Day 9 - Jurrasic Shellfish and Tiny Tears in Dollar Bills- More Ups and Downs in DRC

K and I decided after work to once more venture across the road to the supermarket (crossing the road has become our little mountain to climb)- again this went without incident and we happily loaded up our baskets with apples, tonic water, snacks and other goodies. However check out was a little more interesting.

The Congolese francs are in horrific condition generally, and have lived a life that I quite frankly prefer to be ignorant of – as long as I’ve got my hand sanitizer, I’m fine. These notes can be traded in whatever condition you like, but dollar bills they scrutinise for any folds, cracks, or tears like their life depends on it.

It turns out there was a tear that was literally 1mm in my $50 bill, and nope, it was flatly refused. At first I couldn’t see why, from a normal hand to eye ratio it seemed perfectly intact,   the trained Congolese eye at checkout however, started a rapid tirade in what I think was lingala  (the local language) or was speaking French at the speed of light.

I argued my case, it was tiny, I had no other notes, and after a 5 minute debate, they went to talk to the manger. Now I don’t know what they were doing back there but it took them about 20 mins to determine if the note was good tender. ..............It wasn’t -at least in their eyes.

So after another 5 minute debate about the change they already gave me in francs, which to add insult to injury contained a Congolese frank at was literally sello taped up.  K bailed me out with a 10 which was acceptable to them combined with my numerous crappy francs.

Lesson learned – the Congolese are anal about dollar bills, and I’m going to have to learn to be so too.

After that exciting event, and a successful trip back across the road, it was dinner time and one of my bosses invited me to dinner with him and another girl from the team.

We went to a restaurant called le roi de cossa, the king of Cossa. Now cossa cossa is a Congolese shell fish from the congo river and these badboys are like radioactive prawns. They are literally a prawn the size of small lobsters, served shell on with tonnes of garlic- now that’s more like it.

We even had to be bib’d up and get our hands in- Val you would have been proud.

I’ll try and upload some pictures when I get the chance this evening- as these have to be seen to be believed.

All in all a much more successful tasting of Congolese food- so long as I remember to check my bill when I get my change.