Hello from the Congo

[TrailingSpouse]

Hi Folks,

I'm a 'TrailingSpouse'.  I currently live in the Democratic Republic of Congo, with my wife who works in Aid, and our two year old daughter.  I am a Film-Maker by trade, in particular art department stuff - prop-making and special effects.

I'm a prepper in the sense that I have always liked to be autonomous.  I enjoy making things and learning new skills.  Particularly interested in old tools and techniques, passive design for thermal comfort, growing food, building with natural materials such as mud... Actually its a long list!  Recently been studying trauma and wilderness medicine, and trying to make longbows from laminated bamboo.

Always loved the outdoors and 'survival' - used to get the folks to drop me and a mate in the middle of nowhere with just a knife, poncho and a box of matches etc. 

Seen some shit - lived and worked in various hot spots - Belfast, Kashmir, Bolivia, Seven Sisters Road in London :p still got all my limbs though. 

That's it for now

[APX808]

Wow it seems you'll have a lot of good stories to tell.
Most people around here is from the US, although we have members from other sites, I'm from Argentina for instance, and there is a member called "thedigininja" from South Africa.

Welcome aboard and enjoy your stay 

[Burt Gummer]

Wow it seems you'll have a lot of good stories to tell.
Most people around here is from the US, although we have members from other sites, I'm from Argentina for instance, and there is a member called "thedigininja" from South Africa.

Welcome aboard and enjoy your stay 

You're forgetting mr. RV,  Rob Grey from Australia. 

But wow trailing spouse... The Congo that's something not many can claim. Welcome to the forum.

Is that area still in a relative state of chaos? the last reports I heard from that area are that there are dispersed pockets of violence especially towards women.

Also a historical hot zone for Ebola...

[rah45]

Welcome, TrailingSpouse! As others have said, we would love to hear some stories about your stays in those locations.

[Erick]

As a foreigenr is it possible to carry a pistol (open OR concealed)?

[thedigininja]

Welcome, trailinspouse.
I know a small handful of people who either lived or served in the Congo/DRC and all bring rather grim tales with them, I'd be interested in hearing some of your personal thoughts on or experiences in the area. We have a general saying on the continent that "Africa isn't for pussies" for good reason. From your list of interests there I'm certain that you'll find much on this forum that is of interest to you and that hopefully you could expand on where the rest of us have begun. I'm also a bit of a "primitive bow" nut like you seem to be.

[brat]

Welcome to UP 

[TrailingSpouse]

Hey Folks

Thanks for the warm welcomes.

Hmmm... Congo - where to start?  I'll do a post about it soon.   Its interesting from a prepping POV as its, in some ways, a WROL situation.  And that's just in the main city - once you get out into the mining areas its pretty much Heart of Darkness.    I already wrote up my experience of an 'attempted coup' that occurred a few months back.  There are plenty more stories unfortunately, and plenty of good lessons for me as a prepper... We are always thinking about security here.  Yes its chaotic and violent - something to do with the Congo's trillions of $ worth of  natural resources.  It ranks bottom on just about every indicator I've seen, including violence towards women, corruption, poverty, malnutrition... Millions of dead in the past couple of decades of fighting.... Yeah, not good, and very very sad.  Nonetheless I can say that despite this the people are extremely friendly!

At the moment I am trying to complete an Emergency Plan for the nursery that my daughter attends here. I may post on that too.  Lots of great info here on unchainedpreppers -  thanks all for sharing - e.g. I  noticed the thread on re-using shipping containers - and we are considering one as the basis for a Safe Room.

RE foreigners owning guns here: I think the answer is NO.  I'm trying to find out - but I have to be subtle with the questions!  Handguns are illegal in Kinshasa and its environs.  However most private security firms arm their employees with AK47s.  Soldiers and police carry them.  They even seem to take them to and from work. I heard you can get an AK47 for 50$ down the market.  Wouldn't surprise me - people are cash poor (but the country is awash with assault rifles) and the cost of living is extremely high. Even bananas cost more here than in England!

I'll also share some relevant experiences from Belfast, Kashmir etc in due course:)  And the longbows... work in progress :p

[JohnyMac]

Welcome TrailingSpouce to Unchainedpreppers!

UP has a great group of men and women who participate. As APX wrote, we have quite a few folks from  country's other than the old USofA. Lets see here...

Argentina,
Australia,
Canada,
England, and
New Zealand to name a few.

We also have some folks that were born in other parts of the world but reside in the USofA now.

Anyway...Welcome to a great little prepping site. Don't hesitate asking questions or jumping in and sharing knowledge on others questions. 



 

[Kbop]

Welcome!
I look forward to hearing your perspectives in the forum!

[thatGuy]

Hey TS, I just heard on NPR that this is an independent outbreak of Ebola in DRC.. stay safe bud.

[TrailingSpouse]

Thanks dude - appreciate the concern

We'll get out if there are any cases in the city (more for the possible knock-on effects as its easy enough to protect yourself.)  Nonetheless - people have stopped shaking hands so much.   I think I posted on this elsewhere? The main risk to us is if other countries start closing the borders - then we are in deep shit if one of us needs medivac (e.g. cerebral malaria) - especially when the alternatives are Congolese hospitals (bad for so many reasons!) Potentially secondary risks from breakdown in law and order - or even being targeted (there are rumours that white folks have been issued ZMAPP.)