A few pics

It's half term week

It's half term week and Malc and I are currently sitting in an air conditioned computer suite doing display work on photosynthesis - it's like we never left the UK.... I'm trying to work out exactly what to write as so much happens here and I think it's because we are experiencing the new and wonderful all the time. If you keep up with us on Facebook you'll have seen the photos of a mini (but great) game camp we went to about 3 weeks ago called Nsobe. We spent the day swimming, checking out the snake house, braaing (BBQ-ing) and taking ourselves on the game drive to see if we could see any animals - we saw plenty of Impala and other deer like animals - but not the Zebra or Giraffe that live there. Not so much of a shame when you live here and know that there is a next time! Lucy and Albert are loving it. Most weekends we are invited to somebody's house/farm for a braai where everybody seems to be invited as long as you contribute to the meal. Although the last one we went to they pulled a whole pig out of the ground that had been roasting for about 7 hours that day! No, Lucy was not impressed, Yes it was delicious. Last weekend was Lucy's 9th birthday and so we took them to the 'zoo' with a few friends - I put Zoo in inverted commas because it is actually another mini game camp. The Zoo is mainly about the bouncy castles, a play area, an inflatable swimming pool and free popcorn & candy floss. I am told before I go not to get my hopes up as you don't actually see many animals - possibly a cheeky monkey who appears when you get your sandwiches out. Malcolm's friend from Simba school arrived - and advised us all to wait until the sun has just started to go down before we go for the drive. Then he told us all to pile into the two 4x4 we had between us and follow him. If you didn't know he was the Yr6 maths teacher you would think he was a proper safari ranger - We took to calling him Bear Grylls as he drove us up and over the mounds through the game park while the kids all hung out the back of his truck laughing their heads off at nearly being thrown from the car. We rounded the corner after seeing the guaranteed ostrich only to see a herd of Zebras running across the plain - as we sped up to try and see them better we noticed that they were being followed by 2 giraffes. We couldn't believe it - we had no expectation to see any animals and we ended seeing loads - there were also some massive dark brown deer looking things with big ears and curly horns that were very cool - I will remember the name once I post this! There is of course work to be done and Malc has been working really hard - School days are often 7am til 3pm - which is tiring in this heat! Unfortunately, every spare minute Malc had during the first 4 weeks was spent trying to sort out our boxes that didn't want to arrive so he has plenty of catching up work during this half term - hence the display on photosynthesis I will be doing in a minute...But he is enjoying it and there is the added bonus of a dip in the school pool after work! I have been going in to the Beyond Ourselves community schools about twice a week and am really starting to find my feet - often I am sorting out dates for teacher observations or doing them. I think I have managed to observe nearly every teacher in all 3 schools. It is to celebrate good teaching, give feedback and small improvements that can be made but it is so helpful for me and I am quickly getting a very good idea of what teaching and learning is like here. It is easy to watch a lesson and make a judgement on it but the more you learn about the culture, traditions and disadvantages that are here in these communities, the more you realise that it really isn't that easy. Relationships are so vital. Yes I can be helpful in many ways but I will definitely be learning just as much along the way. Looking forward to having a chat with my bosses over the next couple of weeks about my main role here for Beyond Ourselves. Last note... 24th October 1964 Zambia became an independent country and so this year Zambia is celebrating 50 years of freedom. Lucy and Albert have had the chance to dress up in traditional clothes and celebrate Independence day' at School with their friends. Learning the national anthem and dances to perform. On Friday we will head to Kawama School to watch the Independence day performance and celebrate with the staff there.

'Yes Madam'

Today I (Em) had an unexpected treasure hunt.... The lights went off while I was shopping and so I asked the staff – ‘Will they go back on again and can I carry on shopping?’ ‘Oh yes Madam’ came the reply. So I carried on shopping, using the torch on my phone to ‘hunt’ for goodies. It was only after a while I noticed that I was the only person that seemed to still shopping. I asked again ‘Is it OK – are the tills open for me to pay? ‘Yes Madam ‘ came the reply again. After about 10 more minutes a lady approached and very politely said ‘ Are you still shopping madam?’ It was at this point I remember somebody telling me that Zambians like to please – sometimes even if the answer should be ‘No’ they would say yes to make you happy! So I changed my question to ‘Shall I leave the store and pay?” ‘Yes Madam’ came the reply again – When I got to the checkout the entire staff were waiting for me all around 1 checkout point. I put my items through very quickly! And then said sheepishly ‘I’ve only been in Zambia 2 weeks – I’ll know better next time’. The reply ‘Yes madam!!”

Arriving and settling

SEPTEMBER 2014 After a very emotional goodbye with the family we have arrived. Friday We had a safe journey and thanked God for ipads and iphones to keep the kids amused when the aeroplane screens did not work! Dan and Melissa were there to greet us (with bottles of water!), as was Les, Malc’s new boss who worked his magic and got us through passport control quickly and easily. We all then drove to our new house 10 minutes from the airport with our 14 bags of luggage. The house is great – lovely big sitting area and bedrooms. We felt really blessed to have such good friends – who had bags of shopping in the car ready and waiting for us! After a few discussions about work with Les, we explored the grounds and were pleased to find climbing trees and a play area for the kids. They were desperate to see Dan and Melissa’s home so they were kindly taken off our hands whilst we unpacked and sorted out the beds. We followed later on to a home cooked meal and tales of bugs and lizards that had been found in the garden! Saturday Breakfast consisted of fresh bread and peanut butter with half caff coffee. We all sat there feeling excited and slightly nervous about our new future – a million things running through our heads! After a lunch of noodles in cups and a note to buy bowls we headed down to our very local shopping mall – a 5 min walk from our house. We were surprised to find a whole array of fast food restaurants including a subway and a fish and chips shop. There were about 4 sports shops, a large supermarket and a shop selling very expensive TVs: Certainly not what we were expecting! What did we end up buying? A fancy vegetable chopper, that came free with a peeler and a swish vegetable slicer that had 6 different attachments. We were totally sold by the friendly Zambian who excitedly told us that we could use it to chop veg for a whole load of different dishes – the only one we knew being Coleslaw! So then we went home and had a mad half hour in the kitchen making coleslaw and fancy cut up tomatoes – all of which was awaiting Dan and Melissa when they arrived to see us in the afternoon! They are really glad we are here now! We finished the evening with a lovely meal out and Malc even got to see a bit of the Chelsea-Everton game. Sunday We got up nice and early and then realised too late that our clocks were an hour behind and so ended up being half an hour late for church (NO COMMENTS PLEASE!). Lucy and Albert really enjoyed the Sunday school and we met a few more people here. The church is in the same grounds as Dan and Melissa’s house so we hung out there while the kids played outside. Malc and Dan braved the River at the back - apparently in their underpants – but Melissa and I were luckily inside at that point! While Melissa cooked us all a stir-fry lunch – the kids played with Jacob and some new friends that also live on the grounds we then went home for a much needed nap. Later on that afternoon we experienced our first powercut – just as we had finished paying for our groceries the electricity cut out and the whole supermarket had to close. We ended the day with a ice cream in the mall. Tomorrow is Malc’s first day at school. Photots to follow….

Zambia it is then!

So Zambia it is then! In February 2014 we went to visit and enjoy some time with friends (Dan and Melissa) who currently work in Ndola, Zambia for the charity Beyond Ourselves. After a couple of days chilling with them and being treated to Melissa's delicious cooking and Dan's new found Braai-ing skills we were taken into the schools where the charity's main work takes place. We watched lessons, taught, chatted to, played and ate with the children and by the third day were completely hooked! We started to discuss with Jodie (the director of Beyond Ourselves) and Dan and Melissa where we could live if we came to stay. Now we have just under 3 weeks til we depart on 28th August. Malcolm will be working at Simba International school in year (grade) 5. Lucy and Albert will also attend school there, all starting in September. Emily will officially start work With Beyond Ourselves around Dec/Jan so will be setting up home to start and we'll all be enjoying catching up with our friends.