Welcome to our web page!
Coordinator Christine
Mathonnet
Average membership in 2003 14 spouses
Nationalities 8
Languages spoken 8
Pointe Noire is the second largest city and the main port in the Republic of
Congo. Here is a quick profile for prospective new arrivals.
Before arrival:
Language: French is the main language used.
Currency: CFA. 1 euro = approx 600 CFA
Weather: Tropical, with distinct wet and dry seasons. Temp. 20s and 30s C.
Getting there: Journey time about 12 hours from Paris (8 - 9 hours flying time
plus connections).
Time zone: Same as France, but minus 1 hour during European Summer Time. (Apr -
Oct)
Health:
- Yellow fever vaccination mandatory. Certificate is checked
on arrival.
- Malaria is a serious risk. Get medical advice on and
check SLB guidelines.
- Other vaccinations also recommended.
Visas: Usually required. Check requirements with SLB.
Housing: Provided by SLB according to WSA Housing Policy.
Schools: French-system primary and secondary school. Local schools.
Medical: Medical facilities are limited. There is a SLB-approved clinic staffed
partly by French doctors, and there are several pharmacies in town, but think
ahead about anything important you might need and bring it with you until you
see what is available locally.
Shopping: Food: You will find plentiful fish and shellfish, supermarkets with
imported goods, and local markets selling local produce. See SSA Info when you
arrive.
Other: Difficult to find certain things - especially for babies and children.
Limited choice of clothes, shoes, sports gear, toys, books, cosmetics and
special equipment (baby car seats, for example). Again, think ahead.
Leisure: See SSA Info on arrival for more details. Generally, sports, the beach
and eating out are the most popular pastimes for weekends. Some weekday
activities are also available for spouses. It helps if you can speak some
French.
On arrival:
Greeting: SLB provides an agent to meet you at Pointe Noire airport and take you
to your designated house or hotel.
Precautions:
- Drink only bottled or boiled water, avoid ice cubes in bars
and
restaurants and be careful eating salads.
- Protect yourself from mosquito bites, escpecially after dusk.
- Pay attention to the SLB security recommendations re. driving, going
out at night etc.
SSA Activities:
Currently we have an ongoing craft workshop twice a week, monthly coffee/tea
get-togethers and social evenings or beach outings 3 or 4 times a year.
International Communications:
Telephone communications are difficult and expensive. The mail is unreliable,
but letters can be sent in the weekly SLB mailbag to Paris to be posted there.
E-mail is the best way to keep in touch. Spouses can use SLB's dialup to
connect from home, and there is a room at the SLB base where they can use the
office network. However, be warned that the connection can be very slow in both
cases due to the local infrastructure.
Work possibilities for spouses:
Office-type employment is limited unless you are fluent in French. However,
entrepreneurial activities which target the expat community (such as
hairdressing, teaching English, teaching aerobics, yoga etc.) are possibilities
for everyone.
We hope this has helped to give you some idea of SLB expat life in Pointe Noire.
Please don't hesitate to contact us for more information.
SSA Pointe Noire
Web page writers:
Ruth
Wilson
Rubee Carter
Ideas
Pictures of Beach, art sellers and SSA - Basic map of Congo
Local Recipe (crocodile?) Local pastimes (growing veg?) |
