Follow up to Minh

Carissa:
Hi everyone! So we're now back in Lusaka and Minh just posted his observations during our meeting in Livingstone...we don't have too much time tonight because we're having dinner with some EWB volunteers so I think we'll be back tomorrow. There is a lot that has happened between Livingstone and Lusaka so for now we'll try and catch up a little bit:

To elaborate on the meeting with Susan:

It was different because she was not in the wat-san or agriculture area, her specialty was in CARE’s HIV/AIDS division. It was interesting to talk to someone who’s involved with the health component of development. I learned that in Zambia, anti-retroviral drugs are actually now free but only at government institutions. A huge problem is access to these institutions for people that live far away ie rural areas. The CARE volunteers that work with the SCOPE and HIV/AIDS program cannot bring the meds as they are prescriptions, but they can help the patient formulate a regular schedule for administration. There are so just so many angles at which to approach development, so many that it almost seems like chaos at times.

Livingstone is the location of the CARE regional headquarters, so it was a great place to see an NGO in its operational stages. Everyone seemed very focused and well organized within their respective projects.

A topic we’ve been discussing to quite a great extent since we’ve been in Zambia is that of development and its effectiveness. Literature on the struggles of development can only begin to describe what is actually happening in the field. All the devastation and disease and poverty is there but its display is much different than I would have imagined. I was picturing people with their hands out, pleading, crying with all the hardships they are experiencing in their lives and instead we have encountered time after time silence. These hardships have been already engrained into their lives, their parents and their children’s lives. They face poverty, hunger, death and disease every single day, it’s almost like it has become a part of their routine. It just pretty much left me speechless at times.

Another side note about Livingstone is the difference that city possesses based on the tourism industry. The Victoria Falls and the Zambezi river off this world of adventure and excitement to people from all over the world. Upon arriving you feel different. It almost felt like we had stepped out of Zambia (or at least the Zambia we had seen up until then). It’s amazing the difference one industry can have on a region. Some people would argue that it is taking away from the real Zambian culture yet others argue that it is perfect to give great, profitable opportunities to locals. It’s hard to say. Something to think about…

But what a spectacular sight to see: the Victoria Falls. October is when the water levels are at their lowest so the falls were not crashing as you normally see in the classic videos and postcards, but it was so low that we actually could walk all over the rocks that the river usually crashes over. We walked all the way to the edge where the water pours off the top of the rocks and crashes with its huge sheets of mist. It was just breathtaking. The sky was blue, you felt like you were literally at the edge of the world, you’re standing in the Zambezi in Zambia and looking over to Zimbabwe just across the way. It really is a sight not to miss.

Next stop: Muzya and Kalomo

I believe Minh did talk about Livingstone also so I will proceed to Tuesday and our journey out of tourist Zambia and back into rural lands.

Side note: Zambia is hot in October. Unbelievably hot. Exponentially hotter than anything I’ve ever experienced. In Livingstone, as we searched for something to eat before embarking on our bus journey to Zimba, we were literally just darting from shaded area to shaded area because any place in the sun, even 10 seconds worth, was just stifling. So we had a bit to eat, and were pretty excited because the bus company had told us that the bus we were taking was “ business class” with A/C. Business class means 2 by 2 seats and A/C means the windows do not open. Departure time is 1330. I can’t wait to cool off for 2 hours so I’m all smiles as we get on the bus. It’s a little hot to begin with but I figure once we start moving the A/C will kick in and we’ll be comfortable. And then we start moving. And the AC does not come on. And then we find out it is broken. And the windows don’t open. So basically we were roasting like chicken. We arrived in Zimba to meet Jon, antoher EWB volunteer who is joined by Wysin, the CARE co-ordinator and practically fall out of the bus. It was quite a scene. We sat and drank water for about a half hour before any one of us felt remotely well enough to get into the CARE Toyota Land Cruiser and bump our way into the village.

Intro to Jon:

Like I said, he is an EWB volunteer working with CARE. He is involved with the agriculture side of operations. CARE has a program that is trying to get rural small scale famers to reintroduce sorghum as a profitable crop. Maize was pushed by the government to be the staple food across Zambia. A kind of “one country, one crop” unified slogan. Maize is what everyone grows, sells and eats. Farmers lives revolve around Maize A major problem with Maize is that is it very weather dependent. As seen last year, the rains wiped out a lot of crops and we have come to know that Maize also being quite susceptible to drought. Sorghum on the other hand is a very favourble crop given the growing conditions of Zambia’s Southern Province. It is quite drought resistant and provides quite an impressive yield.

Once we felt well enough, we piled in with our dusty luggage and rumbled our way through the dirt paths to Muzya area where we were split (me and Jenn, Slady and Minh) to stay the night in 2 different households. Minh I’m sure will describe quite accurately his experience as he and Slady had quite a different night and day from me and Jenn.

Jenn and I were dropped off at a household that we immediately named “the swank”. It was village living but with style. All 5 elements of sanitation, all sorts of animals, all kinds of huts for different purposes including ours which was just for us and had a bed were found a our swanky village. Our bed had a frame and a mattress and blankets! The main house had a TV that who’s battery had been charged at Zimba so even after dark we were still watching the news! There was white sugar! The latrine had a nice straw courtesy covering wall and a hand crafted cover! We were given a flashlight! For a few moments we both wondered if we really were in the village. But then the guinea fowls starting screaming (that’s what I call it because it’s terrible and illogical and goes on all night just so you ALWAYS know they’re there).

Our hosts were wonderful. The Mrs was very well spoken and articulate and we learnt much about her activity in the community and her role in her women’s group and their work with orphans and vulnerable children.

MORE TO COME INTERNET IS TOO SLOW!!! ALSO PICTURES TO COME AS WELL!!