In America, the land of opportunity and choice, we are taught from a very early age NOT to jump at the very first thing that comes along. We are shown that there is almost always an infinite number of things to chose from and to make an uninformed decision will certainly end in malcontent, either sooner or later in life.

I don’t think the same holds true for life in Mozambique or Africa or maybe even in most places.

On Monday January 12th Jamy and I started our hunt for an apartment. The “primerio” or very first one we saw was the one we wanted. The flat was beautiful, spacious and came equipped with two large verandas; one overlooking the Indian Ocean and the other overlooking the capital city of Maputo, and the rent was exactly what we had expected to pay... I was immediately taken by the place. The views alone made it worth the while, to me. However, as those of you who know me (and Jamy will attest to this), I am a VERY informed shopper and was not about to talk deals until I saw what else the city had to offer. Jamy too was skeptical, as she was really hoping to find a furnished apartment and this one was completely bare. (Well it did have a refrigerator, a stove and two air-conditioning units). But all else would have to be purchased, scrounged for or found. And not knowing the Portuguese language would make those tasks even more daunting.

But that was the only flat that realtor had to show us. So we parted ways and went back to Chris’ house with our heads spinning. We called around and found another realtor who agreed to come and pick us up that same day and show us around to some other places.

We were warned by the person who put us in contact with the new realtor NOT to discuss prices or rent amounts that we could afford. “If you tell this guy that $600 is what you can afford, than every place you see will be $600.” So what happened is that we were taken to places that really wouldn’t be suitable for us… but we were too afraid to tell him we were looking for something a little better. So what we got, was a tour of the whole other side of Maputo that we had not yet seen. It was the “normal” side. We knew that staying in Chris’ house we were initially spoiled and that anything we could afford was not going to be at all like his place. But after viewing that first apartment… everything else we saw just made us want that “primerio” all the more. And trust me, it is “The” primerio.

And so, it is with great relief and jubilation that I can relate to you all, WE HAVE AN APARTMENT!!! We just signed the lease today and have received the keys. Now, if we just had a bed… we could move in… So as you can imagine we are very excited… to say the least. It’s just four short blocks down the street from Chris’ place, and so it is still in this same (very safe) neighborhood. There are a slew of good restaurants very close by and it even has a bank and a little shopping mall just across the “Avinanda” or Avenue.

We had a good deal of the people we have met so far come and check it out with us… and every single person who saw the place said we should “snatch it up” before someone else did. In fact, those of them who knew our realtor complained to him that he hadn’t done as good a job for them as he had done for us. That too made us feel comfortable with our decision.

So, as I have only been on one job interview thus far… I’m now wondering if I just shouldn’t have “snatched that up” as well. There’s nothing like moving to a foreign land and setting up an entirely new life in just under 7 days! So, I guess I will sit and wait for the phone to ring, and continue to interview with other companies until the “primerio trobaho” comes along.

So as I am about to type this last line (I mean cliché) I realize this post is not nearly as humorous as most…and instead is actaully way more contemplative (and superfical even) and for that reason I can’t help but think of myself as the male version of Kerry Bradshaw closing another episode of Sex in The City…