The absolutely most precious thing that has happened to me here in Mozambique is that I have become adopted into this family. I am swept up into a different current of every day life and relationships where I am invited to participate just as I am. It is new, scary, humbling and so, so loving. It is unconditional. And sometimes I still have to shake myself as I am filled with disbelief at the fact that I actually get to be here, that I am welcome and that I belong.

The heads of our family are Mãe and Vovo Nuna. Vovo Nuna works shifts as a security guard, which makes him spend every other day at home and every other day away. Mãe sometimes works odd jobs out of the house, such as de-featheting or preparing chickens, but mostly she stays at home and works here. From the yard she sells coal to neighbours, takes care of the house, the chickens and ducks, plays with Nalda, chats with neighbours and is an overall loving and gentle presence.

Nalda is our princess, she is soon to be four and right now she loves to watch anything on a smartphone screen. She spends a lot of her time crying and fussing but also eating sand, climbing on everybody and asking what things are. She is provoking a lot, but we forgive her easily because she is so cute.

Fermon and Mana Arcenia are Naldas parents. Fermon is Mães youngest son of three and the reason I stay here, as he is the one who introduced me to his mother when I was looking for someone to teach me Mozambican cooking. His daily job is at an office, but as a side job he is a singer and works very hard on his creative vision and promoting himself as an artist. (You can find him right here.)

Mana Arcenia is Fermons wife and just one of the most beautiful and gentle women I know. She stays at home mostly and takes care of the house and Nalda radiating calm patience, but she is equally witty, loves to joke and will easily tease and make fun. We have been cooking quite a bit together as she has been teaching me about the local dishes and I in turn have showed her how to make stuff like lasagna and pancakes, the Swedish palt and rårakor, and Russian varenniki.

Living with us is also Chikinia, or Francisca, the 19-year old daughter of Fermons oldest brother. She goes to school in the evenings and spends most of her days hanging around, doing chores, braiding the hair of her friends in the neighbourhood and singing.

And there are many more, coming and going. Freddy, the curious 14-year old nephew who lives with Mana Arcenias mother, tio Saboroso as Mana Arcenia jokingly calls Fermons brother Vincent, the many neighbours and friends who pop by at times to chat. The house is always calm and full of love and jokes as the dishes get washed and the laundry dries.

And I have come to find my place here. Mostly through cooking together or cooking for the family; I am equally happy to learn how to make coconut milk or cut cabbage really, really fine as I am to wing chocolate chip cookies to enjoy together. My Portugese is slowly improving as I try out words together with Nalda and I am very slowly slipping into Changana as Mãe and Vovo Nuna greet me when I come back from dance class. Their smiles at my attempts at the local language are always encouraging, even as I forget almost all the words immediately. We laugh, chat and play together. I adapt, grow and change, and through this all, I feel so very, very loved.

The absolutely most precious thing that has happened to me here in Mozambique is that I have become adopted into this family. I am swept up into a different current of every day life and relationships where I am invited to participate just as I am. It is new, scary, humbling and so, so loving. It is unconditional. And sometimes I still have to shake myself as I am filled with disbelief at the fact that I actually get to be here, that I am welcome and that I belong.

The heads of our family are Mãe and Vovo Nuna. Vovo Nuna works shifts as a security guard, which makes him spend every other day at home and every other day away. Mãe sometimes works odd jobs out of the house, such as de-featheting or preparing chickens, but mostly she stays at home and works here. From the yard she sells coal to neighbours, takes care of the house, the chickens and ducks, plays with Nalda, chats with neighbours and is an overall loving and gentle presence.

Nalda is our princess, she is soon to be four and right now she loves to watch anything on a smartphone screen. She spends a lot of her time crying and fussing but also eating sand, climbing on everybody and asking what things are. She is provoking a lot, but we forgive her easily because she is so cute.

Fermon and Mana Arcenia are Naldas parents. Fermon is Mães youngest son of three and the reason I stay here, as he is the one who introduced me to his mother when I was looking for someone to teach me Mozambican cooking. His daily job is at an office, but as a side job he is a singer and works very hard on his creative vision and promoting himself as an artist. (You can find him right here.)

Mana Arcenia is Fermons wife and just one of the most beautiful and gentle women I know. She stays at home mostly and takes care of the house and Nalda radiating calm patience, but she is equally witty, loves to joke and will easily tease and make fun. We have been cooking quite a bit together as she has been teaching me about the local dishes and I in turn have showed her how to make stuff like lasagna and pancakes, the Swedish palt and rårakor, and Russian varenniki.

Living with us is also Chikinia, or Francisca, the 19-year old daughter of Fermons oldest brother. She goes to school in the evenings and spends most of her days hanging around, doing chores, braiding the hair of her friends in the neighbourhood and singing.

And there are many more, coming and going. Freddy, the curious 14-year old nephew who lives with Mana Arcenias mother, tio Saboroso as Mana Arcenia jokingly calls Fermons brother Vincent, the many neighbours and friends who pop by at times to chat. The house is always calm and full of love and jokes as the dishes get washed and the laundry dries.

And I have come to find my place here. Mostly through cooking together or cooking for the family; I am equally happy to learn how to make coconut milk or cut cabbage really, really fine as I am to wing chocolate chip cookies to enjoy together. My Portugese is slowly improving as I try out words together with Nalda and I am very slowly slipping into Changana as Mãe and Vovo Nuna greet me when I come back from dance class. Their smiles at my attempts at the local language are always encouraging, even as I forget almost all the words immediately.

We laugh, chat and play together. I adapt, grow and change and through this all, I feel so very, very loved.

…

(This story told in pictures.)