Travel the World With Kids: First Impressions of Congo from a 5 Year Old
After months of preparation to travel the world with kids, countless packing lists, and some last-minute suitcase additions, we finally arrived in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Having heard warnings about long delays, passport control challenges, and luggage mishaps, we braced ourselves for a rough entry. But, against all odds, our arrival went smoother than we could’ve imagined.
We disembarked the plane directly onto the tarmac and took a bus to the terminal. On the bus, kind fellow travelers noticed our exhaustion and gave the kids their seats. As he sat down, big kid C loudly said, “We’re supposed to stay here for 2 years, I can barely last 1 more minute!” In his defense, it was ridiculously hot and humid and we had just traveled 20+ hours to get here.
We braced ourselves for passport control, we’d heard that it could be challenging to navigate as foreigners. However, it was quick and easy. We breezed through passport control and the yellow fever vaccine checks.
To our great relief and in a bit of a surprise, all of our luggage arrived intact, including the stroller we’d all but written off after a luggage tag mishap. We’d heard that it could take 2 hours for our luggage to arrive at the carousel, but ours were both the first and last pieces of baggage to arrive. We had the warm support of David’s boss and team to help us navigate the chaos at baggage claim. We could never have handled all those bags ourselves, and their presence made our arrival feel welcoming and a little less overwhelming.
A Wild Ride Through Kinshasa’s Streets
Once we loaded up all our bags, it was time to head to our temporary home—a hotel where we could finally relax after the 26-hour journey from Virginia. But first, we had to tackle Kinshasa’s infamous traffic. Our drive from the airport should have taken 45 minutes, but it took *three hours*, and it was a complete immersion into the sights, sounds, and energy of the city.
Here’s a glimpse of what we saw on that unforgettable drive:
Close-Cut Traffic: Cars and trucks veered so close to one another, sometimes within inches. I could reach out with just a hand and touch a car through the window. We had cars just inches away on all sides of us.
Broken Down Cars and Fires: As we made our way through the streets, we saw several cars broken down smoking and being pushed, fires on the roadside, and the unmistakable scent of burning trash—an inescapable part of life in many bustling cities. We saw cars carrying couches, small vans stacked precariously high with bags of food, and a tiny car that seemed to be carrying an entire large tree.
Potholes and Pedestrians: Huge potholes forced cars to navigate them slowly or risk being swallowed. Horrifyingly, pedestrians zoomed across the road in the pitch black and people balanced on the freeway center divide. It was truly scary to see some people narrowly miss being hit by cars. Motocycles sped by weaving through traffic without headlights. Vendors balanced stacks of food and water on their heads, weaving through the traffic as if it were second nature.
Despite the overwhelming energy, it reminded me of places I’d called home before. The sounds, the smoky air, the street vendors—it took me back to my Peace Corps days in Kenya and reminded me why I missed life overseas.
“Can We Just Get a Monster Truck?”
One of the most special parts of this journey is seeing it through C’s eyes. This is his first time moving abroad, and while the intensity of the city surprised him, he kept his cool. As we sat in gridlock traffic, he innocently asked, “Can we just get a monster truck and drive through all of this?”
His curiosity and openness are priceless, and as parents, it’s special to watch him start making sense of a new culture and way of life.
A Shower, A Meal, and A Moment to Breathe
After three hours of navigating Kinshasa’s roads, we arrived at our hotel. Though we were exhausted and a bit overwhelmed, it was comforting to have all the amenities we needed to recharge. We each took the longest showers of our lives, and with a hot meal and a soft bed, we could finally unwind.
Travel the World With Kids: Reflecting on the Start of a New Chapter
Living in the Congo will be an adventure, and while it will certainly come with challenges, I’m curious to see how this stage of life will unfurl. It’s in the early days, but I can already tell that our family’s journey here will be full of learning, growth, tears, and countless memorable moments.
Thank you for joining us on this journey. We can’t wait to share more about adjusting to life in Congo, our everyday adventures, and insights into the world of Foreign Service family life.
