Social life- socialites?

When we found out we were moving to a rock in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean last February, Mike and I savored all of our time in DC and beyond to be with friends and family as much as possible. We would often say to each other, “We should go out tonight, because next year, it is just going to be us on a desert island!” My sister told us we were crazy to think that we wouldn't make any friends or have things to do. If you ask her when the last time she and I were able to track down a time to chat, she would say she told me so.

So what are we up to? Well, when we are not dining with the Mayor of the second biggest city on the Island with our Ambassador, we may be having the Ambassador from Luxembourg and his family over for a morning swim and Bloody Mary's. We have been seen at the Russian Embassy for a cocktail party, elbow to elbow with the Russian Ambassador as well as many officials from the Cape Verdean government. When Mike comes home from work and I ask about his day, he mentions his meetings with the First Lady of Cape Verde or the owner of the private (and only) bus service, rumored to be the wealthiest man in the country. Then we sit down in front of the television to watch the news in which Mike will inevitably make an appearance in about once a week. Click on the link below to view a clip where he was interviewed and did the whole thing off the cuff in Portuguese...well done!

http://rtc.cv/tcv/index.php?paginas=13&id_cod=2962

One of our favorite Cape Verde evenings was hosted by a couple from the Netherlands, Franz and Hanneke (pronounced Hannukah :)). He is the #2 at the United Nations in Cape Verde and they live in a ultra-modern chic home right on the ocean with a gorgeous indoor/outdoor open floor plan. We entered to a beautiful buffet of gourmet cheeses, vegetables, and appetizers that I did not know could exist here. A local Spanish restauranteur was barbequing different meats and vegetables for tapas. Besides eating, drinking, and enjoying the view into oblivion, the evening was set up for Franz and Hanneke's friends who are musicians visiting from Holland. Throughout the night they played beautiful European classical music on the flute and piano. Franz and Hanneke also invited a famous Cape Verdean singer and other local musicians to share Cape Verdean music accompanied by guitar. The Foreign Minister of Cape Verde was there, the CEO of the largest telecom company was in attendance, as well as the Resident Director of the United Nations. We began to wonder how we got this invite!

I would not say that we are important by any means, but we can see how it is easy to feel that way in such a small place. No matter what, some of the best parts of the first six months have been meeting people who have converged, here in Cape Verde of all places, from all over the world, and sharing this experience with them. To date we have friends from Belgium, Italy, Portugal, Nigeria, Spain, France, Mexico, Sweden, Japan, Poland, Holland, Luxembourg, Australia, and England, just to mention the ones that come to mind at the moment.

We have also been fortunate to forge wonderful friendships with local Cape Verdeans, particularly the ones who work at the Embassy, who have opened up their homes to us. In February we were invited to the mountains for Mike's colleague Maria's birthday party that also featured fabulous food and music. One Friday night, we spent the evening eating a home-cooked Portuguese meal and playing Wii with Andrade and his family. And this past Saturday we went to the Fora, or interior, for a pig roast at Filomeno's family's home with a large group of Embassy folk. Again the day would not be complete without the famous food and music duo. 

Mike would like me to specifically point out that just because we are busy here and enjoying ourselves doesn't mean that we miss everyone at home every day. So please come visit and keep in touch!