Go(eb)ing Into the Bush: April 2011

Joey and I have been far beyond spoiled when it comes to having family and friends visit. For the past 2 weeks, my father, Dana, and step-mother, Pam, have been carted all over Zambia via plane, bus and rental car. It has been a busy trip, but an unforgettable one. We started by paying a visit to the glorious Victoria Falls. The water flow was at its highest, and between pockets of mist, we got fantastic photos. We also got soaked when walking through the park (rental ponchos don’t always come through), but it was worth it. Besides the view of the Falls, we got to cruise down the Zambezi River, feast on crocodile, bush meat (kudu), and chicken liver, and stroll the market. The men also managed to fit in 9 holes of golf and the Peace Corps Volunteers got their thrill dropping 550 feetinto a gorge strapped into to each other by harnesses and falling backwards hooked up to a bunge swing. While Livingstone was beautiful, we had a more important stop to make. We woke early and met up with our new friend, Simbayi, our car driver, and off we went to Mkushi. We visited the market where Pam and I bought a new blanket for our house for the up-coming cold season, and picked up some beans and onions for dinner from the vegetable market. On the drive home to the village, we stopped at the border of Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo and had a picture taken. It was a long day in the car, but totally worth it when we got there. Both Dana and Pam were thrilled when they first took in our home. Our host family greeted us with mile-long grins and joy-filled laughs. We showed our family the school, the field, our water hole, and of course, cell-phone mountain (the one spot where we receive full-service on our phone). Everyone enjoyed nshima for dinner, and the following morning it was already time to get back on the road. This time we headed for South Luangwa National Park for 3 nights. We experienced animal sightings that were unforgettable. The first night, we watched a leopard as he stalked a family of baboons before finally lunging up a tree and grabbing a young baboon for supper. It was incredible. We also witnessed a family of elephants taking a mud bath in the wet lagoon, while relaxing on our front porch at the lodge. At the end of the day, the vacation was wonderful, as well as the activities, but what was most special was the time together. We have said it before, but being with family is what’s important.

A few months back, I visited the local community school in our area. This was my second time visiting the school, and I remember why I hadn’t visited more. The school is quite far into the bush, with almost nothing around it. I remembered the 2+ hour bike ride on bumpy dirt roads and then the sore bum I had the following week. However, I also remembered the warm welcome from the head teacher and the greeting songs presented by the pupils. The last time I visited, the school had only a handful of books for their school of 150+ pupils. I made it my mission to find textbooks for this school. Upon my arrival back to the government school, where I spend most days, I found boxes of unused textbooks stored away in old classrooms. Over the next few weeks, with the ZIC (zonal inset coordinator) teacher, we sorted out over 75 textbooks, in more than 8 subjects, for the school to use in their classes. I also added some dictionaries, atlases, and story books from the book donation from America to the pile. To make it more of a community event, the ZIC and I also organized 2 pupil football and 2 pupil netball games to be played between our government school and the community school. The event was supposed to take place while I was away in Lusaka training the new volunteers. I was sad I would miss the main event, but was satisfied the books would be delivered and put to good use. As it turned out, the program fell through while I was away. At first I was upset, but then I realized this was an opportunity to visit the school again and enjoy the celebration. The second day back home after 3 weeks of running an intensive pre-service training, Joey and I took off with the school flat-bed truck (full of 42 students and 2 teachers) to the community school. When we arrived after the 1.5 hr drive, the head teacher was thrilled to see us. The books were delivered, games were played, and speeches were made. The local community had even come together and cleared a brand new football pitch (soccer field) for the celebration. It was beautiful. Although, I have to say, the overall day was a little overwhelming because I felt I had little involvement in the actual celebration and just stood by and watched it pass by. But with a little bit of time and distance, I am realizing that is the best role I can play. I am not here to be the forefront of every project and program, I am here to be the one who plants the idea and then the one who tries to guide it through. It is not always the “American” way, and it can be frustrating. My instincts tell me to charge forward and take control, but after 14 months of being an American in Zambia, I have learned that just doesn’t work. Sometimes it is difficult to be different. I wish I could automatically join in the local song and dance after a basket is scored in netball or carry a baby wrapped on my back without people giving it a second thought, but I am always standing out. My role of simply visiting the community school months ago and putting old textbooks in a box is what created the whole day of celebration. It is not about me, it is about the subtle changes I can bring to help encourage a community. Maybe I will always be an outsider, but as long as I can spark the celebration I am okay with that.
Photos from the past 2 months: