Our first afternoon of team-building with the management team of Isubilo was a huge success! We quickly overcame the language barrier- it's amazing what a short thumb wrestling match can do to break the ice. Much laughter was heard throughout the afternoon as we lead the group through some fun activities and great discussions. The team at Isubilo is genuinely excited to learn about their team and how they can improve, all in order to serve their community and people in it as best they can. Truly amazing work they are doing!
The farm, on the other hand, has forced our little team of 3 to practice what they preach! Kristi and Claudia (roomies) have bonded over the addition of their "new roommate Scratchy"- we are not sure what or who Scratchy is, but boy can he/she make some weird noises late at night...thank goodness for Gravol or we'd never get to sleep! Shannon, on the other hand, has grown accustomed to rinsing her hair in the kitchen sink after the shower goes from a low-pressure spray to a trickle. Kristi and Claudia don't have that problem as they have been forced to walk across the farm to shower due to a "bad plumbing situation" in their room. Let's just say, their shower makes gurgle noises when Shannon flushes her toilet, and it's not Scratchy.
Dinner is like an episode of Coronation Street, as we 3 Canadians try and keep up with the British accents of our hosts and fellow guests at the farm- we must say, tea every afternoon is 'jolly good' and just plain civilized. We quickly got used to that new tradition.
This weekend the 3 of us are heading to Nsobe Game Park, after making a quick visit to Isubilo to play with the children on Saturday morning. We hope to post some new photos of us and some new friends we will make at the park!
Thanks for your comments and emails- we love hearing from home!
Friday, July 6, 2007
Wednesday, July 4, 2007
A few random thoughts ....
The past 2 days have been filled with new experiences for each of us. As we debrief in the car on the way home we all have some similar observations to make and questions to ask. Some things we have been struck by:
1. The dichotomy of the dire poverty and squalid living conditions and the bright-eyed smiles on the people and their cheery greetings for us.
2. Going to bed last night, mildly complaining about how very cold it was as we burrowed under mounds of blankets and then recalling the children we had visited with during the day whose "houses" had windows without glass in them and a curtain covering the front door. How were those little ones staying warm?
3. How do you reconcile with yourself the sight of a little boy, Emmanuel, who we thought was approx 2 yrs. old, and then find out he's 4 but very malnourished? Or 5 year old David with his huge smile and hugs and HIVAIDs; and he's only one of many with this afliction? Or little girls only 4 or 5 themselves, carrying their younger siblings on their back because they are the mother to that child now that the biological mother has died of HIVAIDs?
4. Being overcome by the great need here and feeling somehow that the team building program we begin tomorrow perhaps isn't something of priority and probably more "practical" training is what's really needed; only to meet with John and Prya to review our program and realize that it's exactly what the team at Isubilo is wanting and looking forward to - not only better communication among the team, but especially building up of the team, realizing each individual has an important part to play and is valued because of it. Our thinking changed in a hurry with the realization that we are exactly where we are meant to be at this time.
1. The dichotomy of the dire poverty and squalid living conditions and the bright-eyed smiles on the people and their cheery greetings for us.
2. Going to bed last night, mildly complaining about how very cold it was as we burrowed under mounds of blankets and then recalling the children we had visited with during the day whose "houses" had windows without glass in them and a curtain covering the front door. How were those little ones staying warm?
3. How do you reconcile with yourself the sight of a little boy, Emmanuel, who we thought was approx 2 yrs. old, and then find out he's 4 but very malnourished? Or 5 year old David with his huge smile and hugs and HIVAIDs; and he's only one of many with this afliction? Or little girls only 4 or 5 themselves, carrying their younger siblings on their back because they are the mother to that child now that the biological mother has died of HIVAIDs?
4. Being overcome by the great need here and feeling somehow that the team building program we begin tomorrow perhaps isn't something of priority and probably more "practical" training is what's really needed; only to meet with John and Prya to review our program and realize that it's exactly what the team at Isubilo is wanting and looking forward to - not only better communication among the team, but especially building up of the team, realizing each individual has an important part to play and is valued because of it. Our thinking changed in a hurry with the realization that we are exactly where we are meant to be at this time.
Tuesday, July 3, 2007
Day 1 Update
Mulashani! Hello!
We are finally here in Ndola after, what started out to be, an uneventful trip yesterday. Kristi warned us about "how things work" in Africa, and we were able to experience it first-hand at the Ndola airport. Missing luggage= an hour of discussion, a dot-matrix printer, and DOS operating system; this had us worried, but we are happy to report, we found the missing bag today! Rental car= one remaining car on the lot, steering wheel on the right, and driving on the left-hand side of the road with manual transmission! Again, happy to report that Kristi is a star and has us flying down the Mushili road, leaving a cloud of red dust behind us! Money= 3 different bank machines to get 600 000 Kwacha (Howie, better transfer some money to the Visa...don't worry, 4000 Kwacha= 1 USD).
Our first official adventure began with the Zambian Tradeshow, where we saw lots of local crafts as well as some authentic music and dancing. Then off to Koloko, where we found ourselves lost. Claudia saved the day when she spotted some "musungu" (white people) off in the distance (volunteers that are actually staying at the farm with us). We were able to see the new Lifespring school and enjoy time with some of the local children- our photos say it all. It's been an amazing day:)
Until our next entry, "mwende bueno" (go well)
We are finally here in Ndola after, what started out to be, an uneventful trip yesterday. Kristi warned us about "how things work" in Africa, and we were able to experience it first-hand at the Ndola airport. Missing luggage= an hour of discussion, a dot-matrix printer, and DOS operating system; this had us worried, but we are happy to report, we found the missing bag today! Rental car= one remaining car on the lot, steering wheel on the right, and driving on the left-hand side of the road with manual transmission! Again, happy to report that Kristi is a star and has us flying down the Mushili road, leaving a cloud of red dust behind us! Money= 3 different bank machines to get 600 000 Kwacha (Howie, better transfer some money to the Visa...don't worry, 4000 Kwacha= 1 USD).
Our first official adventure began with the Zambian Tradeshow, where we saw lots of local crafts as well as some authentic music and dancing. Then off to Koloko, where we found ourselves lost. Claudia saved the day when she spotted some "musungu" (white people) off in the distance (volunteers that are actually staying at the farm with us). We were able to see the new Lifespring school and enjoy time with some of the local children- our photos say it all. It's been an amazing day:)
Until our next entry, "mwende bueno" (go well)
Sunday, July 1, 2007
The long flight is history
Due to technical difficulties we are unable to upload our pictures, however we are happy to be on solid ground in J-burg. Everything went smoothly, albeit a bit longer than expected with a stop over in Dakar, Senegal. We're off to dinner and then looking forward to sleeping in a real bed before leaving bright and early in the morning for our final flight to Ndola.
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