recent funny events

There are always things that happen that still make me shake my head and say, "Wow! Mozambique, it's like no other!"
For example:
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I'm in the process of renewing my visa. When I went to submit my documents I was told I needed a passport picture so I walked to a new place I had heard takes passport pictures. The women at the desk was cordial. I paid at the desk and went to the room to have my picture taken. This is usually a humorous experience and today was no different. At first the man told me I needed to change my shirt because I can't wear a white shirt. Why you may ask? Well, probably because the lighting is so bright that with my white skin against the white background with a white shirt would make me out to be hair and eyes only. I told the man I didn't have another shirt. Another customer then offered her advice that they just change the color of  my shirt on the computer after they take my picture. The man bought the idea.
I then sat on the stool as the man studied me as if a specimen of something exotic, tilted my head ever so slightly sure not to make a difference of anything in the photo, held up his Nikon Coolpix camera, bent his legs to apparently be at the precise angle for this ever so professional shot. "Fechar a boco." Close your mouth I was reminded and there it was, the ugliest picture of me ever.
It wasn't over though because there was apparently a problem with the photo-shopping of my new shirt. My hair was covering part of my shirt so they couldn't put the new shirt on me. So, with some language confusion I was soon getting a new photo taken with my hair up. Trouble was that I didn't have anything but a pen to hold my hair up off of my shirt. Picture no.2 was taken with my hair thrown up, held by a pen, mouth closed and within a few minutes for sure the ugliest picture of Dara Hillstrom was produced-- complete with a nice red button down shirt that looks slightly too busty for my body. I will never show any of you this photo and will despairingly show my id card with this photo on it.
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I had a couple friends over for dinner the other night, one from Sweden and one from Zimbabwe. As we were speaking about an acquaintance I couldn't help but be shocked, yet totally understanding the reality, I'm still laughing that this could be spoken about anyone:
"It's rare to hear him say something that's true."
Sad. Telling a lie is all to common here.
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Several weeks ago when my friend who had watched Nede when I was away was still here we got stopped by the police when I was driving the Land Rover to Church. My heart still beats quite hard when this happens but I should be learning there's not much of a threat. This time (we were stopped in the same place my friend had been stopped a few times while I was away) the police officer didn't even approach me on the drivers side. He immediately went to my friends window and smiled and had a little small talk with her. He didn't ask ANYTHING about my drivers license or the car. He didn't even acknowledge me. As we pulled away laughing my friend let me know that this was the same police officer who had asked her for her phone number a couple stops ago. Charm can get you a long way here.
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"Wow! Mozambique, it's like no other!"