Upon arriving at my site here in Mozambique, I decided to make it my mission to make friendships and build trust within my community. One of the best ways to do this, I was told, was through attending church. The major religion of Mozambique is Catholicism. One of the first questions someone will ask upon meeting you, besides your name, is which church you attend. Due to this, I have received an invitation to at least ten different churches since my arrival and made so many friends because of it. Most Mozambicans hold their religious values very dear, and these values often govern life in both cities and provinces. Traditional healing services, which are based in spiritual beliefs held long before Christianity made its appearance through colonialization, are somewhat withheld from foreigners, but once you spend enough time with locals and make friends, you may start attending these services as well.
Another cultural aspect that I was soon made aware of is the concept of "servido". Another way of saying this is that hospitality and sharing are built into the fabric of Mozambican culture. This is often means that any food you cook or have must be offered to your neighbors. This hospitality also extends to other things such as money and items which another may need.
