Sea People
Of so many aspects that interest me in life, I have chosen the subject of the sea for this blog. It was not a difficult choice, since I received promises of support from seven divers.
As I write these first words, the only lines in my mind are from a Portuguese poetess which I recite here from memory: “Quando eu morrer hei-de voltar/Para viver os momentos que estive longe do mar”. (When I die I shall return/To live the moments spent far from the sea.) These words by Sophia de Mello Breyner Anderson always had a special meaning to me. This space will show how much the sea is present in our lives: my life, family life and seven of my favorite divers’ lives.
Paul, TD, Andy, JP, Jo, Vic and NB started diving for fun, and now most of them are professional divers. Basically, I expect to write about “The Seven Divers”, but other people will appear too. We have been living in the beautiful and suffering continent of Africa. Blogging about our experiences and adventures is a good way to remember all the unforgettable moments we are spending in here.
Since hunters and fisherman are famous for exaggerating their accounts, I expect to illustrate, when possible, the facts I write about. I hope to amuse myself and a few others along the way. At the same time, I want to give you an idea of our ways in this town leaned over a blue bay.
Above all, the eight of us have a quest: for quite sometime we have been dreaming and planning an underwater treasure expedition, a legal adventure. I cannot say a lot on this subject, but I intend to post about it from time to time. Blogging will only stop if “esperança” (hope) died or when this quest is accomplished.
Writing
The option for a blog in English was in part taken due to personal reasons. I also intend to write in Portuguese, my “mother language”. The second language I learned was French, and only after I started my English classes.
I can write easily, but in English it’s so different! Usually I post a text, and I keep modifying it and finding mistakes until I feel reasonably satisfied. It is also easy to tell that I write almost like a schoolgirl, but I am always trying to improve. If you don’t find my subjects interesting, you can always spend some time guessing if I am going to spot any mistake left behind…
Caring
Someone close to me made an opportune observation about this space: “Seabell,” she pointed out, “I know that you live like this down there, but for other people used to the media image of Mozambique you can sound a little snob!”
Gosh! Do I sound like a tropical snob? I write about the way we live, but at same point I want to say that I care. I’m not blind when the subject is suffering. I will show it in three or four thematic posts. Just because I decided to write about one specific subject, that doesn’t mean I am not aware of the rest.
On the other hand, I know that the sea doesn’t appeal to all as it’s evident in Lewis Carroll words: “Pour some salt water over the floor/Ugly I’m sure you’ll allow it to be/Suppose it extended a mile or more/THAT’S very like the Sea.” Before starting I read a few established blogs and I am well aware that I picked a curious subject, but not as popular as sport, gossip, religion, sex and a few others. So then, as I cannot please everybody I stick by my sea narrative for the time being.
