Home in Huambo

My first night at the Meyers consisted of absorption of my new atmosphere and attempting to power through the 6 hour forward time jump. Robert had picked me up from the airport in Luanda (Angola’s capital) and we flew together to their hometown, Huambo. Normally they drive this distance, which would take 7-8 hours. But now the roads are so deteriorated it takes about 11-12 hours and much more wear on the vehicle.

We drove in the Meyers’ Land Cruiser from the airport to their house on mostly paved-ish roads, passing tiny motorcycles (motos) and women walking effortlessly with giant containers on their heads and babies strapped to their backs.

Within 25 minutes we were turning on a dirt road with enormous ridges and potholes.

Sprinkled along the side of the road were mud huts. Some had tin roofs secured with rocks. Others just had walls.

Eventually we arrived to a burgundy metal gate on a sandy cement wall.

A grinning man came out to open the gate. This is Manuel, the Meyers’ guard. He was so excited to see Robert and immediately greeted us in Portuguese.

Biruk and Efesson, the Meyers’ sons, as well as their two dogs, Navi and Diogo, also came out to greet us. I opened the door to the Land Cruiser and instantly understood how Teague had injured her ankle hopping down the 18” drop.

As I took in my surroundings, I was overwhelmed with the amount of work it has been for their family to be here. Robert built their house. This would be an accomplishment in the states to be sure. But here, where even plywood is in short supply and power is only as dependable as your generator, this is truly amazing. Biruk, the youngest Meyer, gave me the grand tour. He loved showing me all the trees Teague had planted, like Papaya, Avacado, Lemon, Mango and Banana.

He showed me the well his dad dug that was feeding their water silo. He showed me their two generators and their battery system. He showed me how they filtered their drinking water and turned on a pump to have showers (an upgrade, as of this year, from the bucket baths they were taking before).

All this was very normal for Biruk--a part of everyday life. Even to the point he didn’t realize some things to point out, like the mosquito nets around all the beds.

That evening, after a yummy meal of soup and homemade bread, we played Forbidden Island and watched I Love Lucy.

When I finally closed my mosquito net to go to sleep, listening to roosters crowing and dogs barking, my emotions mixed together. Thoughts of how very cushy and spoiled my life is mixed with feelings of admiration for the way Biruk and Efesson are growing up to live simply and with gratitude.