Arrivals and first impressions

So hello to you all!

I arrived in Zambia yesterday on a BA flight.  

For those of who don’t know I am just taken a year long career break from work.    First point of call is Zambia.  At the moment I am about to start a 6 week volunteer placement through the organisation Accounting for International Development.  I am working with a community based organisation called  Bwafwano  who are based on the in Lusaka (capital of Zambia).  Anyway, more on Bwafwano on Monday after my first day in the office.

I arrived in Lusaka on Thursday morning after a 10 hour luxury flight courtesy of BA.    Wow – how my travelling habits will change in the future now I have seen how the other half live.  As much free red wine as you want, Sex and City 2 on TV, yummy chicken curry and the additional option of tasting early sundowners in the form of Bloody Mary’s! No more Easyjets and Ryanair flights for me!

I was collected from the airport by the driver from Bwafwano after a long quene for visa’s and customs where they checked you had picked up the correct bag by checking tags on the bag against the ticket you were given at check-in.  I was grateful I had saved mine and not thrown it away with all the other rubbish in my bag.  Before coming to Africa I have been warned about the crazy driving so was prepared for this on my drive into the city centre.  However I have been surprised at how safe I felt.  No experiences of near head on collisions from dramatic taking over moments or having to grab to the side of the vehicle for my life were encountered.   However this might prove to9 be wrong!

First impressions of Zambia – hot hot hot!  I have arrived in the hottest month just before the start of the wet season.  I cannot wait for this rain, and even thinking the Lakey D land wet grey skies are appealing.    From the drive in I can say the environment and landscape does meet my expectations from the photos of Africa you see at home.  Flat barren dry bush landscape which is broken up with  small patches of green from thornbushs.  Lots and lots of people working alongside of the side raod carrying everything and anything – infants, chickens, barrels.  Local blue minibuses crammed full of people- I probably think they should fit about 10 peop0le in each but appear to have at least 20 in each.  Woman wearing brightly coloured Africa material.   Small roadside shops made from wooden frames covered in cardboard with tin roofs selling everything (esp mobile phone credit).

Lusaka is quite different to what I expected.  It is much less built up, and even building right in the centre have a lot of space around them.  Each building is typically in a compound with gardens and space for parking inside which are then surround by a high wall and gates with security man.  It is less chaotic, busy and polluted compared to cities in Asia. 

I am spending three days staying at ChaChaCha’s backpackers over the weekend.  Will update you on my activities on Monday. Bye for now.  CCx

P.S  I will add photos as I get some but people who know me well know I’m not that great at taking them and espically not in appearing in the