Week 3: 20/02/2011 ‘Best weekend of my life’ (Personal experience)

We have had yet another wonderful week here, filled with different experiences. School was much the same as last week but we’re more into the routine now. We started giving the kids basic phonic lessons and doing a spelling test with them every day. The words are all basic three letter words like “bad” and “hit” but they still struggle immensely with them. I received an incredible package from my eldest sister. Alongside some sweeties and photos of my nieces and nephews, it was jammers with resources for school like stickers and colouring books. You would know she’s a teacher! The kids go crazy for the stamps she sent.

On Monday we had a lovely Valentine’s Day, getting plenty of unexpected cards, flowers and chocolates from the kids in school and very thoughtful friends. Then on Tuesday, we made a trip to the hospital to get Amy’s knee looked at. The doctor prescribed a bunch of tablets which we later found out were actually for respiratory problems. We then had some trouble arranging payment for the consultation as we had only brought insurance papers and not enough money… We went for a nice long walk to the nearest ATM and on our way Byson, the taxi driver who had brought us to the tiny hospital pulled up alongside us. He had been driving up and down the road just in case we needed a lift anywhere else and offered to ferry us back and forth. Africa’s a bit weird like that.

The past three days have resulted in what I can only describe as the best weekend of my life. We were fairly shattered by the time Friday afternoon came around after lots of long days and some mid-week dancing. So when lunchtime arrived, we both collapsed on our towels for some serious sun-soaking. This didn’t last long though as Des, a local friend, asked us if we would like to go on a friend’s jet boat with him so we threw some clothes on and headed out.

It was the strangest experience sitting in this Landrover with no seats in the back, resting against petrol canisters (slightly unsafe perhaps as Tony, who was driving, lit cigarette after cigarette…), with 5 Zambians, one of whom was from a local village and had 8 wives and 36 children between the ages of 7 and 22. Another of them was unable to fit in and so held onto the back of the car as we flew down the muddy, bumpy roads. The private extreme jet boating with just 5 of us on this massive boat bombing through the Zambezi River was a lot of fun but it was the experiences on the way home that really made the trip. We drove the dirt track back through the little villages looking in amazement at the tiny, empty, straw roofed huts that house entire families. We also got to experience the perks of being friends with some locals. We stopped to join in a native football game out on the grass; we got water pumped for us by kids at a bore hole; we got chased by adorable kids with swollen bellies; and we tried a local beer called ‘shake-shake’ which tasted like warm, lumpy vomit, mixed with petrol.

The excitement continued after this though as Tony pulled off the beaten track (literally) and led us to a small animal enclosure. The view was breath-taking and we were extremely privileged to experience a not-yet-open-to-tourists encounter with 6 month old baby white lion cubs. They were so cute and fluffy, like teddies that had come to life! They rolled around and climbed on top of us like kittens! Then we were able to go in and play with the cheetahs, which was slightly scary as they purred a hungry purr. We then made it back in time to be treated to a scrumptious candle lit dinner with flowers and wine by two strapping young English men. It was the perfect ending to the perfect day.

On Saturday, I was up in the early hours to head off white water rafting. It’s something I had wanted to do for quite a while and had been putting it off because Amy’s knee was acting up. Because of high water though, this was my last chance. I had mentioned it to quite a few of our friends here, in the hopes that I wouldn’t have to do it alone and in the end about 12 of us decided to do it which was ideal. We got to travel on one of those typical open-top safari trucks before we climbed for about half an hour down the rocks to the river. Even when we were getting into the boat, it didn’t click with me that being in an inflatable boat whilst being thrashed around the rapids that follow Victoria Falls would be in anyway scary. It was terrifying. I think I may well have actually died for a few seconds!

On one of the first big grade 5 rapids, our boat was completely flipped, scattering and nearly drowning all of us. I was thrown under the water unaware of which way was up and which way was down for what seemed like a lifetime. When I finally reached the surface for a quick gasp of air, my head was stuck underneath the edge of the boat before another huge wave hit, filling my lungs with water. I was shaking for hours afterwards and hearing that about 3 people die doing it every year didn’t help, but it was so worth it!

Then, after a nice cold shower and some serious after-sun application, we all enjoyed a peaceful sunset cruise along the calmer part of the river. Watching the bright sun disappearing along the African horizon, as we spotted hippos and crocodiles in the water, was indescribable.

With Sunday, came a delightful fundraiser in the orphanage with traditional dance and food. My mother would have been very impressed at the amount of… ‘different’ foods I tried! No doubt there are many more fascinating experiences to come!