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in Zaïre was. I was told that the president owned much of the land outside the city. The
massive farms just lay to waste symbolic of how he ran the country.
When I reached the 86 kilometre mark, the tire pressure on the rear wheel was low.
I pumped it up and pushed on in the rain. I passed a military checkpoint with friendly staff
who gave me directions to the Catholic mission. I was cold when I arrived at the doors of
the mission. There was a beautiful grotto with Holy Mary surrounded by trees as I entered
the place. Father Albert kindly gave me lunch and hot sweet coffee to warm up. He was on
his way out but suggested that I go to the next building to fix my bicycle.
I went to work on the bike and first checked the tire to find the culprit that caused
the flat, a small staple. I removed the intruder from the tire and then repaired the tube. By
6:30p.m.,IwasputtingeverythingtogetherandFatherreturnedandcalledforme.Hegave
memyroomandIateawell-balanceddinner.IchattedwithFathersAlbert,Jose,andLouis
and they told me that the Salesians were across the border in Chingola, Zambia.
BeforeIwenttobed,IlookedatmymapandrealizedthatIhadninekilometresleft
in Zaïre…9 KILOMETRES! I had dreamt of this moment. And, I had only one spare day
on my extended visa…what impeccable timing!
Tears of Joy….Surviving My Heart of Darkness
After breakfast with the Fathers, I packed up my bike and was ready to leave by
8:00a.m.Afterablessing andabigthank-you,Iwalked thebiketothemain roadandstar-
ted my last 9 kilometres to the border. I was a bit paranoid of getting one last flat tire but
alas, I arrived without any problems. I immediately changed my money, 11 million zaïres
for 1000 Zambian kwacha. Out of curiosity, I asked what the exchange rate was for the US
dollar. It was $1 US dollar to 9 million zaïres (1:12 million on the black market.) Just two
months ago, I received $1 US dollar to 2.4 million zaïres. That was a devaluation of 375%
in2monthsandthetrendwasstranglinganydevelopment inthecountry.Ikepta1million
zaïre note as a souvenir for I had never experienced such a weak currency.
I passed through Zaïrian customs very quickly. After securing an exit stamp in my
passport, I walked my bike over to the Zambian side of the border and waited for the cus-
toms and immigration officer.
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