Waterfalls and Permits

Well, looks like I did not need to go far to become legal in Zambia. I received my work permit this morning; therefore, I can stay legally in Zambia for up to two years with no problems. Turns out my work permit was five minutes away from where I lived, and I only had to wait two minutes to get it instead of the three and a half hour drive and two and a half hour ordeal we made on Friday (read earlier post). Well, what is done is done.

After writing my post on Saturday afternoon at the office, I went back home only to find my house flooded. Before I left for the office, I decided to wash clothes for the first time. I figured that the washing machine worked properly and decided to leave while the clothes were washing. That was a mistake! Little did I know, but the washing machine did not work properly. Instead of putting water on my clothes, the machine decided to pour water all over my house for the entire period it was on (45 minutes). Therefore, when I came back, there was a half inch of water over 1300 square feet of the house. There is no Home Depot; therefore, I could not buy a wetvac. So, I spent the next three hours using brooms to sweep the water out the front door and mops to mop the rest of the water up. I had to look on the bright side. At least I was not bored. It was something to do which was good.

Nothing else much to report. Today, I am working on the a plan for the meeting on Thursday or Friday of this week with the pastors and principles. The rest of the week will entail starting to lay down the basics of a long term plan for the school year. The long term plan will change after observations of the schools and conversations with the people in charge, but I will begin to lay out the basics this week. Also, I will start buying things this week for my house. Peace!

To Mapolo and Lusaka

Well, I just got back from Lusaka, Zambia (the capital), and it has been a very interesting three days. On Thursday, I spent the morning reviewing some more education policies, but in the afternoon Lawrence and I went to Mapolo, one of the main compounds/slums in which the Jubilee Centre works. Mapolo is just outside of Ndola. In this compound they run a network of 13 churches. They provide training and support for the churches as they help them think through their vision. Lawrence and I went to the compound for two reasons. First, we went because Lawrence was informing them of a training program the Jubilee Centre is offering in a couple of weeks. Secondly, we went to introduce the education program we hope to implement in the community schools run by the churches. Three of the churches run community schools in the compound, and our vision is to run a pilot program to train the teachers in these schools while advocating the government for them. The advocacy work is the reason that I have been reading so many policy manuals the past week. We presented the idea to the pastors, and they were very excited. It was such an encouragement to hear their excitement. Therefore, Lawrence and I are going back this week to meet again with the pastors and the principles of the schools to discuss the situation more in depth and to set a plan for what we want this year to look like. It is so exciting to see this thing getting off the ground.

It was so weird for me to go back to Mapolo because it was the first time I had been back there in 10 years. In 1999 I went with my family to Mapolo, which was then Chipakuluska, on a medical mission trip. At that time, the community did not have electricity, running water, etc. Because of many different factors and the vision of the churches in that community after that trip, the community now has those basic necessities. I can’t fully express my emotions coming back because never in my wildest imagination would I have been coming back ten years later to help the schools in the community think about the way that they do education.

The past two days, Friday and Saturday, have been spent in Lusaka, the capital of Zambia. Lusaka is very different from Ndola. It has more of a Western influence and is crammed full of people, cars, etc. One of the reasons we went was to pick up my work permit which the government said had to be picked up in Lusaka. We got to the place and wait for an hour and a half in the line. Then we are told that they don’t have my permit, and they don’t know where it is. They hand my paper back to me and say nothing. It was awkward/ very confusing because it appeared that he gave up looking. My American self would not take that answer though, and Lawrence and I pressured him to keep looking. We eventually got his supervisor involved, but he had no idea where it was either. He told them it had to be there. Lawrence and I eventually had to start searching through the files ourselves. At which time, we found a document stating that they had sent my work permit to Ndola. As stressful as I made that experience sound in writing, it was not stressful at all. Two years ago I would have been stressed in that situation but being a kindergarten teacher with TFA changes everything for you. Whenever I am in a stressful situation, I think back to my first days teaching and trying to control 23 screaming 5 year olds by myself. Everything else in comparison seems simple. I seriously thought about that standing in the government office, and the stress went away. Lawrence and I also had frustrating experiences at the Ministry of Health because they want doctors coming into the country for volunteer work to submit the most ridiculous documentation ever. If you ever want to hear something, get Lawrence talking about how much the Zambian government is screwing over its people.

All in all, even though we did not get everything we wanted, the time in Lusaka was good. It was a good time for me to learn about the different aspects of the Jubilee Centre’s ministry and the culture in which they operate. It was also a good time for me to ask questions of Lawrence and to hear his perspective on Zambia. Well, I have to go wash clothes and cook dinner. I apologize for the lack to pictures, but they will come next week (if I remember to take them!) Peace!

Shopping with White People

Well, I have delved more into my work of developing my framework for understanding the education system in Zambia. Yesterday morning I read the Operational Guidelines for Community Schools, the Education Sector National Implementation Framework, and the Zambia Education Policy Manual. These text help me grasp a basic understanding of the system before I see it in practice. It also helps me see the way things are “supposed” to be. My analytic mind is always working; therefore, I already have critiques of the system but those are not necessarily the most beneficial things to focus on right now. Now is a time for learning and enriching myself in the system and experience.

Yesterday after lunch I went with David Temfwe and his friend Daniel to different shops in Ndola to price items I need for my house when I move in next week. For example, we priced beds, sofas, refrigerators, etc. To be honest it was kinda awkward. David and Daniel would lead me into the shops and then I would walk around pricing items with the sale clerks. The awkward part was that the sale clerks would say things in Bemba (their language) to David and Daniel about the white guy coming to spend his money. This is what the guys would tell me. And then the sale clerks would make comments about me not wanting to buy the expensive items but instead wanting to look at the cheap items. It goes to show the images we have in our minds of each other. I do it. You do it. We all do it. We just may not vocalize these things, but when put into a cross-cultural situation, these issues come to the surface. I mean it is not as if the stereotypes are unfounded. We Americans love to spend our money lavishly and others know it. I am as guilty as the next in that regard.

Have you ever gotten serious stares? I mean serious ones. Where everyone looks at you like you walked out the door without your pants. I get those everyday when I go running in the afternoon, and it is not because I forgot my pants. At least I think not. According to David Temfwe, the only people that run in Zambia are the soccer players; therefore, I stand out. I mean it would be a little different if I was 5’8 and 160 pounds and was running. But no I am 6’4 and 260 lbs. I am a sight, so I get stares. I am fine with it because I have my ipod and am listening to Beyonce while I run, but it is an adventure when I run. My friend Liz warned me that people would start running with me. That happened for the first time today. I passed a group of five 10 year old girls today and waved at them. They waved back. I passed them like a bolt of lightening (cough, cough!), and then I saw them sprint up from behind me. They got about two yards in front of me and stopped, acted like they were looking at something, and then ran away giggling. I thought it was pretty funny. Back to the waving issue, I thought it was great today that on my run I received a couple of waves from people. I am the one who has initiated the waves in the past but today two people initiated waves with me. It put a smile on my face.

Alright, sorry for the long post there, but I just got going. Today, I am off to the slums of Ndola to observe some of the schools with whom I will be working. Then I will be preparing for my trip to Lusaka on Friday. Lusaka is the capital of Zambia. Lawrence Temfwe and I are going and to be honest I don’t know what we are doing. I know that we are picking up my work permit, but we also have other engagements. Finally, I have posted two pictures. The first is of the Jubilee Centre, the place I work, and the second is of the house I am staying at now. I will post more as I have time. Peace!!

Bag Found!!!!

Well, I am adjusting to life a little better in Zambia. To be very honest, I was very lonely the past days. As lonely as I have ever been. Part of the problem was that Lawrence and the Jubliee Centre were trying to be considerate by giving me time to rest before I started to work. I don’t like to rest though. For those of you who know me I like to balance 30 different things at the same time, but things have improved. I now have some tasks to complete and am excited about what the future holds. Tomorrow, I am going to price items for my house that I will soon be moving into, God willing.

I went to the store yesterday and purchased my food for the week. I am lucky in that I can pretty much purchase whatever food I want. It may not be totally like the American equivalent, but it is close. I did see yogurt yesterday that I wanted to purchase. I was scared to purchase it though because the milk I had bought the day before was spoiled. Therefore, I thought to myself that I should check the expiration date. The date said 06/10/09. I said to myself that that is ridiculous. How can you keep things that expire on the shelf for two months after the date of expiration? Then I checked another yogurt, and it said 07/10/09. Well, that was one month better I guess, but I still did not buy it. I went for a day looking down on the store managers because of that, but then today I came to a realization. Zambians write their dates different from ours. Their format is day/month/year where ours is month/day/year. It makes a big difference when you know this simple fact. I think that I may go back and purchase that yogurt after all.

Today was a different experience as David Temfwe took me around to find a tennis club. The tennis club serves two purposes: to provide relief from my boredom/ to meet people and to be able to declare myself the best tennis player in Ndola, Zambia. Believe it or not, I actually have some challenges to meeting that second goal. Anyway, we visited all three of the tennis and bowling clubs in Ndola. Lawn bowling that is. The first two nobody was playing and nobody was there. I do not want to spend my money on nothing though. The third place will probably be my place. All the courts were filled with people and kids playing, and the people were playing decent tennis. Some were even playing with Babolat racquets. I was impressed. Then, I talked to the club pro, and he said that some of the people he trains play internationally, and that he would be open to playing if I came by. I think that I am going to join as soon as my father brings my racquets. I may join sooner if I can convince someone at the club to let me borrow a racquet.

Well, the missing bag countdown is over. It stopped at 4 days. Everything was in my bag when I picked it up today which was a huge relief. The locks were broken off and gone, but nothing was missing from the bag. Who breaks the locks on your bag but takes nothing? Don’t say the security personnel because those were TSA approved locks.

I now have a cell phone if you want to call and chat. My number is 0969400593. The country code for Zambia is +26 I believe. Check that before you try to call. Remember that I am six hours ahead of you. Or you can always talk to me on skype if I am around. My skype name is davidbramlett. As soon as I have time to figure it out I am forward my skype calls to my cell phone so that should be more convenient for you. Peace!

In Zambia

Well, I have safely arrived in Ndola. The flights were long and tiring. The only problem that I had with the flights was that I still don’t have one of my checked pieces of luggage. Therefore, I am going to start a day counter for how long it takes for my bag to get to me in Zambia. We are now at day 3. Will it be five days before my bag gets here? 10 days? 15 days? Place your bets now because it is only part of the adventure.

I went to church yesterday with the Temfwes. (The Temfwes are the family that runs the organization for which I am working). I will describe the church more later, but after the service a man came up to me and asked if I was the developer of the new soccer stadium. David Temfwe, Lawrence Temfwe’s son, politely told him that I was not. David said that he asked that because I dress nicely and look like a developer. I don’t know what to do with that. Am I supposed to dress down so that I don’t look as much like a foreign business man? Oh the cultural complexities that I encounter.

I am in a little bit of a transition time right now. The house I will be staying in is not ready yet; therefore, for the time being David Temfwe and I are staying in a guest house used by the Jubilee Centre. My house should be ready in a couple of weeks. This week the Jubliee Centre is hosting a conference to train churches on the use of the AWANA curriculum in their respective children’s ministries. Therefore, this is not a normal work week because most of the staff is helping with that conference. What is normal though? These first weeks are built in as a learning time for me; therefore, I will be observing the conference and the other ministries that the Jubilee Centre runs regularly throughout the week such as their youth outreach clubs. Near the end of the week I may be able to start meeting with a couple of the local schools with whom I will hopefully be working. I will also be setting up my life here i.e. setting up my finances, buying furniture and items for the house, and setting up my cell phone. This is Africa though so you never know what will happen. Right now I am waiting to be picked up to go to the office. It is 10:15 am. I was supposed to be picked up at 9 a.m. That’s life as I know it though. So far the time issue has not been a big deal for me. Hopefully, it will continue that way.

On Friday, Lawrence and I are going down to Lusaka, the capital of Zambia, to get my work permit so that I can be “official.” It is a huge blessing that it went through. Have to go but more to come about my first week of life in Zambia.

In South Africa

Well, I have made it to South Africa. We will call this hour number 22 of the 27 hour journey to Zambia (that is with all the layovers/times in airport/ etc.) My plane leaves for Ndola, Zambia in an hour. I have had uneventful flights so far but now comes the adventure on the way to Ndola. Only two or three flights fly into Ndola a day. Alright, I have to go but I will update when I get to Zambia.

The Beginning of the Departure

I am off from GA to DC. My flight is delayed in Atlanta right now, but they gave us a free card to use wifi on the airplane. This is a first for me. I am sure that there will be many more firsts this year, but wifi on the airplane is the beginning of that experience of firsts. After spending the next two nights in DC, I will leave early Friday morning from DC for South Africa, an 18 hour flight. I will arrive in Johannesburg, South Africa on Saturday morning and from there I will fly that afternoon to Ndola, Zambia.

When describing how I feel about my departure from the states, I have to say that I have mixed emotions. These last two weeks have been busy and relaxing at the same time. It has been busy because I have had to prepare for a year away from America. At the same time it has been relaxing because I have had the chance to spend time with my close friends and family. I continue to be scared but excited about this next year. It is funny because I am scared and excited about the same thing: the unknown. This fear and excitement of what is to come is natural and healthy in my opinion. In this state, we come to understand who we are and who we are becoming. Maybe this is the reason that I continually place myself in challenging situations which are full of the unknown.

Over the last couple of weeks, many discussions about the topic of our legacies, goals, and dreams have come up in conversation. As I depart for a year, I think a lot about those different concepts and what my dreams and goals for this year in Zambia will be. Lawrence Temfwe and I have already decided that the first weeks in Zambia will be spent learning and envisioning those dreams and goals for the year; therefore, much more writing will come on this subject.

I have to go but I wanted to write quickly concerning my thoughts on my departure. Thanks so much for reading, and I will be sure to update as soon as I can in Zambia.

Welcome!!!

Thanks for checking out my blog. I have to admit that I am new at this venture (blogging and Africa). Anyway, I will be sure to post once I get to Zambia. For now it is a week and a half more of relaxing before I depart from Georgia on Aug. 19th. I will then be spending a couple of days in my old stomping grounds, Washington D.C. until I leave for Zambia from DC on Friday, Aug. 21st. I am very excited for what this next year holds and the work that I will be doing in Zambia. I know that there will be many challenges, but life is about tackling those challenges and enjoying the experience. So I set forth on that endeavor. Until my next post in Zambia here is some reading material about the organization that I will be working with next year.

http://www.jubileecentre.org/

http://mczambia.wordpress.com/