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Suggestions on Angola Survival Kit: moving in 2 weeks

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worriedinpa

8/10/2008 13:50 EST

My dad is moving to Angola in 2 weeks by himself. Due to my mother's cancer treatments, she cannot accompany him.

He will be living out of a hotel in Luanda for one year (minimum).

This is the first time he has lived alone, so I am a bit worried about him. Moreover, there isn't too much helpful information about practical living in Angola on the internet, so I have begun to fear what might happen there, primarily due to my own (and his) ignorance. He does speak a little Portuguese from the time we lived in Brasil, but he is, shall we say, a little bit careless and a bit ignorant of medical and scientific knowledge. I was hoping the wise people who have already lived in Angola before could help me with preparing an Angola survival kit (for a single man) for him.

Here are some specific things that I need help on (but please feel free to add the numerous items that I almost certainly have neglected to think of):

1) Best way to keep mosquitos away (on the person when moving about, and in the room when sleeping or working).
2) Type of clothing to protect the skin from insects and the sun, without sweating to death.
3) Medications
4) First aid kit? Emergency items?
5) Food that won't spoil in storage and can easily be prepared (he cannot cook after all)

I also have some questions about life in Angola:
1) Must most things be purchased with cash or are Visa/Mastercard accepted?
2) Is banking secure in a physical sense (robberies/muggings at currency exchange?)
3) What is the safest way to send money to Angola?
4) Do couriers like FedEx/DHL reach Angola with reliable service?
5) Is hotel food (at say the top 3 hotels in Luanda) considered safe?
6) Where can English-speaking medical professionals be found using Western-level standards of hygiene?
7) Are electrical surges a problem? (i.e. will he need to get adequate surge protection for his computer, etc.)
Will he be safe living alone? What are the "safe" areas of Luanda? What areas should he avoid visiting alone?
9) What other things should he know? What other information may make his life easier (based on your own experiences)? What are some of the "tricks to success" you have picked up in Angola?

I'd like to express my appreciation in advance for any replies you may post. Thank you.

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mars

8/13/2008 08:55 EST

Hi, saw your post
Don't be worried things are not as fearful as all that
Angola is 3rd world but living in a hotel is easy. There are many fine restaraunts in town but food is exspensive.
The key to life is a good logistics team. A good driver, a cell phone and someone that knows how things work goes a long way.
His portugese will come back to him. And you can always find somepone that speaks english.
Bring whatever medication you need because you will not find what you are actually prescribed here. I'm diabetic and cannot get insulin for instance. I bring it with me.
Any mosquito repelant with DIT in it you can get some at clinics in the us that specialize in travel medicine. You spray it on you clothing and thats it. This time of year the weather is great not hot at all mnosquitos that cary malaria cannot breed in the temperatures common at nite right now. The summer months, our winter, are hot but not as bad as Texas where I am from.
Cash is the only way to do business bring plenty but a Visa Bank card is useful in any ATM they are all over now. No place but a large intenational hotel takes credit cards but everyplace takes dollars and the rate is fixed. Electricity is an issue yes you could use a surge protector but you can buy one here. Check anything that uses electricy if its rated for 240V you just need a cheap adapter. If its only rated at 120V you'll fry it. I bought a transformer at "Bag and Baggage"
Normal precautions about water apply don't drink out of the tap even to brush your teeth. I keep bottled in the bath. DHL does deliver but its fantastically exspensive. USPS global express for a pound package is about $35. Its a hassle but it will arrive in the time specified. DHL for the same is about $200. There are groceries every where and even a mall. Movies etc are current. Over here they have much better foodstuffs than you think. The shoprite at the mall is just like an America supermarket. Like I said don't worry so much it's another country not another planet and he won't need a spacesuit either :-). Things will work out fine. I would make sure my health insurance would cover me overseas things here that we consider normal are fantastically exspensive. A normal checkup or office visit could run thousands. Banking is safe there are large multinationals all over the place. I would not suggest accessing an ATM on a dark corner in the dead of night here or in the states. A year without a return trip seems like a lot. If I were here that long I would make provisions to go to Cape Town or Europe just for fun Angola can be very boring. Is there any way to return to the states at least once or twice?
Luanda is a city of 5 million people all crammed into a city that was beautifully planned in the 60's for 1/2 million. There is a lot here the people are very nice and very proud of their independence. I find it very interesting good luck...and stop worrying.

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