(Note: This blog entry marks the beginning of the trip Cheri and Jen made to Zambia in October 2006)
We stopped over in Johannesburg at the Airport Game Lodge where we met up with our South African friend, Wessel Visser and his brother Andre. They had just returned from Zambia and were preparing to move several large trucks northward, part of which involved ferrying them across the Zambezi River. If we had more time it would be a great adventure to join them in their drive across Zimbabwe up into Congo.
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We learned that all the new construction at the Johannesburg airport is because it is doubling in size to accommodate all the visitors when Johannesburg hosts the 2010 World Cup. People we talked to are very excited about the changes in the “new” South Africa, feeling that the opportunities available to them since the end of apartheid enable them to join the world as equal partners for the first time.
This was our first time flying directly to Ndola rather than to Lusaka, where previously we would spend the night and then drive the five hours to Ndola the next day. We’re always looking for better ways to make this trip so that as others join us we can offer them a more comfortable trip. The night in Johannesburg seems the perfect way to break up the trip—only thirty-two hours from the west coast!
Now that we’re practically natives, getting from the airport to downtown was easy, and of course the Savoy Hotel is our home away from home. In July, due to the blog, we spent more time at the outdoor tables here working at our computers than any other single place on the trip.
We’re coming into the hot season in this part of Africa. We were lead to believe the temperatures would be like nothing we’d ever encountered, but have found that the hot season here is pretty much the same as the hot season we’re having at home. A couple of days ago they had about six hours of rain and, like California, everything is starting to turn green. This heat will last for another five or six weeks and then the rain will start in earnest. From what we can gather the rain won’t necessarily affect the heat, but will bring a whole new set of problems, such as collapsing houses in Kantolomba, even more malaria-carrying mosquitoes, and cholera. I think we’re going to have to work up our courage for a rainy season visit.
The jacarandas are in full purple bloom. An unidentified but very similar-looking tree is beginning to turn bright, bright orange. Of course there’s the usual bougainvillea in reds, purples, pinks, and oranges.
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We were in the hotel lobby for all of ten minutes when Mr. Kayula appeared. Handshakes and hugs all around. We immediately went into planning mode: We searched the town until we found an inexpensive cell phone with which to conduct the business of Living Compassion in Zambia, obtained enough kwacha (local currency) to pay for at least one day of our business, ran into the young woman who tie-dyes material (think of Alex’s red and black mediation pants), and came back to meet with Martin and collect fifty placemats and thirty-five monk bags. We then met up with our new driver, Gershom Chilyobwe, who is the father of the lovely Agness Chilyobwe of Saint Joseph’s Guest House. Gershom drove us to ShopRite market so we could lay in a supply of food.
The Savoy is not quite as posh as its name might lead one to believe—though it is expensive! We called Saint Joseph’s as soon as we checked in to see if they might have some cancellations that would enable to us to stay with them again. We are hopeful and will stop by in the morning on the way to our first appointment.
The sad news is that we haven’t been able to get on the internet from our veranda office here at the Savoy. We’re hoping this is a temporary situation because, if it isn’t, we can’t imagine how a regular blog will be possible.
We met the Deputy District Commissioner in the supermarket and were able to confirm our ten o’clock meeting with him and the District Commissioner tomorrow morning. This is a very small town and we’re getting to know a lot of folks here. It’s fun, and when trying to operate in a very different culture, it’s helpful.
We are congratulating ourselves on an amazing amount accomplished in our first few hours here. In the morning, over breakfast, we will lay out our strategy for the next few days. More soon.