Scary Things They Don't Tell You About Goma in the Brochure

[amalthya]

Well, I questioned whether I should post this at all, because well, I'm so new here in Goma that it's very possibly just imagination-hyped, but I will just make some bullet points of things I learned from Delphine and Brad today over the greasiest Indian food I've ever eaten in my whole life.

• Paul, who was the house caretaker for the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International here in Goma, was murdered last week in an area just outside of town near the house
  
  
• Brad was held up at gunpoint at the Indian Food restaurant
  
  
• People can't travel here at night, or walk far distances during the daytime because of bandits.
  
  
• The only plane that the Goma airport had that went north crashed so there are no more flights going there, because there are no more planes.
  
  
• There have been about five plane crashes from this airport
  
  
• NGO workers are targets because they have cellphones
  
  
• People who work with primates are targets, because the locals are resentful that we're "stealing their wildlife" and they know how much chimps and gorillas go for on the black market, so stealing them is worth the risk.
  
  
• It's not unusual to hear gunfire at night
  
  

How funny, but I can't even remember now everything that was divulged to me today... Either way, it was made clear to me to be on my guard, and that Goma is not safe. Delphine is thinking of getting an armed guard for the chimp house at night too. Since right now, there's sort of nothing.

I honestly don't want to be scared for nothing, or sort of take that American stance of being scared by not knowing, but I do want to remember later that I was fully apprised of the situation regardless, and that the potential for danger did exist.

It just strikes me as especially funny since I got so at ease in Entebbe, walking alone at night even! It'll definitely be a different experience. I can't wait to begin!

Comments

[congogirl.livejournal.com]

Um, don't be scared, but don't be naive.

The only possible point of being scared is to get yourself prepared and be on guard.

I have a friend who was mugged there and had his phone stolen, and have heard of rapes. But the friend I at least know was walking around at night alone.

It may be that nothing happens. It may be that something happens. I had most of the same fears when I lived down the street from a crack house in New Orleans.

I say, we choose what to be afraid of by how many goosebumps it gives us and the thrill that we get from telling other people. What the actual threat is and how we handle it is something different.

So, beware, be safe, and have fun!

[amalthya.livejournal.com]

I'm definitely more calm about it all now, but I just wanted to take it all down when it's still new to me, if only just "for the record"

Thanks for the advice nonetheless though! :D