November 2008 Archives

This weekend I did alot of playing the violin in a church! Daphe who is a friend of Vanessa's and owns a big fabric shop here in Livingstone had a spare violin and invited me along to play. I don't know the ins and outs of what exactly is 'New Apostlic' but they do hymns and sermons and stuff so a bit like Methodist which I what I grew up with. I was shocked to enter the rehearsal and find a HUGE choir of over a 100 people, and an orchestra of about 30, complete with violins, violas, cellos, clarinets, flutes and brass!!! They had all come from Livingstone area but we were using a church in Danwbe which is just off from the town centre. It was a huge church, bout the size of the C of E one that was atttached to my primary school. The orchestra knocked the socks off any other church orchestra I've come across in the UK (up yours, first world) and the violin playing was REALLY GOOD, even though they'd only been learning for EIGHT YEARS!!! I could not believe it, you see, when people tell you to practise for hours that's how advanced you can be in a short space of time. We did a bit of jamming being practise too, it was lovely to play 'oh danny boy' in the exact same key as I usually play it. The service today was PACKED, most of the congregation had to stand outside (and in the rain, that's dedication for you) as the choir had pretty much taken over the entire church anyway, The singing was stunning , really beautiful and we say a nice arrangement of 'Panus Angelicus' or whatever its called but with religious texts. The 'district apostle' as they call them visited from his base up north and did a lovely sermon, with jokes and everything, luckily I got them because it was all in english. Plus I feel like a local now after understanding the joke about 'Plan B', something Zambians always refer to (there's always a Plan B for everything apparently) it was quite a formal service with everyone in black and white who was performing but it was really sweet and despite having to get up really early in the morning , I enjoyed it. It's really strange as I was the only white person (token M'Zunga as they say here) but I don't even notice that any more. People are very friendly and welcoming. They are preparing for a bigger concert for the BIG CHIEF (he's called the chief apostle) who is the equivilant to the Pope basically in this section of the church, which they are all very excited about in a few weeks time so I will hopefully go with Daphe to the concert. She said theyll be EVEN MORE musicians. Blimey.

It's been raining tons here again, all through the night but then gorgeous sunshine in the afternoon, such crazy weather.

Only two more weeks left until school closes so a VERY busy week this week. Still rehearsing the play that I wrote my drama kids, doing about 4 songs with the school band and some poetry about World Aids Day (which is also 1st December) with Innocent and Esther who are poetry whizzes. Also, now bought all the material for the costumes for the Nativity which we are performing at the christmas party on the last day of school, going to rope in some of the teachers to help me with that as I've got my hands full!!

On Saturday , me and Leo (who is here working with a german development agency and is a lovely man) and two other girls from Germany who were travelling around Africa, took at trip to Chobe National Park in Botswana, just across the border from Zambia. I was very excited although it did mean getting up very early- we got driven down to the Pontoon ferry to get a lift over the very short river crossing. Its crazy down by the Pontoon crossing, people everywhere and huge queues of lorries- they can only fit on 1 lorry at a time so I have no idea how long people wait. It's free to enter Botswana, unlike Zimbawe- at the Pontoon ferry you can see Zimbawe, Namibia too, where the four of them meet.
Took a game drive first through the park, our enthusiastic driver wanting to show us as much as possible. The park is HUGE, I don't know facts and figures but its a lot bigger than Glasgow Green and Golden Acre Park put together. There were Impala's everywhere, a common animal in this part of Africa but also different types of deer too, the Pukoo (probably wrong spelling) which is only kept in this park and other types. It was the shock of being so close to the elephants that got me- really amazing. They don't attack cars or even seem to mind them (seen as our car was one of those open sided ones, that was a lucky thing) - it was a hot day so quite alot of elephants were down at the riverside. Which was great on the afternoon boat trip. Saw crocs too, quite and un nervingly near to the boat, and hippos (what a crabby animal that is) , lots of beautiful birds, warthogs and their babies but no giraffes or lions. The park has lions but they tend to hide much further inside the bush, off the tracks, probably to avoid tourists pointing their cameras and shouting 'oooh look there's a lion, roaaarrrrr' and other bad impressions.

Friday at school we brought all the instruments into the computer room to send a performance via Skype to the UK- Adelaide found us on the Skype which was so exciting, the connection was a bit dodgy but we could all see her, and her family and we played her 'Lord I lift your name on high' - when I saw Ads crying I started too, pretty emotional. Hopefully we can try it again with better sound quality next time, or I may try film it with the camera and put it on YouTube. We had 14 of the kids here, the full school band and I was so proud of them. They were AMAZING. Such a talented bunch.
Tried to Skype to my folks too but the connection went down, all they got was a echoey sound, huge shame.

Last night the rain fell on my head through the ceiling in the night so I crawled into another dorm in middle of the night so I could get some sleep, although I was already a bit soggy. The storms have pulled down the power cable to the school and our houses here, so we have no power and no water which has meant afternoon activities are cancelled and the school were only able to feed the younger kids which is really sad. I guess its cheese sandwiches for tea then.....

Very excited about my nativity play we are doing last week of term now Ive written it all out. Chosen two of the best readers in Grade 5 and 6 to narrate and have to get material to make costumes now! One of the Grade 8's (who left last year) Mischeck who goes to St Raphaels will come and help me that week, which is fantastic. He even offered to help make the costumes, hurrah!

Someone was just telling me that their friend had a pet monkey- apparently you can buy them for 100,000 kwcha which is CHEAP, its 6,000 kwcha to the pound. Actually, I don't really know what the going rate for a monkey should be (and also what brand, i mean 'type of' the monkey is) but I've been told that if I want one for my remaining 5 weeks, its only a phone call away......this place is nuts.

I've read ALOT of books since I've been here which doesnt neccessarily mean I'm having a naff time its just that you can get alot done without a tv or radio (thank god I'm missing the X Factor) here's a list in case anyone fancies reading them, Ive already sent this to my book group back 'ome;

Sushi for Beginners (Marian Keyes) fluffy and quite predictable. Good to read on a holiday or when you are poorly. A women's book

Catch 22 (by,erm,can't remember) Took me a while to get into, but its good, if not a little confusing. Read it, its a bit like Thomas Pychon, you want to throw it on the floor when you've finished

Belching out the devil (Mark Thomas) UK's version of Michael Moore takes on Coca Cola. It's very good and deals with the way Coca Cola are quite an evil company, threatening and even killing workers who join unions in South America and also how they managed to leave an entire community without a water supply in India. I didnt drink Coke for a whole week after reading it.

Ps I Love you (Cecila Ahern, I think, daughter of Bertie, related to some Westlife dude too) This was from the bookswap at JollyBoys which is EXCELLENT but am not sure why I picked it as I wouldnt have watched the film they made out of it in a millon years (a girly sob fest bollocks) it didnt take me long to read it. Don't read this book.

Bad Karma (cant remember who wrote this) book about a girl who goes off travelling to South East Asia with her mate, they go to all the dodgy bits and its quite an easy read but enjoyable. I read it during my stomach bug days when all I could manage was lying in bed- I thought Heather had bought me this book but she hadnt. So thank you to whoever bought me it. It made me want to do ALOT of travelling.

Personality (Andrew o Hagan) I wanted to read his stuff after going to a Q+A he did last year at Edinburgh Book Fest, he's quite connected to London Review of books - i thought it was going to be alot more heavy going than the book actually was but it was written beautifully, really nice characters and NOT a predictable ending , so I liked this book quite alot. I hope some of his others show up in the bookswap here else I would like some of his stuff for xmas please.

Dont Look Back (MILLS AND BOON) - Jo bought me this for my trip. Jo- I love you dearly but this book must have been written by a total muppet. Surprisingly though, there was no sex until page 71.

Currently reading 'The Devil Wears Prada' which, so far, is rather good.

In other news-SCHOOL WAS GREAT when I managed to get in this week when I wasnt keeling over and almost passing out, especially yesterday , Dad set up Skype and I got some of the kids to say hi to him and Mum, the kids loved it and it was nice to chat. One of my music kids Malambo said (unprompted) that he was really happy I was here helping them with their music stuff (less said about my social studies/ mime classes) which kinda makes it worth it when I know the kids are actually enjoying my presence rather than wishing I wasnt there. They also met Everisto, our head boy and all round wonderkid, Bright my 12 yr old neighbour (who, bizarrely, asked me to bring him back a present from town this weekend- he must think Im some kind of Yorkshire Santa) , little Steve, Hope, Mutinta, Soniya and Febian (some of my drama kids)

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7704859.stm
Thursday was election day in Zambia. Excitement has been mounting ever since I've been here, people reading newspapers on the street early in the mornings, rumours flying about corruption and policies and there was a brief tear gas incident last Tuesday in the town. As in the article above, the results were announced yesterday and THANKFULLY Rupiah Banda got it, rather than PF (Patriotic Front, with a leader more offensive than Alex Salmond) who would have turned Zambia into Zimbabwe, possibly.

So, back to last Wednesday, I packed some things and headed back into town after school to Jollyboys- Helen from Manchester who I'd met on my flight here and hung out with at the start of my trip had emailed to say she was returning from her 3 week mud-hut building project so we met up and caught up on the last few weeks. The kayakers had left in their truck which DID eventually turn up, Steven the kindest South African in the world was also back from fishing and the wedding party were still revelling. So nice to see some familiar faces. Stayed up late Wednesday singing with some guy and a guitar which was nice and relaxed. Thursday everything in town was shut, and Helen and I were trying to avoid the cottage pie option for dinner so I headed to a market quite far away in the middle of a field (which , as it turned out, was also an open sewer, mmm) where I also bought a cheap white sheet for my zebra outfit. Bumped into Mike music teacher who was out and about voting and had a very random squashed bus journey with an over excited older lady who had spent time in Derby, I do like adventure though.
Rest of Thursday was spent catching the Jollyboys bug that was sweeping the place- effecting those who had been spending too much time there the most. And we still suspect the cheese toasties were involved. Was very, VERY poorly, had nothing left in my body by tea time and couldnt eat a thing. Played cards with Helen and Olly (amazingly fantastic Irish man with a wicked sense of humour) and didnt stay up late...
Friday was Halloween party, but I literally woke to find I could hardly move. I felt SO poorly still and drank alot of water. Had about 5 cold showers to try and shift the sweats and then gave up and drank some red bull with a crazy woman with one lung. Helen had caught bug too- just in time for her flight back to the UK.....nasty.
The Jollyboys staff put on traditional dancing entertainment for us at night, I couldnt manage food STILL so sat swaying in my feeble state whilst I watched it. Then we all got dressed in our costumes (pictures to follow) and headed to Fez Bar- I have no idea how I managed to go, but I didnt end up staying for that long. All the regular characters were out, there's quite a bunch now that Ive been chatting to- including Pete the man with a peg leg from Warrington who likes to say 'its not in Lancashire cos Thatcher moved the fuckin' border' alot. And he knows the most filthy limericks. Steven the south african and James the lovely aussie guy from my dorm came out to join us, they'd both felt awful too in the day. Got a fairly early night, for me. And most of the costumes ended up discarded due to the crazy heat.
Saturday was mooching around, playing with ball in the pool to cool down- and then mooching a bit around town. Had a quiet-ish evening. I think.
Sunday the RAINS CAME- not just rain but THUNDER and LIGHTNING. It was a bit scary.
Stayed on at Jollyboys for an extra night as was worried it may have been flooded, but apparently they didnt get it as bad in the rural areas as we did in town. Also we had sad news at the hostel as James the lovely aussie had an accident, fainted off the back of a stool and broke his back- luckily he was with saviour of illness Steven the South African who flew with him to Jo'Burg as they just dont have the facilties here to deal with that. Awful too because he'd been all over Africa, doing all these activies and then one freak accident.
I decided I needed to DO something Sunday so I tried to book onto every leisurely activity available- elephants were full, so was High Tea at Livingstone Island and so I ended up taking a HELICOPTER ride over the falls!!! I didnt realise the copter would be so small so it was quite terrifying but I got some amazing pictures and the captain kept pointing things out. Was well worth it, although bit scary when it rained.
Back to school today, things are going well although I still feel like I'm about to pass out. At least I havent had Malaria yet.....

Total number of Giraffes seen : 0
Top of Hippos now seen: 50
Rest of a Hippo seen : 0
Bottles of Mosi lager drunk : erm....
Sad good byes to hairy unsuitable men: 1
Welsh girls who think Get 100 is a crap programme : 2