We awoke in the morning to a most surprising, glorious sight. The whole city was blanketed in snow! What a great story--we traveled to Africa and it SNOWED! According to our lodge host, this was the first snowfall in 9 years. We felt honored and a little less wimpy for having let the cold defeat us the night before.
Snow at the Game Lodge
On a less fun note, Jen woke up with a raging sore throat and clear signs of an cold. Not much we could do other than take good care of her, attempt not to spread the germs, and continue our journey.
We headed to the airport to catch our flight to Ndola. Each time we pass through the Johannesburg airport there is more construction completed on its huge renovation. This is all in preparation for the 2010 World Cup. It's impressive to see their efforts to ensure the city is ready to receive the world in 3 years. People are very excited. Even as far north as Zambia, folks are seeing this as an opportunity to introduce southern Africa to the world.
Dave rearranging luggage to prepare to board the small plane to Ndola
We boarded our flight with the usual array of fellow passengers--90% white, 95% men. Overhearing conversations, it seems most travelers are making short business trips. All the flights were delayed as the de-icing equipment (we were amazed that they even had such equipment) worked diligently to get to each plane.
We landed in Ndola about two hours late and found longer than usual lines to clear passport control. There were two other planes that had also just landed, a very unusual occurrence. We soon realized the heavy traffic was due to the Trade Fair that was starting that day. Each year Ndola hosts an event that draws thousands of vendors and business people from all over Zambia and many surrounding countries to come together to further economic development.
It is always a pleasure to see Theresa's huge smile greeting us once we emerge from customs. She brought Veronica, her main program assistant in Kantolomba, with her. Seeing them, we feel as if we're home!
Veronica and Theresa helped load our luggage into the car and drove us to our abode. We had had the brainstorm to ask Carol, one of our local colleague/friends, if she might be interested in subletting her apartment to us. She lives in a centrally located, pleasant apartment in Ndola. Her parents live close by, and she often spends time at their home, giving her an easy place to stay if she moved out of her apartment for a month. She was pleased to agree to the arrangement saying she would welcome the extra income. While she makes a good salary herself (she is a social worker for a small, Catholic services organization), she has many familial financial responsibilities. Such is the way in Africa. They do not have the "every man for himself" mentality of the west. Here, the norm is "share and share alike."
Carol was at the apartment to greet us when we arrived. She gave us a tour and then left us to get settled in. Jen rested while Dave, Theresa and Veronica ventured out for some groceries.
Later Dave cooked up a delicious dinner of tofu stew with rice, and shortly thereafter we went to our rooms, threw sheets on the beds, and prepared for our first "in our own place" night's sleep.