", face culture shock, and feel at home together. Let's go on an adventure.