The REAL Zambia...

What a weekend I have had....   I had wanted to get out of Chipata to see the real Zambia so asked the young volunteers at my work if anybody could take me. They said they would think about it and let me know.  So there I am at 8am on Sunday, sitting in my pyjamas, eating an orange picked from the tree in our garden when Jacob rang me to say he was on his way to collect me, he arrived 3 minutes later!   A Toyota pick-up truck was our mode of transport.  Jacob's mother and elder brother were in the cab with Jacob, his younger brother and me standing in the back looking out over the cab.  What a drive....!  It took about an hour in the blazing sun - I had no hat or sunglasses as I had not expected to be exposed to the elements but it was awesome!  The beautiful, bumpy red roads of Africa surrounded by lush greenery were a joy to travel along.   I was clinging on for dear life as we sped along - it was a like a bucking broncho ride at times as we would suddenly veer to avoid a pot hole!!!  I kept thinking if only Nat & Soph could see their mother...!

Amazingly, miles from anywhere, we encountered easily 100 people who were holding a procession to celebrate Palm Sunday.  It was a brilliant spectacle, all were dressed in their best clothes, carrying crosses or  reeds to represent the palms.  We stopped to allow them to pass by, the singing almost made me cry with how wonderful it was

When near the village, we left the red road and drove off-road for about a mile - through all manner of bush and grassland ...it was fabulous!   Finally, we arrived at the village, which is called Msubazi.  A traditional community of small scale farmers.  I have brilliant pictures but sadly as my laptop is still out of action, can't post any.  The homes are traditional round structures with lovely thatched roofs, there are corals made of branches of trees containing cows.  Pigs, goats and chickens roam freely...as do lots of children!  The villagers were very welcoming ...making a huge fuss of me. Everybody came to shake my hand - there is a special 3-stage handshake here which I have finally mastered!  After all the introductions, we all sat under a tree to chat.  I had brought along my little photo album which they all loved looking at.  They were stunned at the pictures of my parents.  It was all so lovely.  Village life is hard, none of the trappings of modern life we have come to expect like running water and electricity.  The farmers work very hard to make enough to feed their families but life there seems idylic.  There is a bore hole nearby from which to collect water, the children walk 2km to school every day ...and community spirts is palpable.

At the end of my visit, I was presented with a LIVE CHICKEN to take home!!! 

Best weekend ever :-)