Sitting in the VSO Programme Office in Lusaka, waiting to be given my bits & bobs to go off to my placement proper. Slightly frustrating as I should have got the 10am bus to Chipata (which is an 8 hour journey) and yet I'm still hanging around waiting ... Hey-ho, thought I'd log on and give a quick update:
So Wednesday and Thursday were full-on learning days. We were given workshops on the Culture, History and another on HIV/Aids. The culture and history ones were brilliant, giving a real insight into Zambia. The family structure is interesting and different to ours. For example your Fathers brothers are also your father, and your fathers brothers children are your brothers and sisters. You reverse it so that your Mothers sisters are your mother and so on. So one person can have 12 fathers and 12 mothers and if those 'parents' have lots of kids, you could potentially have 100 brothers and sisters. Cool huh? The History is fascinating too but too little time to go into it here ...will bore everybody to death with it when I get home. One-in-four in Zambia have HIV/Aids which takes some getting used to. Of course, with the great availability of ART's it is not immediately apparent so it was good to have the training and we were priviledged to have two HIV positive people come and give their personal perspectives ...a sobering time, I can tell you!
Met my new employers yesterday, a great young man called Franlin and lovely young lady called Fatness ...we spent a good couple of hours putting together our work-plan and I have much more confidence now that I will be able to do a fairly good job while I'm here.
Last night we were treated to a drinks reception at the British High Commission - each was personally greeted by the High Commissioner, a lady called Carolyn something (sorry, just too many names to rememeb). Anyway, she was most gracious and very welcoming. The official residence was something to behold but not a Ferrero Rochet in sight...!
Must go now, or the bus to Chipata will be leaving without me..... xxxxx
Friday, 26 February 2010
Tuesday, 23 February 2010
Tuesday...
Nothing exciting to report on today ...so far! Food wise, its been pretty normal although I am getting addicted to Nshima which is a cornmeal product and a staple food in Zambia. It's made from ground maize corn flour known locally as mielie-meal. It looks exactly like solid (yet squishy) semolina pudding - its served with every meal and I'm liking it more each day. Of course the great thing about being here on training is that I am provided with three meals a day ...it will be a different story when I am in Chipata cooking my own meals. VSO provide a recipe book so I'll try making Nshima but will give the 'Inswa' (flying ants) a miss!
For anybody interested, here are the instructions (honestly):
1. Switch on the lights outside to which the ants are attracted
2. Catch the insects as they flock to the light with your whole hand and plunge into the water so they can't escape.
3. Fry the ants dry (they have fat in them) and pick over carefully to remove stones and wings
4. Fry again with a little salt.
5. Serve as relish or snack
Good luck everybody!!!!
For anybody interested, here are the instructions (honestly):
1. Switch on the lights outside to which the ants are attracted
2. Catch the insects as they flock to the light with your whole hand and plunge into the water so they can't escape.
3. Fry the ants dry (they have fat in them) and pick over carefully to remove stones and wings
4. Fry again with a little salt.
5. Serve as relish or snack
Good luck everybody!!!!
Monday, 22 February 2010
Became a millionnaire and ate a caterpillar...!
‘Tis true! In only one day I have both become a Millionnaire and a Caterpillar eater!!! But before my daughters get too excited, I am a millionaire in Zambian Kwacha. VSO gave my monthly allowance which is an incredible 2.2 million Kwacha. This is the monthly amount that all VSO volunteers in Zambia receive and from speaking to existing volunteers, its fine to live on short term but those who are here for up to two years find it quite difficult to live on it because invariably, they need more than just food.
So, the training began in earnest; we will spend every day this week learning how to cope in our new environment. We were treated to a visit to the VSO programme office which broke up the day but the rest of the time it was education, education …education!!! My head is spinning from it.
So what about the caterpillar I hear you ask…. The visit to the VSO office included lunch which had lots of Zambian dishes for us to try. All were lovely EXCEPT the caterpillars; they were exactly as you’d imagine deep fried caterpillars to look, legs and everything! My thinking was if I’m to fully embrace the culture, I should try everything offered. BIG MISTAKE! They tasted like ….well, deep fried caterpillars!! It was a real ‘I’m a Celebrity’ moment – but unlike Katie Price, I’m afraid I had to spit mine out …dis-gus-ting!!!
Hey-ho! Tomorrow is another day and at least I am getting more accustomed to the creepies that I don’t have to eat!!!
So, the training began in earnest; we will spend every day this week learning how to cope in our new environment. We were treated to a visit to the VSO programme office which broke up the day but the rest of the time it was education, education …education!!! My head is spinning from it.
So what about the caterpillar I hear you ask…. The visit to the VSO office included lunch which had lots of Zambian dishes for us to try. All were lovely EXCEPT the caterpillars; they were exactly as you’d imagine deep fried caterpillars to look, legs and everything! My thinking was if I’m to fully embrace the culture, I should try everything offered. BIG MISTAKE! They tasted like ….well, deep fried caterpillars!! It was a real ‘I’m a Celebrity’ moment – but unlike Katie Price, I’m afraid I had to spit mine out …dis-gus-ting!!!
Hey-ho! Tomorrow is another day and at least I am getting more accustomed to the creepies that I don’t have to eat!!!
Sunday, 21 February 2010
Getting to know Zambia
We're staying in rooms at the Commonwealth Centre which is part of the University of Zambia which is a mile or two from Lusaka town centre. VSO have arranged for us to be fed and watered daily so it was a bit of a surprise when we all gathered at the dining room at 7pm last night only to be advised that there had been a mix-up and actually there was no dinner arranged for us..! There was a bbq where we could buy food but I had noticed earlier that they were grilling fish on it so daren't have anything!
My room-mate Judith is lovely; being a very experienced volunteer who has spent a good few years in Africa, she is struggling to get used to me shrieking at everything that moves! I opened the fridge in our room and a little cockroach scuttled out ....! A few more instances like that and she was starting the get the measure of me but when we got into our room and I screamed at seeing a lizard running up the bathroom doors she said, a tad exasperated, Oh, don't you like ghekko's either!!! I decided to hide my fears in future and fell asleep to the beautiful sound of insects outside in the grass and a rather loud group of singers who were belting out in the Church which backs onto our room. When I awoke and commented on the singing, Judith said she had not been able to hear it over my snoring!! I was mortified. I have come up to do my blog now so that she can catch up on her sleep!! Am considering gaffa tape over my mouth tonight in an attempt to stem the snoring and let Judith get a decent night sleep! Fingers crossed everybody..!
Today, VSO took us on a bus tour of Lusaka. We saw the National Assembly building which is covered in copper, as Zambia's biggest export. We saw where the President lives which has the very unglamorous address of 'Plot One' and we went to the National Museum. Up until then I had been thinking that Lusaka was a wealthy city as we had seen lots of shopping malls etc however, we then visited what our VSO host called a 'High Density Area' ...it was what I would call a shanty town. The level of poverty was palpable. I didn't take any pictures, it seemed inappropriate to do so.
Later we were taken to the home of a VSO volunteer called Alber who lives in Lusaka ....what a warm welcome we received. A wonderful bbq and lots of lovely people - VSO volunteers from across Zambia had come to welcome us. I met two ladies who are based in Chipata, they said it is a great place - I just want to get there now as I still geel very much like I am in transit.
My room-mate Judith is lovely; being a very experienced volunteer who has spent a good few years in Africa, she is struggling to get used to me shrieking at everything that moves! I opened the fridge in our room and a little cockroach scuttled out ....! A few more instances like that and she was starting the get the measure of me but when we got into our room and I screamed at seeing a lizard running up the bathroom doors she said, a tad exasperated, Oh, don't you like ghekko's either!!! I decided to hide my fears in future and fell asleep to the beautiful sound of insects outside in the grass and a rather loud group of singers who were belting out in the Church which backs onto our room. When I awoke and commented on the singing, Judith said she had not been able to hear it over my snoring!! I was mortified. I have come up to do my blog now so that she can catch up on her sleep!! Am considering gaffa tape over my mouth tonight in an attempt to stem the snoring and let Judith get a decent night sleep! Fingers crossed everybody..!
Today, VSO took us on a bus tour of Lusaka. We saw the National Assembly building which is covered in copper, as Zambia's biggest export. We saw where the President lives which has the very unglamorous address of 'Plot One' and we went to the National Museum. Up until then I had been thinking that Lusaka was a wealthy city as we had seen lots of shopping malls etc however, we then visited what our VSO host called a 'High Density Area' ...it was what I would call a shanty town. The level of poverty was palpable. I didn't take any pictures, it seemed inappropriate to do so.
Later we were taken to the home of a VSO volunteer called Alber who lives in Lusaka ....what a warm welcome we received. A wonderful bbq and lots of lovely people - VSO volunteers from across Zambia had come to welcome us. I met two ladies who are based in Chipata, they said it is a great place - I just want to get there now as I still geel very much like I am in transit.
Saturday, 20 February 2010
Here at last...!
Its Saturday lunchtime which is day one of my Zambian experience:
After many fond and some tearful farewells, I finally boarded the aeroplane at 6.30pm yesterday. The flight was awful..! I have never liked flying and yesterdays was no exception. 10 hours hurtling through the sky is not my idea of heaven - it was very bumpy too! Still, needs must and I'm here now :-)
There were 13 VSO's on the plane but I only managed to find 3 before departure. Arrived very promptly at 6.30am after a flight where I got to know a lovely Zambia lady called Doris who told me a little about what I could expect. As predicted by Doris, it was raining when we arrived ....its the wet season for the whole time I am here ...but the rain is warm! The 13 new volunteers were welcomed by Glenda a Lusaka based VSO officer - she took our passports and arranged a swift passage through customs. Onto a waiting coach and we were off to, what is to be our home for the next 6 days, The University of Zambia. A lush green sprawling campus; we are based in the Commonwealth department. We were given a brief introduction to the training we will receive, some cornflakes with nice hot milk and then it was off to our rooms to sleep. I am sharing with Judith a media expert from Leeds - she was a VSO volunteer in Lusaka for over two years around 5 years ago so is able to give me loads of advice (yay!) Not really going to unpack as I'll be moving onto to my placement proper on Thursday but was pleased and delightedwhen I did open my bags to get my special packages from Natalie - an amazing arrary of envelopes, all with messages telling me when to open them ...there is one to open every Friday and a few more for good measure ....what a fabulous girl...!!
Its just after 1pm now, the rain has stopped and I am in sandals and tee-shirt ...its a lovely, fresh, warm day -hope it has stopped snowing at home?!!!!
After many fond and some tearful farewells, I finally boarded the aeroplane at 6.30pm yesterday. The flight was awful..! I have never liked flying and yesterdays was no exception. 10 hours hurtling through the sky is not my idea of heaven - it was very bumpy too! Still, needs must and I'm here now :-)
There were 13 VSO's on the plane but I only managed to find 3 before departure. Arrived very promptly at 6.30am after a flight where I got to know a lovely Zambia lady called Doris who told me a little about what I could expect. As predicted by Doris, it was raining when we arrived ....its the wet season for the whole time I am here ...but the rain is warm! The 13 new volunteers were welcomed by Glenda a Lusaka based VSO officer - she took our passports and arranged a swift passage through customs. Onto a waiting coach and we were off to, what is to be our home for the next 6 days, The University of Zambia. A lush green sprawling campus; we are based in the Commonwealth department. We were given a brief introduction to the training we will receive, some cornflakes with nice hot milk and then it was off to our rooms to sleep. I am sharing with Judith a media expert from Leeds - she was a VSO volunteer in Lusaka for over two years around 5 years ago so is able to give me loads of advice (yay!) Not really going to unpack as I'll be moving onto to my placement proper on Thursday but was pleased and delightedwhen I did open my bags to get my special packages from Natalie - an amazing arrary of envelopes, all with messages telling me when to open them ...there is one to open every Friday and a few more for good measure ....what a fabulous girl...!!
Its just after 1pm now, the rain has stopped and I am in sandals and tee-shirt ...its a lovely, fresh, warm day -hope it has stopped snowing at home?!!!!
Tuesday, 16 February 2010
Ready for the off.....
Well, what a frantic couple of weeks getting ready to go. Tying up all the loose ends in work has been challenging but seeing all my friends and having an endless round of 'farewell' parties has been exhausting! Not that I'm complaining!!!
My work colleagues gave me the MOST amazing send off last Friday ..the office was decked out in banners, balloons & posters - there was beautiful African music playing and everybody was just so kind. . Even though this picture looks like there were 12 of us, I assure you there were 13 (which I hope isn't ominous), the delightful Howard Jones decided to hide behind Gunther for this pic - naughty Howard!
The lunch was lovely but was nothing compared to the wonderful gifts that I was given - a great big, huge thank you to all for them. A special thank-you to Jude and Caitlin who must have worked for weeks planning and preparing the gifts ...I've still not 'recoved' from feeling so happy - thank you both!!! There were other gifts too ...a special delivery from The Reception Girlies ...and, I was even sent my very own Africa Cake ....absolutely awesome!!!
The weekend followed in pretty much the same vein ....Partying with Gaynor & Colin on Friday night and then lots of friends around to mine on Saturday for the final party. Buoyed on by the amazing rugby in the afternoon, we all partied into the wee small hours. Big thanks to : Geraint (of course), Natty & Steps, Gaynor & Colin (again), The Bridgend Massive, My Johnnie and the funniest of all, Maggie & Mike ...what a pair of stars!!! Thanks all, once again!!!
Now onto packing of the essentials ..... does anybody realise how much shampoo and conditioner I will need to last me two months???!!!!!
The lunch was lovely but was nothing compared to the wonderful gifts that I was given - a great big, huge thank you to all for them. A special thank-you to Jude and Caitlin who must have worked for weeks planning and preparing the gifts ...I've still not 'recoved' from feeling so happy - thank you both!!! There were other gifts too ...a special delivery from The Reception Girlies ...and, I was even sent my very own Africa Cake ....absolutely awesome!!!
The weekend followed in pretty much the same vein ....Partying with Gaynor & Colin on Friday night and then lots of friends around to mine on Saturday for the final party. Buoyed on by the amazing rugby in the afternoon, we all partied into the wee small hours. Big thanks to : Geraint (of course), Natty & Steps, Gaynor & Colin (again), The Bridgend Massive, My Johnnie and the funniest of all, Maggie & Mike ...what a pair of stars!!! Thanks all, once again!!!
Now onto packing of the essentials ..... does anybody realise how much shampoo and conditioner I will need to last me two months???!!!!!
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