Goodbye Lusaka – Hello Livingstone :)

Wow, more than a week has passed since my last post and a lot of things have happened :)

The last week at the general orientation in Lusaka we had many workshops, discussions and lectures about “Kicking Aids Out” on the programme. We learned almost everything you have to know about HIV and Aids, so that we are well prepared to share the information, when we work in the field.

Eirick and Tafara presenting

Furthermore, we have had a football tournament. That was the highlight of the week for many of us! In particular for my team “fantastic four”! We won, juhhuuu :)

The Fantastic Four

Becky, Arndt and Staffy cheerleading

Besides this, we have visited the Norwegian Embassy and the Olympic Youth Development Centre (OYDC) in Lusaka. The OYDC is a huge athletic ground and an amazing opportunity for children and youth, where there are fields for football, rugby, handball, volleyball, track and field, basketball and you name it! And the best thing about it, is that it is for free! Unfortunately, there are not enough children using the sport facilities in proportion to the capacity.

Olympic Youth Development Centre

Then our last evening had come…. Thursday evening we all dressed up for our farewell dinner at the Commonwealth Youth Centre. We had a lot of fun and enjoyed the evening, however it was kind of sad as well. After spending so much time together, it was weird just being a group of 8 persons (those who are staying in Zambia 10 months). The 8 of us stayed at the Commonwealth Youth Centre for another 2 nights, since we had a specific orientation about Zambia during the weekend, before going to our host families.

Becky and me

After saying goodbye to all the others Friday morning, I had to go to the Danish Embassy for registration. I thought it would be a thing of few minutes…well no! In Africa everything takes a bit longer :D After almost 1 ½ hours waiting, I finally got a paper,  which told me I have to do it online! Thank you :D

However, the Friday waffles at the Norwegian Embassy together with Lina, Johanne and Vitaly afterwards were a got reward :) Maybe I should consider going to Lusaka every Friday to get waffles :)

In the afternoon our specific orientation started. We got information about health, security and all the important things you have to know, when you live in Zambia. What started a bit slowly and as repetition, showed to be a lot of fun :) We “learned” to take the bus, to have dinner at a restaurant, take a taxi, negotiate the price and to order drinks in a bar :)

Saturday we all took the public bus to Kaunda Square, where Nowspar (National Organization for Women in Sport, Physical Activity and Recreation) had organized a sport event. There were a lot of kids and it was great fun playing football and netball with and against them :) However, it also was a very different experience for us “Norwegians”, playing in a sandstorm and on a field with many wholes and a lot of rubbish. The kids were having a wicked time watching us falling :D

Kaunda Square

Sandstorm

After the sport event we all were invited to a BBQ at the chief of Nowspar’s place. It was so nice and we really enjoyed the afternoon :) And you can’t imagine how nice it was eating something else, than just the food we ate the last 10 days.

After the nice afternoon, a shower and packing our bags, we all went out :) We started with pre-drinks, playing cards and water pipe at Vitaly’s place (he was a volunteer last year). After that we were ready to explore the nightlife in Lusaka :) We had a lot of fun and were dancing the whole night! A perfect ending of the general and specific orientation in Lusaka :)

Then the final day had arrived… After a short powernap, I was ready for the 7 hours bus trip towards Livingstone together with Therese and Phoebe. It was a long journey and we were quite happy, when we arrived in Livingstone around 1 p.m. However, it was with mixed feelings. Now the real African life waited for us.

So, here am I now :) Living in Livingstone, together with my lovely host family in a small house in More Light Extension (4 Km outside of Livingstone town). I have 3 brothers (William 16 years old, Patrick 12 years old and Jonathan 5 years old) and 3 cousins (Rebecca 17 years old, Chico 16 years old and Giving 5 years old), and my host parents John and Miriam.

The kids and me in the living room

my toilet in the garden

my room

Monday morning I started work in Kwenuha Women’s Association. My colleagues are really nice and they embraced me with a warm welcome :) The last 3 days I have observed how the organization works and participated in different training sessions in the different communities around Livingstone :)

That was all from me right now. I look forward to the weekend, where I hopefully will see the Victoria Falls :)