Day 37

Written this morning: 

 

“Again, not much sleep for me. The rain was really loud and I kept imagining snakes coming into the tent wanting to bite me (silly, I know….). I can also feel the work I did yesterday in my muscles. *ouch*"

Our pile of poles for the mudhut.

Proof that I used a machete today.

Today we cut poles for the mudhut (the poles get intertwined with the poles we put in place yesterday). It took me a while to get the hang of using a machete. Luckily two more volunteers had come the night before, among them a girl from Namibia (who was used to using machetes). So she taught me a few tricks (I still sucked, but a bit less than before). While I was cutting I got a really bad blister though. It must be one of the biggest blisters I've ever had, but it looks a lot worse than it really is. 


Other than that, we got to help out at the pharmacy counting pills. That was interesting because of the old fashioned way of doing it, but at the same time cool. I wouldn't have gotten the chance to do something like that at home since they're so strict. 

Counting pills and dividing them into little baggies.

Found George Lucas's grave *smiley sticking tounge out*.

It was sad taking the bus back into Livingstone. I was thinking about how this is the last night I get to spend here in Zambia before I go home, and there's still soo much I've not seen/gotten to do here. I'm going to miss the people, the weather and the way of life. I've learned a lot from being here, and I don't think I'll be able to look at my life the same after it.


Damn, I'm going home tomorrow....

Day 36

What I wrote yesterday: 

 

“Didn’t really sleep all that well last night. There was a lot of noises (to be expected since we’re in the middle of nowhere) from all the animals/bugs, as well as the night guard. The thought of getting up doesn’t really appeal to me, but I have to.”
  

The old man we were building the mud hut for was living in his kitchen (this building) after his other house collapsed.

 (…) “The day got better, but at first it was really awquard. It seemed like the locals would rather I was a guy. I was even more eager to do a good job after seeing their reactions to me. I got to pick logs and put them in holes which had been dug. Then I was allowed to dig some holes. The first two went quick, the next two a bit slower because I had to cut through a weaved plastic sack. I think I may have gained a bit more respect after that though.
   

The outlines of the mudhut.

After digging the holes I helt the logs in place so one of the guys could fill the holes. Then it was time to cut out spaces in the top rafters for the tops of the logs. I got to try sawing and chopping the spaces. Let me tell you, these guys make it look so easy. In reality it’s no where near easy.
    

Mwandi basic school (one of the three buildings where 1600 students go).

One of the water pumps in town (where people get clean drinking water).

Had seen something on animal planet about these birdies.

I feel like I’m gaining a friend in one of the guys who works here. We seem to get along well. I wonder how many of these people I’ll ever see/talk to again….
    

Amazing and sad to think that tomorrow is my second to last day here in Zambia. I really hope I make it back at some point, and that I’m able to make the best of tomorrow.”

Day 35

This is what I wrote on Thursday: 

My first bus ticket in Zambia.

 
”First thoughts while on the bus were why haven’t I taken the bus anywhere before? It was soothing and relaxing to be on the move. I was also a little worried because I had not clue where I was supposed to get off.
    
Then I got to talking with the man sitting next to me. He seemed nice and I was surprised at how well educated he seemed. We exchanged emails, and soon after that his stop came.
    
As I arrived at Mwandi I felt stupid for having been nervous before. Anyone with eyes couldn’t miss it. I had been told I would be met at the bus hut, but couldn’t see anyone other than the ladies trying to sell fish. Then a few mins. Later a man showed up. We drove back to the main campsite, and I was given the tour. I’m all alone with the people who work here until tomorrow night, which is both cozy and stressing at the same time.
    
I’ve felt a load of emotions since I arrived; awquardness, sympathy, irritation over my ability to jump into things without too much thought, happiness, etc. 

Not many dishes, but I was still allowed to wash them.

 
At the moment I’m hoping these two nights will go quickly because of all the bugs and the feeling of having stepped into the 19th century. I washed my own dishes for the first time since I left home, the bathroom is a hole in the ground, and I’m living in a tent. I guessed I would be, and it’s a lot better than what I expected, it’s just not what I’m accustomed to.
    
I hope my experience gets better tomorrow. Don’t get me wrong, the people seem very nice. It’s the lifestyle that is making me miss Livingstone’s lifestyle (which is saying something seeing as Livingstone is primitive in comparison to home). I arrived at “proper, proper” Africa.”

Day 35

Today I'm just going to stay in (sunbathing and such) until my bus leaves for Mwandi. I'm excited to see how things work in a (hopefully) proper Lozi village. I'm going to help make a mud hut. Here's 2 links if you're also interested/have the possibility in/of helping: http://www.projectsupportcenter.org/PAULACARES.html and mwandi.co.uk

Day 34

A bit late, as per usual, but I choose to use "African time" as my reason. *smiley sticking tounge out* Anyway, I was only planning on sunbathing and going to the falls yesterday. I did do a bit of sunbathing and went to the falls, but I also spontaniously found out I wanted to go microlighting. So I called my taxi driver and asked him if he thought the weather was good enough. He did, so we drove out to the microlighting place. I asked them if it was possible to do a 30 minute flight there and then, and luckily for me it was. So I watched excited as they readied the plane. Then my taxi driver took my bag, my sunglasses and my flipflops and I was ushered to the microlight. There I was given a pair of headphones (with microphone) and a helmet. I was buckled in and we were off! It was a bit scary at first because of the wind pockets, but then I started to relax and really enjoy it. We flew over the falls several times and then looked for animals (both on the Zimbabwe side and the Zambian side). I was surprised at how many more elephants there were on the Zimbabwein side. Other than elephants I got to see buffalo, warthogs, giraffes, zebra, hippos, impalas and crocidiles.

I don't know if I mentioned this before, but at the moment the only people living at Chanters are Norwegians (and as I found out, I'll be traveling on the same planes with them all the way to Oslo). The others were thinking of also going to the falls yesterday, so I decided to wait for them and join them. We didn't end up going until 16 (so needless to say I was starving when we got back at around 20.30). But we had a good time, and as I was told the falls were bigger and gave off a lot more spray than the first time I was there. I'm glad I went a second time, but it would be cool to see the falls during the dry season as well. 

Busy day 33

Today I’ve gotten quite a bit done. I went to Nansanzu, gave them the things we had forgotten at home and said a proper good-bye. When I walked by my class I noticed they didn’t have a teacher, so I popped my head in and said hello. I also got a few pics of them (something I didn’t get on Friday after our class).

After leaving Nansanzu I felt weird. If I ever see my pupils again they’ll be grown up. I wonder if I’ll recognize them, or if they’ll recognize me? And will I end up meeting my colleagues again? Will I be able to come back to Livingstone at some point in time? A lot of questions, and a lot of answers swirling around in my head.

I went to DALICE to attend a P.E. lesson which was again fun and interesting. Today I was with the first-years and they had about basketball. The thing I find most interesting with the P.E. classes here is that they are a lot more interested in the students learning the history and rules of sports, not so much how to teach the kids at schools. In a way I really like that, because how are supposed to teach something if you don’t know the rules? And how can you gain an interest if you have no idea as to where it all started, or even why it was started? At the same time, it’s perhaps important to learn good ways of teaching the pupils.

Playing b-ball with the other students.

A saying I found in the P.E. teachers' office.

After the lesson I was invited to my teachers’ house for lunch. We ate Nshima, with beans and cabbage. We talked about a lot of things, but I decided I’m going to a yoga lesson tomorrow with his wife. I’m looking forward to it.

It may seem as if the above is enough to fill the whole day, but I went on a cheetah walk again after I got back from DALICE. This time the photos turned out really well. I’m so happy! I got to say a proper good-bye to Lilly as well…. As I’m sitting here I’m wondering if maybe I paid too much attention to her and not so much to the others….  

Kitties!

Anyway, time for dinner!

Sadness - Day 32

 

All by myself. My companion left at around 12. I was planning on lying next to the pool, but it's been cloudy pretty much all day. I was also feeling a bit of the "all-alone blues", so I wanted to keep myself busy). Therefore, I went to 2 museums instead. The first one I went to was the train museum. I got to see a lot of different trains, but the most interesting part was when I went into a barn where there were a few exhibitions. The first thing I noticed was the smell. It smelled a bit funky (I later learned why). I looked around and took pics, then I went down the "hallway". I saw several dark shapes flying past me. At first I thought they were birds, but then I realized they were bats. Then I looked inside the train which was in the barn and there were tons, apon tons of bats hanging from the cielings.... I didn't hang about to put it simply.

The second museum I visited was the David Livingstone museum (wasn't allowed to take pics). There I found out more about the evolution of man, natural science, "our village" (a story of the villages in Zambia), local traditions (rites of passage, marriage, etc) and David Livingstone himself. 

After touring both museums I took a walk, which was wonderful! I walked to the other side of town where the gold leaf indian restaurant is located. I ordered a bhuna chicken curry with rice, parathas and a mint lassie. It was sooo good. Especially after 4 weeks without a curry (I'm used to eating at least 1 curry a week at home).

Day 31, Ramblings About Everything and Nothing

I know it's been a while since I last posted. The inspiration to write hasn't exactly been at it's peak lately. Seeing as today is the 31st (!) day I'm in Zambia, I decided I should at least attempt to put something down on "paper". 

There have been a lot of things going through my head the past few days. Among them the fact that this week has gone by so quickly. It seems like only a second ago I was turning my alarm clock off on Monday to start getting ready for yet another day of school. In reality it has been almost a week since then.... In that week I've had quite a few English lessons, as well as 2 hours of Home Economics. I've seen both good things and not-as-good things in those lessons. I've made myself and the pupils laugh, and perhaps even bored them at times. I've learned more about myself as a teacher and as a person. What I've learned has really made me wonder about how life will reveal it'self further. I've talked to our coordination head on skype, and wondered how other people acctually view me. Am I overbearing? Irritating? "Sweet and quiet"? Way too talkative? And when I begin to wonder about that two thoughts arise: 1. Does it really matter what other people think? and 2. If what other people think is important: How can I change to make myself more likable? I hate the fact that in order to be liked people often times change who they really are, and hide behind a facade of what they think people want them to be. How can you live a good life, and be able to say you're content, if you're constantly hiding behind a mask? I've questioned myself as to if I am truly acting as me, or if I'm hiding behind something fake. At this point in time I think I can say that I'm totally myself with no inhibitions. I guess another reason for my questioning how things will end up in the future.... 

Yesterday was our last day at Nansanzu and I have to say my nerves almost made me sick. I was nervous about leaving a good last impression, being able to teach the kids something and being able to say that I truthfully would miss both the co-workers I've had and my pupils. In a way I'm really glad to be done, because as I've come to realize this means the end of all normal practicle teaching until I get a job. Next year I'll be taking over a school and won't have teachers looking over my shoulder, or telling me what I have to teach in each period/get through in the course of a week. In other words I'll be on my own next year. At the same time I was sad to have to say goodbye to my co-workers and pupils. I don't think I really said a proper, proper goodbye yesterday because I knew I will see them this week sometime (before I leave on Saturday). I guess that also puts a damper on exactly how much I'll miss them because, "hey, I'm going to see them agian". 

Other than that we also had a malaria scare this week. My companion got really sick and had a fever which totally knocked her out on Thursday. I felt awful because I couldn't do anything to make her feel better. It was also awful because I hated seeing her so reduced (she's always so full of energy and bubbly). I ended up just trying to give her some quiet time so she could sleep. I spent the good part of 2 hours drawing stoneage hand tools for one of the teachers at school (after the teachers found out I can draw they came to me for drawings they needed for class, "the go-to art guy/girl"). When I was finished I called our taxi driver and asked him to help me find some books I wanted to buy for the school. While we were driving we talked about my companions' condition, and he told me I should make sure she drank enough and call him to take her to hospital, if her fever got worse and her head started hurting. I asked her if she had a headache when I got back, because I had a suspicion she did. She told me she didn't, so I believed her. The day after I found out she had a quite nasty headache the day before. Our teachers were able to convince her to go to the hospital to find out if it was malaria. So after school we went. I was thinking all the while about how stupid it would be if she had gotten malaria only a few days before she was to go home. I could only imagine what a terrible trip that would have been. I have to admit I was also thinking, "If it is malaria I really hope I've not gotten it too". Luckily the doctors test came back negative. No malaria, just an infection which would be cured after 5 days on antibiotics. Phew! 

Seeing as my companion is leaving tomorrow I've also been thinking a lot about what I'm going to do while I'm here alone. I've reprieved myself on several occations for booking an extra week in Livingstone without having a clear plan.... I've made a list of things I want to do/need to do, but it doesn't seem to help. I can't allow myself to feel totally happy about taking a weeks vacation here, and in the act playing hooky from school for three days. I'm also wondering how I'll cope being totally alone here. I can imagine it will get a bit lonely (even though I'm always meeting new people here). My head is starting to hurt just by trying to wrap my head around all the things running around in my head about being all alone for the very first time in my life. I'm sure things will go perfectly well, but there's always a question mark. And what will happen once I get home. I was used to living a slow life before all this. Now I find myself bored after less than a day without any action. It's a bit funny because people often think of Africa as this slow-moving place where next-to-nothing happens. In a way I guess that's true (African time, etc), but in another way there's always something unexpected happening. Either its people running around in the streets blowing vuzulas, being able to pet and lie next to cheetahs, someone you don't know saying hi and stopping to chat with you, or something as simple as the taxi driver not being on time (which again makes you late for work). Maybe I come from a world which is too structured in a way. Don't get me wrong, I really love and miss Norway, but maybe structure and habit is a killer of being able to live life to it's fullest. Maybe it would be better if we stepped outside our comfort zones every once in a while and did something reckless and spontanious? Of course, you then have to ask yourself if it's easier to say than to do? To each his own I guess....

Day 28

Today we went to school and came home early to skype with our teachers back home. Other than that, the norm. (laying by the swimming pool reading and talking, then going for dinner in town). We ate at the Zambezi Cafe. I ordered a croc burger, but I wasn't able to eat much of it because of the texture. It was way tough. Anyway, now we're back at the lodge getting ready for beddy bye. Night-night!

Here's a song that's been in my head all day: Turn to stone - Ingrid Michaelson (if any of you follow 'So you think you can dance' --> this is one of my favorite dances).

Day 27

Don't really have much to report today. My companion and I have been feeling a bit under the weather because of yesterday's events. I'm surprised I was even able to keep my breakfast down.

I didn't have a lesson until the last period, so I sat around reading and drawing for my home economics lesson on Thursday (we're going to be talking about grooming, good/bad posture and how to care properly for clothing). I also got into a discussion about religion with my observation teacher. It was interesting, partly because I think he was surprised I know so much about the bible and christianity, but also because he was so adamant about what he believes. It's interesting to see how a lot of people seem to think of things in life as black and white, when in reality there are lots of colors/shades in between. I was pretty much told that a person who does good things will go to hell if he/she doesn't do it in Jesus name. I can't see how that can be right. If a person is good and kind to others shouldn't that count for something (even if they don't believe in a religion)? I was told that it doesn't count because even satan can be good and kind. I guess it's not really too odd that christianity is the source of a lot of the contentions in the world....

We haven't really done much since we got back from school, and I'm guessing we won't really do much the rest of the day. We've been doing something pretty much every day since we got here, so I guess we need a little rest. Anywho, have a good day/night where-ever you are in the world!

Sunset cruise day 26

First some pics from school: 

I guess you can't see it too well, but we drew 8 pictures. The pupils were supposed to write full paragraphs explaining them.

One of the pupils drawing.

One of my pupils wrote me a letter. I thought it very sweet.

After school we went on a sunset cruise: 

One of the birds we saw.

One of the baboons we saw

Another one of the birds we saw.

Mr. elephant swimming in the sunset.

It started to rain at the end....

... and what would rain be without a rainbow?

We ended up having a really fun night. We got off the shuttle bus in town so we could eat at our favorite restaurant: Olga's. We didn't get home until around 11, but it's a good thing we didn't come home later because the last of the employees were leaving Chanter's as we drove in. We might have had to climb over the gate again. *insert smiley sticking tounge out*

Photografic challenge: "Sammen" - together

This is the first time I've found a challenge like this amoung other bloggers. I didn't really want to enter at first, but I guess you've gotta broaden your horizons sometimes, huh? So here goes.

I love this pic because it shows how buffalo keep together. If you look on the ground you also see the birds. I thoght it a bit funny that the birds like being with the buffalo, even though they're a lot smaller.

                                 I found the challenge at En rosa fugl.

Day 25, On cloud 9

We got up earlier than usual today (around 05.30) to go to the Mukuni Big 5 reserve. We were to ride on elephants, walk with lions and walk with cheetahs. The first challenge of the day was trying to take out enough money to be able to pay. We had heard that it's nearly impossible to pay with credit cards here in Livingstone because of the bad internet connection. When we got to the atm it wouldn't allow us to take out any money. Naturally I was nervous about the cause. We were told, however, that we could pay by card (and that ended up taking no more than a minute...).

Anyway, we started with the elephant ride. It was interesting. I was allowed to ride the matriarch of the family, "mother-in-law", and she loved eating along the way.

After the ride we were allowed to feed the elephants. I was a bit scared of sticking my hand in their mouth, so I sort of just threw the pellets in.

When we were done feeding them we headed off to walk with the lions. They were beautiful, and lazy. They had been fed the night before, so they were uncomfortably full. All they wanted to do was lie around. The female was more playfull than the male, so the handlers were able to wake her up by playing with her.

Then came my favorite. The cheetahs. I've been on cloud nine ever since (until my camera battery was charged enough for me to see the pictures the handlers had taken...). Isn't it typical that the thing that made me the most happy, and which I really wanted good pictures of, was the thing they manage to get the worst pictures of? All the pictures which were taken after I gave my camera away are blurry. I could just as well be posing with a stuffed animal cheetah.... *Really frowny face which feels like crying*

The best picture taken (and even this one's blurry :( ).

Anyway, that's what we've done today. Tomorrow: last week of school!

Day 24, Safari in Chobe National Park

People say a picture says more than a thousand words, so here's yesterday (day 24) in pictures:

Boat ride over to Botswana.