How are you? Bwino bwanji :)

I’ve been living here in Livingstone for a week now and it’s actually 4 weeks ago I left Oslo. Crazy!

The town is really nice and has a lot to offer. So it’s perfect, when I for instance need a break from my home in the compound and just want to be a tourist (or use a real toilet):)

So what have I been doing in Livingstone?

Well, I’m supposed to work. However, I’ve not really been working :D As I wrote in my last post, I have been attending club trainings in the different compounds around Livingstone Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. This means that I basically just have played netball and/or football 2-3 hours every day. Besides this, I’ve experienced the town and read a good book ;)

Kwenuha has 12 sport clubs placed around Livingstone and I’ve to get to know all of them and see, what they are doing and where I can help. So yep, I’ve still 9 to go ;) But it shouldn’t sound as if I’m not doing or learning anything. I’ve already learned a lot about the African culture and their work habits. Especially their feeling for and attitude towards time…Well, I can tell that it’s quite challenging and frustrating sometimes :D But yeah, I just smile and enjoy the sun when I have to wait :)

At least I can rely on the sun! The sun is shining and it’s about 35 degrees every day. And this is the normal temperature in Livingstone!!! I don’t know, how I’m going to manage to exercise and do trainings when it gets summer and around 45-50 degrees! However, I don’t want to complain :) I just love the sun, as many of you probably know :D

Furthermore, I’ve been learning Nyanja (this is one of the four most spoken local languages in Zambia). Even though it’s a bit difficult, it is worth it to learn! It’s so funny to see peoples reactions, when you reply or greet in Nyanja :D they don’t expect a muzungu (white person) being able to speak their language. Another thing which is quite crazy is, how the children go crazy, when they see a white person walking in the compound :D you feel like a star!

How was my first weekend in Livingstone?

Well, I can say it in one word: AMAZING!!!

When I went to work Friday morning and arrived at 8 o’clock on the dot, I didn’t know that my plans for the weekend would make such a u-turn and in such positive way :) From staying in Livingstone (almost alone) doing nothing, it went to a half-day trip to the Victoria Falls, weekend trip to a small Island in the Zambezi River and a sunset cruise :) Thanks to Siv-Hege and Anne-Kathe (two Norwegian girls I’ve met here in Livingstone).

It all started, when Sister Perpetua (my boss) Friday morning told me that they actually don’t have any work for me. She offered me to take a day off and just relax. Well, in the first moment I was a bit annoyed and frustrated…but then I called Siv-Hege and the adventure started :)

At 10:15 a.m. I was on my way to the Victoria Falls :) The Falls are just AMAZING!!! No wonder, they are the Seventh Natural Wonder of the World. It was definitely not my last time going there :)

 

The Victoria Falls

The bridge between Zambia and Zimbabwe

(Do I really have the courage to do a Bungy jump from that bridge?! We'll see)

And how did I end up at the small Island with no electricity and network? Right, Siv-Hege and Anne-Kathe asked if I wanted to join them on their weekend trip to Puvo Island. Without hesitating I said yes and after packing my bag in only 10 minutes (can you believe that?! Me, who always needs at least some hours for packing :D) we were on our way to the Island. 

How did we get there?

Look :)

Yep, 9 people (5 Canadians, 1 American, 2 Norwegians and me) squeezed together in the back of a truck. Quite fun and windy :D

What did we do on the Island?

Absolutely nothing :) Besides enjoying life with a good book, drinking beer, sunset cruises in a canoe, listening to the hippos singing/talking and relaxing in the sun. Yep, it was bearable :D

And the perfect ending of this lovely weekend, was the sunset cruise on the Zambezi River with drinks for free, finger food, a lovely sunset and the view of hippos and elephants :)

So today it was back to reality and work. A lovely spider had chosen to keep me company in my room this morning :) Thanks!

What’s the plan for this week?

Well, attending some club trainings, club competition on Friday and a Fun Day (basically a sports day) on Saturday :)