Andrew Stegmann

Expat Perspective: How to Create a Happy Wardrobe

This article was originally published by Vivian Chiona of Expat Nest.

If you’re emigrating, presumably many factors in your life are changing. There’s a big adjustment period you may have to go through, and this can be stressful. For some, their wardrobe is a reflection of their personality, or even their mental state. A happy wardrobe may help you get through the cultural and lifestyle changes involved with becoming an expat.

What you wear and how you feel about your clothes can affect your mood, attitude and confidence. Image and style consultant Neha Bhandari discusses why and offers some simple tips to creating a wardrobe that you feel good about.

Clothing is about so much more than just “throwing a few items together”. The way we dress is a form of self-expression, and our “look” also influences the way others perceive and respond to us.

Studies affirm that what we wear also affects our psychological state. For example, when you catch sight of a garment that you’ve been complimented on before, all the good feelings that you experienced at the time return. You feel positive about that item, and positive about wearing it! Conversely, opening your wardrobe and being confronted by clothing you don’t like or that doesn’t suit or fit you well fosters negativity. And most of us will avoid an outfit we were wearing when something negative happened, such as an accident, breakup, or job loss.

Our clothes can bring up strong emotional associations – some positive, some negative. The good news is that we can actively enhance our happiness by wearing items that evoke positive feelings, elicit positive reactions from others, or remind us of positive experiences. We can all think of instances when we have chosen an outfit with the deliberate intent to change our mood – for example, to bolster our confidence before a job interview or a date.

Fashion is a powerful tool in your everyday life. As well as enhancing our psychological state, how we are dressed can improve our performance of tasks. We achieve more when we feel we are dressed appropriately for an occasion.

It’s all about style – your style

In our materialistic society, the fundamental purposes of clothing – like protection against the elements and self-expression – can be lost in the relentless pursuit of the next trend. Fashion trends come and go… style is forever and for everyone! Whatever shape or age you may be, you deserve to look and feel your best. You deserve to empower yourself and enjoy your wardrobe.

Attaining body confidence can be difficult, though, as it is influenced by how you view your physique and by your belief systems. We are our own worst critics; we shouldn’t be so hard on ourselves!

Here are simple ways to feel more positive and confident about the way you dress:

  • Emphasise your best feature(s) in the way you dress – this will immediately boost your confidence. We all have at least one feature that is fantastic.
  • Choose clothes that work for you and for your body instead of blindly following trends.
  • Choose pieces that make you feel like your best self. Sometimes the wrong size or an awkward fit can trigger insecurity.
  • Treat yourself to a visit with a personal style consultant – it’s fun to explore different options with an expert and you’ll learn what does and doesn’t work for you.
  • Invest in a colour analysis done by a personal stylist – this will help you make better and quicker shopping decisions.
  • Start with building your foundation/basics wardrobe – doing this will help you create multiple outfits with a combination of basic and high fashion pieces.
  • Analyse your lifestyle to decipher how you spend your time – your wardrobe should represent your lifestyle. For example, if you go out or party 20% of the time, your party clothes shouldn’t exceed 20-25% of your wardrobe.

Create a happy wardrobe

Your clothing can make you feel frustrated…. or it can ignite an amazing sense of confidence and self-love, and give you the opportunity to show off your unique style and personality.

Everyone has a particular type of clothing that they gravitate toward when browsing through the items on display in a store – something you cannot walk past without stopping to touch it. Cosy wool knit, fierce leopard print, dazzling sequins or soft cashmere? Pay attention to your emotions when you shop and identify what makes your body and senses react. If you’re happy when you buy it, chances are you’ll be happy when you wear it!

Your goal is to create a wardrobe that you love dipping into every morning, and that makes you feel incredible. I like to call it a happy wardrobe. But remember, you’re never fully dressed without your smile!

For information as to how Relocation Africa can help you with your Mobility, Immigration, Research, Remuneration, and Expat Tax needs, email info@relocationafrica.com, or call us on +27 21 763 4240.

Sources: [1], [2]. Image sources: [1], [2].

Andrew Stegmann

Expat Perspective: Silence in Our Lives

This article was first published by Vivian Chiona of Expat Nest.

Emigrating can be stressful. Sometimes a bit of silence can be key in sustaining our sanity throughout the process.

Silence. It’s something so natural and known to us, yet also something so rare that we don’t have enough of it. The importance of silence is increasing as our environments become more filled with noise and distraction. Counsellor and health psychologist Kristýna Maulenová digs deeper.

Do we need silence?

Our ancestors had to be quiet in order to survive, to find food. They kept their ears open for risks and opportunities. This is still true today: if we don’t listen out, we miss both dangers we should avoid and opportunities we’d like to pursue.

But… car horns, aeroplanes, televisions, phones ringing, clocks ticking, smartphone notifications, police and ambulance sirens, YouTube videos, dogs barking, people talking, loud music, advertisements… our daily lives are filled with noise. 

Being exposed to noise has been associated with a number of adverse medical and psychological effects. These include hypertension (high blood pressure) and cardiovascular disease, deafness or impaired hearing, impaired sleep rhythm and sleepiness during daytime, decreased hospital personnel performance and worsened patients’ outcomes, decreased well-being, increased and chronic stress, annoyance, as well as heightened aggression and violence and lowered willingness to help others.

Noise can be harmful for children too. Exposed to too much noise, they show delayed development in mental abilities such as working memory and attention. Their reading ability may also delayed and below average.

In fact, the World Health Organisation recognizes excessive noise (noise pollution) as a serious threat to the functioning, health and wellbeing of humans.

Is it just about the noise, or something deeper? 

Silence is not only the absence of artificial sounds (electronic and transportation noises, for example) but an absence of distractions that prevent the mind from being calm. In other words, silence can also be about choosing to put our phones, books and other activities away. We can choose stillness. Now, that might feel unnecessary and pointless: there is so much to know, to learn, to listen to, to watch, to hear, to read… 

But even if you don’t notice it much, ongoing stimuli from inside or outside exhausts your attention, your working memory, your mind. Think about it: when was the last time you did ‘nothing’? I don’t mean procrastinating, or doing something you don’t like much (say, attending a boring meeting or being stuck in a traffic jam), but just standing, sitting or lying down and deliberately not doing anything – nothing but listening to the sounds around you, your mental chatter, and breathing in and out; in and out…

Bring more silence into your life

  • First, start noticing what your body and mind are telling you when you are surrounded by noise, and, in contrast, by silence.
  • Physically protect yourself from noise pollution, either by avoiding loud places, or by using sound-blocking tools such as ear plugs.
  • Put distractions away for longer periods of time. If you are new to practicing silence, five minutes daily is enough. 
  • Go into nature! Being in a forest, for example, can have many benefits.

Bear in mind, though, that encountering silence isn’t easy. As with anything new, replacing noise with silence might initially bring up some intense feelings. But it’s also the only way we can listen to what truly matters to us. Sit with it… let it settle… trust the silence.

For information as to how Relocation Africa can help you with your Mobility, Immigration, Research, Remuneration, and Expat Tax needs, email info@relocationafrica.com, or call us on +27 21 763 4240.

Sources: [1], [2]. Image sources: [1], [2].

Andrew Stegmann

From The Hippo’s Ears: The Republic of the Congo

Facts you may not have know about The Republic of the Congo:

The Republic of the Congo (République du Congo), also known as Congo-Brazzaville, the Congo Republic, RotC, or simply the Congo, is a country located in the western coast of Central Africa.

The Congo is a unitary dominant-party semi-presidential republic, and gained independence from France in 1960.

1.  When you first meet someone, how do you greet them?

The handshake is the most common greeting, and those close to each other may hug when greeting. Hello in Lingala is “mbote”. How are you is “ndenge nini?. In French, these would be “bonjour” and “comment allez-vous?” respectively.

2. What languages are spoken in the country?

The Congo has four official languages – French, Lingala, Kituba, and Kikongo. 62 spoken languages are recognized in the country. French and Kituba are very common. Lingala is influential in the sparsely inhabited northern half of the country.

3. Do you use a twelve hour clock, or a twenty-four hour clock?

We use a 24-hour system.

4. What side of the road do people drive on? What do we need to know about driving in the country?

We drive on the right side of road.

5. How important is punctuality?

Time is flexible in the Congo. People don’t always arrive on time for meetings – this is part of the culture.

6. Which types of music are popular? Who are some of the most popular musicians?

The Republic is home to the Sub-Saharan African music traditions of the Kongo (48%), Sangha (20%), M’Bochi (12%) and Teke (17%) people. Folk instruments in the Republic of the Congo include the xylophone and mvet. The mvet is a kind of zither-harp, similar to styles found elsewhere in both Africa and Asia. The mvet is made of a long tube with one or two gourds acting as resonators. The Congo also shares popular music genres with its neighbor, the DRC, including soukous, a dance music genre.

For a taste of soukous music, listen to Dibolo Dibala’s Michel.

Pointe-Noire, Congo.

7. Are there any Traditional Dances?

One popular kind of dance in the Congo is ngoma. It is centered around traditional ngoma drum rhythms, Ngoma involves people coming together in rhythmic music and dance to address “difficult issues”, often related to health or life transitions. Mabiba Baegne is an internationally-acclaimed ngoma teacher.

Watch Mabiba Baegne’s dancing here.

8.  What traditional Festivals are celebrated in the country?

Feux de Brazza

The Feux de Brazza is a popular international festival of traditional music created in 2005 and that takes place in Brazzaville, the Republic of Congo. The festival is held every two years alternating with the Pan-African Music Festival (FESPAM) and it favors traditional cultural exchanges.

The international festival welcomes groups of African artists, musicians, dancers, painters, and researchers. Burning firewood is lighted to inaugurate the event and symbolizes ancestral practices that should be preserved. The Feux de Brazza was established to safeguard African traditions so that future generations will continue to be aware of the continent’s rich culture. The festival is a challenge to the younger generation to preserve Africa’s culture of music and dance.

FESPAM (Panafrican Music Festival)

The Pan-African Music Festival is a multidimensional event that takes place every two years in Brazzaville. It has existed since 1993. It offers musical performances, a symposium, a permanent exhibition of musical instruments, training workshops, the Miss FESPAM event and other related activities.

Besides its cultural aspect, FESPAM is a scientific institution where researchers can explore, analyze, and evaluate the multifaceted aspects of African music. The festival offers a space for experts and musicologists to meet and discuss their work.

FESPAM is organized by the government of the Republic of Congo, under the aegis of the African Union (AU) and in partnership with UNESCO CICIBA, CIM, and AFRICOM.

9. What are the seasons like?

Since the country is located on the Equator, the climate is consistent year-round, with the average day temperature a humid 24 °C (75 °F) and nights generally between 16 °C (61 °F) and 21 °C (70 °F). The average yearly rainfall ranges from 1,100 millimeters (43 in) in the Niari Valley in the south to over 2,000 millimeters (79 in) in central parts of the country. The dry season is from June to August, while in the majority of the country the wet season has two rainfall maxima: one in March–May and another in September–November.

10. What are some interesting facts about the President?

President Denis Sassou Nguesso has served in the position since 25 October 1997. During his first period as President, he headed the single-party régime of the Congolese Party of Labour (PCT) for 12 years. Under pressure from international sources, he introduced multiparty politics in 1990 and was then stripped of executive powers by the 1991 National Conference, remaining in office as a ceremonial head of state. He stood as a candidate in the 1992 presidential election but was defeated, placing third. He was an opposition leader before returning to power during the Second Civil War (1997–1999), in which his rebel forces ousted President Pascal Lissouba.

The President was born in Edou, in the Oyo district, in northern Congo, in 1943. He is married to Antoinette Sassou Nguesso, a retired teacher.

11. What are the country’s major industries?

The Congo’s main industries are forestry, agriculture, and petroleum. Other industries include brewing, sugar, and palm oil. Exports include cocoa, coffee, plywood, and diamonds. The Congo’s main export partner is China, followed by the United States.

12. What are some of the things visitors can look forward to experiencing?

Major tourist attractions include visiting Nabemba Tower, Pierre Savorgnan de Brazza Memorial, Basilique Sainte-Anne-du-Congo de Brazzaville, Musee National du Congo, and Reserve Naturelle de Gorilles de Lesio-Louna-Lefini.

Brazaville, Congo.

13. What is a popular local drink?

A popular local drink in the Congo is palm wine – a fermented beverage made from the sap of a wild palm tree.

14. What is a popular local dish?

Popular dishes in the Congo include manioc (cassava root served as cubes with fish or meat); makobe (freshwater fish seasoned with chili, and cooked in marantacee leaves); and plantains (similar to bananas, which are fried like chips).

15. What do you pay, on average, for the following?

The Congo uses the Central African franc (CFA). (1 USD = approximately 594 CFA).

3-course meal at a mid-range restaurant: 10,696 CFA
Apples (1 kg): 3,550 CFA
Milk (1 l): 1,188 CFA
Cappuccino: 1,782 CFA
Water (350 ml): 511 CFA
Loaf of white bread: 653 CFA

16. Any general safety tips?

  • Travel is advised against within 50km of the border with the Central African Republic in Likouala region, as well as the Boko, Kindamba, Kinkala, Mayama and Mindouli districts of Pool region, and the Mouyondzi district of Bouenza region.
  • Previous periods of unrest have seen an increased police and military presence in Brazzaville. You should maintain a high level of security awareness, avoid political protests and avoid travel after dark.
  • Check whether you have consular support before traveling to the Congo.
  • While not common, violent crime, such as armed robbery and assault, remains a concern throughout the Republic of the Congo.

17. In conclusion, famous (and sometimes infamous) people from the country include:

  • Jadelin Mabiala Gangbo, a novelist and writer born in Brazzaville in 1976.
  • Emmanuel Boundzéki Dongala, a novelist who has authored many award-winning books.
  • François M’Pelé, a former professional footballer, who has played for teams in the Congo, as well as in Europe.

 

For information as to how Relocation Africa  can help you with your Mobility, Immigration, Research, and Remuneration needs, email info@relocationafrica.com, or call us on +27 21 763 4240.

Sources: [1], [2], [3], [4], [5], [6], [7], [8], [9]. Image sources: [1], [2], Global Witness [3].

Andrew Stegmann

From The Hippo’s Ears: The Democratic Republic of the Congo

Written by Quintin Coetzee

Facts you may not have know about The Democratic Republic of the Congo:

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (République démocratique du Congo), also known as DR Congo, the DRC, DROC, Congo-Kinshasa, or simply the Congo, is a country located in Central Africa. It is, by area, the largest country in sub-Saharan Africa, the second-largest in all of Africa.

The DRC is a unitary semi-presidential constitutional republic, and gained independence from Belgium in 1960.

1.  When you first meet someone, how do you greet them?

Common greetings include handshakes, as well as hugs and cheek kisses for those who know each other well. Hello in Lingala is “mbote”. How are you is “ndenge nini?. In French, these would be “bonjour” and “comment allez-vous?” respectively.

2. What languages are spoken in the country?

French is the official language of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is culturally accepted as the lingua franca facilitating communication among the many different ethnic groups of the Congo. According to a 2014 OIF report, 33 million Congolese people (47% of the population) could read and write in French.

Approximately 242 languages are spoken in the country, but only four have the status of national languages: Kituba (“Kikongo ya leta”), Lingala, Tshiluba, and Swahili.

3. Do you use a twelve hour clock, or a twenty-four hour clock?

We use a 24-hour system.

4. What side of the road do people drive on? What do we need to know about driving in the country?

We drive on the right side of road.

5. How important is punctuality?

Time is flexible in DRC. People don’t always arrive on time for meetings – this is part of the culture.

6. Which types of music are popular? Who are some of the most popular musicians?

Music is a large part of Congolese culture. The DRC has blended its ethnic musical sources with Cuban rumba, and merengue to give birth to soukous, a genre of dance music from the Congo Basin.It derived from Congolese rumba in the 1960s and gained popularity in the 1980s in France.

For a taste of soukous music, listen to Dibolo Dibala’s Michel.

Aerial view of Kinshasa, the DRC’s capital.

7. Are there any Traditional Dances?

Kwassa kwassa is a dance created by Jeannora, a mechanic in Kinshasa. It started in the 1980s, spread across Africa, and was made popular by soukous music videos.

Watch kwassa kwassa dancing here.

8.  What traditional Festivals are celebrated in the country?

National Heroes’ Day

Referred to as “Heroes’ Day,” this public holiday is celebrated annually on January 17. It commemorates the death of Patrice Lumumba, the Congo’s popular leader. It is one of the two festivals that commemorate Lumumba’s fight for human dignity in the region.

National Liberation Day

The Congo observes National Liberation Day every year on May 17. This is a public holiday, so all offices and most businesses are closed. It pays tribute to the efforts of the Movement for the Liberation of the Congo rebel group who fought the government during the second war. MLC was led by Jean-Pierre Bemba, the son of Bemba Saolona, a Congolese billionaire. Street parades and cultural shows are held.

Parents’ Day

The world observes Parents’ Day every August 1, but in the Congo, it is considered a public holiday. Locals are enthusiastic about giving greeting cards and gifts to their family.

9. What are the seasons like?

The Democratic Republic of the Congo lies on the equator, with one-third of the country to the north and two-thirds to the south. The climate is hot and humid in the river basin and cool and dry in the southern highlands, with a cold, alpine climate in the Rwenzori Mountains.

South of the equator, the rainy season lasts from October to May and north of the Equator, from April to November. Along the Equator, rainfall is fairly regular throughout the year. During the wet season, thunderstorms often are violent but seldom last more than a few hours. The average rainfall for the entire country is about 1,070 mm (42 in).

10. What are some interesting facts about the President?

President Félix Tshisekedi has served in the position since January 2019. He is the leader of the Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS), the oldest and largest party of the Democratic Republic of Congo, succeeding his father – Étienne Tshisekedi – in the role. Tshisekedi’s election at the end of 2018 marked the first peaceful transition of power since the DRC became independent from Belgium in 1960.

11. What are the country’s major industries?

The Democratic Republic of Congo is widely considered one of the world’s richest countries in natural resources; its untapped deposits of raw minerals were estimated in 2011 to be worth in excess of US$24 trillion. The DRC’s main exports are gold, diamonds, copper, cobalt, crude oil, and wood.

12. What are some of the things visitors can look forward to experiencing?

Major tourist attractions include visiting Lac Ma Vallée, Mount Mangengenge, and the National Museum of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

View down a road in Kinshasa.

13. What is a popular local drink?

Ginger drinks and rice-based beers are popular. Linguila is a local wine made by fermenting sugar cane.

14. What is a popular local dish?

Popular DRC dishes include Chikwangue/kwanga (cassava, cooked and stored in banana leaves); loso na madesu (rice and beans); and liboke Ya mbika (steamed pumpkin seed pudding).

15. What do you pay, on average, for the following?

The DRC uses the Congolese franc (CDF). (1 USD = approximately 1,666 CFA).

3-course meal at a mid-range restaurant: 10,796 CDF
Apples (1 kg): 9,996 CDF
Milk (1 l): 3,382 CDF
Cappuccino: 5,198 CDF
Water (350 ml): 1,283 CDF
Loaf of white bread: 2,116 CDF

16. Any general safety tips?

  • Crime is common, and being vigilant is advised.
  • You should avoid using any taxis in DRC. If you must take a taxi, use a privately booked one. Don’t hail taxis in the street.
  • On 17 July 2019, the World Health Organisation declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) following an outbreak of the Ebola virus in eastern DRC. New cases continue to be reported across the affected areas including the provinces of Ituri, North Kivu and South Kivu.
  • Travel within 50km of the border with the Central African Republic and South Sudan is advised against.

17. In conclusion, famous (and sometimes infamous) people from the country include:

  • Patrice Lumumba, a Congolese politician and independence leader, who served as the first Prime Minister of the independent Democratic Republic of the Congo. He played a significant role in the transformation of the Congo from a colony of Belgium into an independent republic.
  • Robert Kidiaba, former Congolese international footballer who played for TP Mazembe, as a goalkeeper.
  • Le Grand Kallé (Joseph Athanase Tshamala Kabasele), a Congolese singer and bandleader, considered the father of modern Congolese music.

 

For information as to how Relocation Africa  can help you with your Mobility, Immigration, Research, and Remuneration needs, email info@relocationafrica.com, or call us on +27 21 763 4240.

Sources: [1], [2], [3], [4], [5], [6], [7], [8], [9]. Image sources: [1], [2], [3].