It’s hard to know where to start, this whole experience in Zambia has been so much more than I could ever have ever expected already and it’s only been a week! My mind is completely blown by how culturally different and yet unbelievably enjoyable this place is. Every day brings something new and it seems like we are constantly on the go and experiencing new things. Whether it is my Visa card being swallowed by an ATM for 2 days or haggling down the price of a beautiful African painting in one of the many local markets from 75,000 Kwacha to 30,000 (which is like… £4), my journal is going to be overflowing with incredible experiences in no time.
Our trip over took nearly 40 hours and was quite tiring, especially having to sleep on an airport bench in Johannesburg overnight. The exhaustion wasn’t helped by the fact that when we woke up in the morning and went to check the status of our flight we were told by officials that is “didn’t exist”! Amy and I sorted it out soon enough though and our arrival was only slightly delayed as our flight had a quick stop over in Zimbabwe. Patrick Kayawe (our main contact here) was awaiting our arrival at the airport and has been an absolute gem ever since. He treated us to dinner at the Waterfront where there were signs like ‘do not feed the monkeys’. He also took us on a tour of DALICE (David Livingstone College of Education) where we got an idea of what the lectures, living conditions and provided food there are like (extremely different if you’re wondering… they made Stran halls look like a five star hotel and Chatz food look like Christmas dinner), we even participated in an impromptu volleyball game!
The people are incredibly hospitable, to the extent that even though I have heard a million times over that the African people are so friendly, I am still shocked every time strangers on the streets turn into approachable (or more aptly, ‘approaching’) friends. I’m sure it’s just because of the colour of our skin and there is the odd mumble of ‘Mzungo’ (which means white person), but all the waving and smiling people wanting to introduce themselves to the foreign teacher is altogether quite welcoming. When we met our class for the first time, they all beamed and cheered as they heard the “teachers from oversees” would be with their class for six weeks and have remained as enthusiastic. Today we were walking through the markets after school when a few kids from our class spotted us and eagerly ran up to us giving us big hugs. They are so adorable!
Apparently there is a phrase here- “treat a stranger with kindness and you will see her true heart”. This has definitely been evident thus far. Florence, a friend we have made from a different part of Zambia even invited us to her granny’s house for a traditional dinner a few days ago where we tried nshima, Okra, eggplant, pumpkin leaves and other delicacies which we had to eat with our hands!
It seems time here is about a series of events rather than a concept which corresponds with the numbers on a clock. Generally speaking, we have waited between 40 minutes and 3 hours for people to arrive somewhere and they don’t usually see this as an apology worthy offence. It can be a little bit frustrating when you are up and ready for 8am (the time you are supposed to be meeting) and they don’t arrive (or even text to say they’ll be late) for another few hours. That will take some getting used to and I just hope it doesn’t make me too relaxed because I can see being a few hours late to class or to meet friends causing some serious problems at home!
We have started going to Lubasi orphanage where we have arranged to teach some extra lessons twice a week. It’s pretty heart-breaking to see how little they have in comparison to most children at home. It has been very interesting just talking to some of the children and playing football with them. They’re very open about how they got there and how long they have lived there- talking about their parents who have passed away or are unable to care for them. Their spirits remain high despite all they have been through. Even things like playing noughts and crosses or hangman with a stick in the mud make them happy. The short ‘bus’ back is also an experience in itself. Being crammed into a rickety minivan with way more people than it’s meant to hold, as it coerces its’ way along the most potholed streets I’ve ever seen, is quite nauseating, but entertaining nonetheless. I tell you, never again will I complain about the three or four unfilled potholes on my road at home!
The weather here is like sitting in the ‘Rainforest Café’, with a small child going trigger happy on the climate changing switch. One minute you’re basking in the incredible heat of the African sunshine and the next, the town is trembling with the roars of thunder and alight with intense flashes as the rain pours and people run for shelter. An hour later, you pass a woman with a baby in a colourful makeshift sling across her back, carrying a basket of orange mushrooms on her head and find yourself wondering if you need to put some more sun cream on. It’s quite bizarre!
I’m looking forward to getting stuck into teaching in our Grade Six class of about 63 eleven to fourteen year olds! So far it seems that they are very attentive and have been writing us letters and singing us tear-jerking songs already. The next week seems like it’s shaping up to be as busy as the last and I’m sure we’ll learn even more about the African way of life!
LOVE the line: "...like sitting in the ‘Rainforest Café’, with a small child going trigger happy on the climate changing switch."
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