My last blog out of Africa

Before leaving here for home, Phillip asked me if I would go with him and a few kids on a safari to Africa's largest national park. We would be sleeping in tents.

Camping in an African national park? What do you think I said? "YES!"

Things I might have found out before saying yes: (good news): Florence, one of our older residents would be coming along to chaperon the girls. and the kids would do all the cooking and clean up (pretty much as they do at home).

The less than good news: There will be 12 kids in all. We have two tents, one for each gender. The only mattresses we have are the ones off our beds, two or which cover the floor of a tent. So I think the girls would not be too crowded with 6 in their tent, but I couldn't quite (or may be I could) visualize 8 males in a tent rated as a 6-man facility each wrapped with their own blanket. I couldn't see it as doable. But I happened to ride in the vehicle we would be taking. It has two long side benches in the back, suitable for lying on if you are not too wide. So I claimed the van as my place to sleep and that greatly eased my mind.

This year we have a trailer which means that not everything must be packed in the van along with the 'sardine' safari campers. The mattresses, tents, and most other baggage except the cooler and some food items went into the trailer leaving a little breathing space for the 12 occupants in the back. Phillip and I sat up front. got the picture? No, it was tighter than you imagine. Our vehicle is rated for 13 small Japanese.

Just before leaving, a new trailer hitch was installed. We left a bit later than we'd intended. The road was good and not much traffic. Checks of our load indicated everything was well stowed and tided down. However, Phillip noticed that the trailer was starting to buck a bit on the bumps. Sure enough the trailer hitch bolts were starting to loosen. We kept tightening them up. The treads were getting stripped making this ever more difficult. But the boys and Phillip kept everything from parting ways, even on the very unimproved road (more like unimproved bush) and on into the park and our campsite. The park entrance closes at 6 pm, we arrive with a whole 20 minutes to spare.

It was almost a two hour drive to the campsite and darkness took over. We arrived and set up tents and prepared our food in good order, like we had done it many times.

No one seemed anxious to stay up. Most of the staff dropped by to greet and welcome us. The camp director with a nice Australian accent told us about being sensible about leaving our tents at night. His rules: 1) Listen before opening your tent, no unusual sounds,then 2) open your tent and look around, nothing moving around out there, then 3) you can leave your tent, but don't tarry.

So armed with that good advice, we retired. I did not think I slept well, I heard distant animals sounds. So I was surprised in the morning when Phillip asked if I'd seen the lion. No, I took this as a morning joke. Not so, a lion had entered our camp, Phillip looked for footprints as he told about our visitor. He admitted that he was frightened not for himself, but for the girls and how they might be reacting. A camp guard came swinging a flaming torch and the lion moved off and I slept on..

A very auspicious start to our safari adventure. Earlier event also boded well. Even before we got into the park we had seen vervet monkeys, guinea fowl, kudu and bush buck.

We rose about 6 am (sun up) to a cold morning and a quick, inviting fire. After breakfast, Musaki, the camp attendant, came by to tell us our boat trip would be at 10 am. So we toured the edge of the Lufupa River by van first. We'd barely started when we met the camp's head guide who told us to look out for the lions about 50 meters ahead. "Keep your windows up and don't drive too close to them." And there they were, nine of them lounging around as if they'd been up all night frightening campers. They looked well fed, two large males and several females and two cubs. No long view through a telescope but only a few car-lengths away. Occasionally one of the males would lift his head to see if we'd gone yet. Also seen were more vervet monkeys, impala, hippos and zebra. Not a dull moment.

Then back to the camp and the boat launch site. The camp is located at the confluence of the Kafue and Lufupa Rivers. So our boat took sorties up both wildlife laden rivers and lasted what seemed a very short two hours. No one was bored (later my unofficial poll pronounced this the highlight of the safari). None of the children had ever been in/on a boat before.

Our skipper/guide could not have been better, he knew his animals and his audience. I asked him at one point if he'd been a teacher. "No," he said. I told him he was one. He kept us supplied with new animals, their names and the spelling of their names (some of us were keeping our journals up to date) and some interesting details about their life habits. At slow times he'd give us review questions. Everything we saw was pretty much up close and in clear view. Oh yes, and what we saw:

1. Hadeda Ibis

2. Never out of sight of a pod of hiippos

3. Brown-headed Kingfisher

4. Water Monitor Lizard

5. Vervet Monkeys

6. African Fish Eagle - Zambia's National Bird seen on currency, the flag and TV

7. Reed cormorant

8. Crocodiles

9. White-breasted Cormorants

10. African Finfoot

11. Green-backed Heron

12. Water Dikkop (thick-knee)

13. Hammerkop and their unusual nest

14. Cocktail Ant colony

15. Giant Kingfisher, both perched and hunting

16. Wire-tailed Swallow

The two hours went very quickly and we were back on dry land and back to camp for lunch sandwiches.

Enough animals for the moment, the kids opted for a swim in the pool before we went off on another wildlife ride.

This time many elephants and they were on the move and not wanting us to be very near, there were babies with them. We watched a mother and her young stripping the bark off a tasty bush (we had to watch because they were blocking the road). The mother moved on but this bush was really good and the little one was not about to leave it. Finally it turned as if called and takes off toward the mother and we can pass. I wanted to get out and taste that bark they made it look so good. We saw more hippos, a life-times worth of hippos, had no idea so many could live in such close a proximity to each other. They remained in their pods or small groups. Sulphur Pool, well named from the smell of it, was a favorite gathering place, hippos like other folks I know, like to soak in those sulphurous waters, must be good for their skin and perhaps bad for their ectoparasites. More crocodiles but singly, no large gathering of them. Phillip spotted a python who'd recently eaten (large meal which showed) and who didn't want to move, maybe he couldn't.

We headed back about a half hour before sunset, everyone tired and hungry. The children are motivated to eat but not well organized. I sat and watch what seemed as disorganized as an ant colony, a lot of random motion, no one in charge, but everyone doing something and all seemed to be enjoying what they were doing. The menu they selected was spaghetti and chicken with nshima as a special request of Uncle Phillip.

I have never seen spaghetti prepared in such an un-Italian way. Some kids started breaking up the spaghetti into random lengths and eating (crunching) the smaller pieces uncooked. Pots of water were put on the fire and the odd array of spaghetti 'sticks' poking well out of the pots of warm water. Neither pot had sufficient water for the job (my estimation). No one timed anything. I calculated it must have cooked for a least an hour or more, but much of it was sticking out of the pot for some time before it settled down and someone noticed and put a lid on it. The chicken was boiled for some undetermined time and then sort of fried or cooked in oil in a large pot. I watched all this is a half wakeful state, a few times I tried to make a suggestion, but one one was interested. I realized a that they were enjoying themselves and the lack of adult supervision. Phillip had retired to the van. After what must have been nearly two hours, plates were brought out, food was dished up. Phillip and a few others had nshima. I was brave and went for the spaghetti and somehow it was all good.

After supper and clean up, we indulged in an ancient African custom of telling stories around an evening fire. Phillip also demonstrate how to roast our last chicken on a spit. Fortified with all that food, we lasted about another hour before we had to retire. Never once on this trip did I have to call out telling the kids to 'be quiet and go to sleep', a most common and tiresome phrase from camping with similar aged children in the US.

Next morning it was not so cold. We went for a drive before breakfast to get the jump on those animals. We passed the camp director out on a similar jaunt. He had seen nothing. But we persevered and Phillip spotted some large birds out in the open in a swampy area. They were Wattled Cranes feeding. Probably the rarest of our sightings. Not rare but fun to watch were the Helmeted Guinea Fowl feeding in the road and being aggressive to one another while holding their wings high but pressed together over their backs while running at each other.

Back for our last breakfast, last camp meal. The repair staff of the park took on our trailer hitch problem with a lot of enthusiasm and large bolts and wouldn't quit until they had us together in a way they thought would get us safely home.

About 9;30 am Phillip takes a group picture, we break camp, pack the trailer and van and leave that very special place. On the way home we saw baboons, kudu, wart hogs and assorted antelope. Several stops to check and tighten those trailer hitch bolts, one stop for cold drinks and for Sam to drive once more on the left. We pulled into Chishawasha about 4 pm. We all had a great supper and a good night's rest.

Blog pressing out of Africa,

Uncle Sam

The latest from the real Sam Weeks

This is really me and that only needs to be said because some Nigerian (well that's where he wanted the money sent) co-opted my email account and put out an urgent plea for money to all those on my contact list ostensibly because I was stuck while traveling in Nigeria and lost my pass port and wallet and you were (if so moved and fooled by the bad English) to send money quickly via wire transfer. I knew I'd been locked out of my Yahoo email and was informed that I could not get into that account for security reasons. I 'replied' to Yahoo Security message only to find out that Yahoo was unable to deliver it! Email friends delivered 'my sad message requesting funds' to my by hand. I had no email, has lost my contact list and all my email files. Mostly I wanted my contact list, since I don't remember anyone email address. It took only a few minutes to get another email address, but to whom could I write?

A phone call got me started and slowly I am getting addresses again. It came to me that perhaps putting my new address in this blog would get it to my 3 relatives and my 2 or maybe 3 regular readers and put them back in touch with me again. So if your emails have been undeliverable, please try samweeks23@yahoo.com



A Hot New Stove Arrives

In science class we had just finished studying about the various ways that heat travels when the students were a bit more interested than usual about something happening outside. A large silver, heavy object was being delivered and into the lunchroom doors it went. A little later found that we were the recipient of a special FREE stove from the UN World Food Program. It is very efficient and will reduce charcoal use by a significant amount, it can work with just a bit of kindling and no charcoal.

You don't drive anywhere in this area without seeing charcoal for sale or charcoal on the move. Mainly it is moved by bicycle. So much charcoal is loaded on bikes that they can not be ridden, but must be pushed much of the time. Charcoal is for sale roadside and can also be seen on passing trucks. I have not seen the areas where charcoal is produced but I heard them described. Not an ecologically cheerful sight to say the least.

Well if this stove catches on, those many folks in the charcoal business will need other work, one hopes doing less environmental damage.

But back to my science class. New efficient stove, dealing with heat transfer in a much better way! Oh, its time for a short field trip to the kitchen for 5th grade class inspection. No heat lost via radiation as with the typical Zambian (glowing) charcoal stove. All the heat is directed to and around the large pot which is designed to be held and surrounded by the stove. What a wonderful demo for my class and on just the right day.


Testing

Next week will be taken up with testing and I have been preparing exams for each subject. Something new about this testing session. This will be the first time that the students will receive individual copies of their tests. That is the teachers will not have to write them on the board. Board space is limited and I don't have space to write 50 questions.

Well, we have a copy machine, just like a real school. 'Blackboard' tests often involved students moving around in order to see the question and certainly gave them the chance to better see what other students had done or were doing. And the teacher will not have to be erasing the first part of the test in order to put up the last part. So better monitoring will takes place.

I don't think I am or was a good test taker. Tests have always made me nervous. After all these years of teaching and giving tests, you might be surprised to know they still make me nervous, that special feeling in the pit of your stomach, that tightness occurs, even when I am just giving the test.

Don't let your life be the test for which you forgot to study.

This is the verifiable Sam Weeks blog pressing out of Africa.

One day.

A volunteer's schedule:

Up at 5:30am and I head for the shower. Hopefully I have remembered last night to 'recharge' the geezer (the hot water heater which was appropriately named Geyser but now through the evolution of language, shares its name with me). Recharging the hot water tank refers to the solution to a problem from low water pressure, even though we have two tall towers for our water tanks. The pressure in my building seems adequate to deliver cold water to the taps, but the geezer is located up on the wall about 12 feet and the pressure is not always there to raise the water to that height, I surmise. When that happens, the hot water just stops. So to avoid this problem (this may not seem straight forward, but please hang in there) the best thing to do is to go to the adjoining room with a tub. Now you cover the dual tap for cold/hot water with your hand and then turn on the hot and then the cold water. Since the water can not come out the tap, the cold water is backed up into the geezer/geyser via the hot water outflow pipe. Now why, you might ask, will it go into the hot water tank that way and not the usual way? Well I don't know, but I do know the best way to predictably get a warm shower and that Africa holds many mysteries.

Going back to my room, I try to note the day, is it clear or cloudy and is it windy. Well you know about the wind since our slatted (jalousie) windows are not a big impairment to a breeze. It's still dark but you look for signs of clear sky indicating possible sunny day which might suggest lighter clothing. Give it you best bet and get dressed.

Breakfast consists of cold cereal and fruit. Recently my concern is the hot water for my tea. We suffer from regular and mostly predictable power outages. Lately they have been occurring at about the time those in the other houses are stirring and starting their day. The stove and hot water kettle are electric. Tea has only been delay a few minutes some mornings. The dishes are washed in cold water.

This is the time spent with my daily log. I read through 'yesterday' to see if I missed anything at the evening writing, making additions if necessary. And then start the current day with my weather report and any details I know that will make this day different from the others.

Putting my day together requires assembling all those things needed through the day, up until I return home at about 4:30 (16:00 hrs). This might include: special books, materials for science class, water bottle, etc.

I leave around 7:30 and walk to school, often joined by the early kids. Once in my class room, I try to put in order the things on my desk for upcoming classes, but my room seems a popular place to stop in for kids of all ages. Also because I try to keep the windows and door closed, my room is warmer and they come in for the warmth, but tend to leave the door open. So I am busy at the door. (Should explain that the classroom door only stays shut if locked, or otherwise one must jam just enough burlap bag [it also serves as a door mat] into the jamb to hold the door against the breeze). The kids are also immensely interested in my desk and everything on it. Hands are out constantly shuffling and reorganizing my things in what I am sure seems a helpful way. So I am busy at my desk. It often is with some relief to have the day's instruction begin.

We try to start with my reading a story, maybe 15 minutes with a very brief discussion of what is was about. This sometime requires, however, that I retell the story so that everyone understands what happened. A couple of the students though sharp, can't get much meaning from the spoken word despite my slow pace with constant interruptions to make sure certain words are understood. I most always start by saying please stop me if you don't understand what is happening in the story.

Math is the first subject of the day and usually begins with drills. We've been working on the 'times tables'. I put numbers down the board somewhat randomly (to keep them from reading off their copies of the times tables printed on every workbook they have) from 1 to 12, and then put the multiplier next to them, such as "8", and then point at the random numbers and they call out the answer to what 8 times that number is. I have gotten them up to 'speed' both to avoid using the time table charts and counting on their fingers.

We go from drill to their working at the board in groups. I have learned it is best to give them each different problems since none of them can keep their eyes off what is going on next to them. We start with simple problems which are repetitious of the previous drill then work up to multiplying 2 and 3 digit numbers. Several of the student are good at this, to the point that I occasionally get my math corrected by one of them. I should be embarrassed but instead I am immensely proud.

We are doing division problems as well, now at the end of math class for those who have mastered their times tables and as a goad to those who haven't.

After math, it's usually English class which includes spelling. These words are used in sentences, making sure they can pronounce them and know their meaning. Most are doing well as they should. For I have explained that no one should ever fail a spelling test. It is the only test that a teacher ever gives in which all the right answers are provided well before the exam. Some students want me to make the spelling more difficult, so I have added five more difficult words to the 10 words frequently found in our reading.

We are learning to identify a complete sentence including the subject and predicate. Nouns, verbs, adjectives and adverbs are becoming more obvious. Reading and writing are two more activities. As an ESL teacher, I am hampered by not speaking, nor understanding the various languages these kids know and use.

Science class has involve looking at and dissecting flowers and fruit, drawing insects and identifying soil types. We are learning the metric system of measurements. I purloined a scale form the pantry of my house so we can weigh things. The Ithaca group sent us thermometers, the first that some children have seen. We all have rulers. So we measure the volume of boxes in cubic cms and determine the classroom floor area in square m. We have built a compost.

In Social Studies we have covered a large area of subjects from religion, over population, disease, farming, health, to local geography.

New to our curriculum is something called Technology and Creativity. And this is as broad as it sounds. Since I feel that I include technology in science class, I've tried doing more with creativity. We have molded objects from local (it's free) clay. But first they had to draw the object from three different perspectives. Now this took some explaining. One student couldn't get the idea of different perspectives and continued to repeat his drawing of the side of a truck. I finally took some clay and made a little truck and turned it, looking at it from the front and from above. No luck. I tried to get him to imagine what he would see while walking if a truck were coming towards him. I explained it to other students who understood and had them explain it to him in his language. Never got the second perspective I wanted but instead did get a most interesting Picasso-like drawing showing two sides of the truck at once.

The day includes a break at 10 and lunch at 1:00 and the end of instruction at 4pm. Since the other teacher have to walk some distance and catch public transportation, I hang around and see the kids off the school ground and on their way home.

On Thursdays last period my class has P. E. during which they play soccer for an hour. This is interesting to see how they interact on the pitch. In class they don't always get along smoothly. There are arguments, you took my pencil and the like. But on the pitch any signs of disagreement are gone and no fighting over whether a goal was scored or not. They play rough but with great freedom from cross words or fighting. It's a joy and a puzzlement.

Friday is testing day and we give exams in each subject. The school day ends at 1pm, the kids go home and the teachers work on lesson plans, etc. for the next week.

School breakfast is provided for non-resident children. Lunch is provided for children and staff.

After school I try to take a walk, since the classroom offers little real exercise. Then I headed home to check emails, read and catch some BBC news via the radio. At some point between 6:30 and 7:30 a group of boys will come for me from the house at which I am current eating. They take me to supper just in time to sit down and eat.

When the meal is over and the table cleared and wiped, the books come out and the listeners crowd around. Sometimes so tight, I can't turn the pages other times there may be as few as three. After about a half hour of reading, I excuse myself giving good-nights and walk home, noting the stars and the big dipper standing now on its rim on the horizon with no North Star. Occasionally I will turn 180 degrees to look at the Southern Cross or enjoy the moon shining on the metal roofs of the houses.

Home to writing my evening log entry and more reading, emailing, blogging. Finally I throw the large mosquito net with a grand gesture, but all I have ever caught is my bed. I must remember to recharge the geezer (you know all about that) and put on the automatic kettle which boils a liter of water and then shuts off, by morning it will be cold and become my drinking water for the day. And that's as exciting as it gets.

This is Sam Weeks blog pressing out of Africa.

Eating and Reading Around

Well with the change of month, I have changed the house I eat at. I am now at house 2, not exactly in order, but I have made the full round of houses. Each is different with a little mini culture all their own. House 2 is heavy on formality with my food served in separate dishes instead of being served to you on one plate. The quantities are back where there were when I started, but because of the cold weather and increased appetite, I am not protesting quite so much. The first night, I was seated with the house mother, which was a first.


Again the children are not used to a story reading session after the meal and don't quite seem to know what to make of it. Sometimes I start with what looks to be the youngest about 3 in number and as I read the group grows in numbers and in age. I have them select the books and bring me the ones they want to hear. At this cold season of the year with short days and long nights, it is an old tradition to sit around the fire and listen to stories. We lack two things, the fire and the story teller. We sit indoors and listen to stories being read. In house 1, I read almost exclusively African folk tales. (except for Charlotte's Web). Our thanks go out to the Ithaca group who got a suit case full of African stories to us for the school library. Trying hard not to make this a little American colony and attempting to honor in some way Zambian culture, I read as much as I can of African material to them. Stories of children who's main relationship seems to be with a TV set and cell phone and a room so full of material things that they can't deal with it, who eat cookies, junk food, soda and pizza and hang out at the mall are not what I think they need to hear about.


Zambian Weather

Seems we've run out of what I can the Zambian Tourist Weather. I has gotten cold. How can I say that, having been raised on the frigid plains of eastern Montana; and having gone to school in the Rocky Mountains further west? Cold for me starts somewhere below zero. Why here its gotten down as low as 13 deg. C. Seems that's about 58 deg. F. Surely one can't call that cold. Well, not if you are living in a heated fairly tight house, and travel in a heated car and visit other places that are thermostatically controlled then that's not cold. Here if the temperature is 58 deg. F that is the temperature everywhere. In your bedroom, in the shower, in the kitchen, in the classroom, you can't avoid it and it will eventually, especially if you are confined to a classroom and desk, come creeping, seeping into your bones. Your hands will be cold and can only be warmed by holding a cup of tea. But you can only drink so much tea...


So we complain about the cold. The Zambians complain about the cold, as you would expect. They don't get much fluctuation in temperature throughout the year. But what you wouldn't expect what their reaction to it is. We do get some radiant energy from the sun and my class room has a hint of warmth in it on sunny days. I keep the windows and the door closed despite a stream of kids coming in because my room is a little warm. They never think to close the door, will go to the window and open it just to look outside. Any heat I started with would be gone in a few minutes if I did not countermand this behavior. Well they're just oblivious teens, after all.


But when I go to the teacher's lunch room, what do I find, everyone shivering with the door and window open and a heady breeze blowing through and each complaining about the weather. What is this, I demand (all my cultural sensitive out the window with any hint of heat). If you are cold, why not keep the warmth we have? They look at one another, shrugging their shoulders, and one says, I guess we just like the fresh air. Ah, just another of the unexplained African mysteries.


House 7 report

House 7 is being plastered inside and undergoing such finishing work. It is a new presence on the street of houses in our little village. I have enjoyed the reflected moon light off the new corrugated metal roof these past few evenings on my way home after supper/reading.


You Get July 4th.

Well I got to go to a wedding on the 4th, full report to follow. Then on Monday 6th is a holiday here: Hero's Day (none of my kids could name a hero to be remember on this day). And while we are still in the mood (mode), Tuesday is another holiday: Unity Day. So back to school on Wednesday.

A Equipment for the School

This week, Phillip brought back from Lusaka a beautiful box. This was something very special. It contained the first piece of equipment beyond pen and paper, for the school, a real copy machine. And this was not JUST a copier, but an accessory to our promised computer: a Printer and a Scanner. So when our computer arrives we will almost be working in this century, which ever one this is? Our computer, if it should have internet abilities, will allow us to do those functions demonstrated nicely by Mamie Spillane when she was here, down loading useful teaching tools/aids and we won't need someone to come from the US to do it for us on the busy Chishawasha office systems.

The Wedding

I was invited to a wedding on Saturday afternoon. The schedule of events worked out that I got to have a meal with Phillip and Maria and their 4 month old son, Shebach, in their home. Shebach provides sufficient entertainment that neither parent needed to be there to keep me happy. Good company, good food. Oh, and I saw a little tv, had forgotten what that is like.

The church in which the wedding was being performed had moved to their current location, but have not yet be able to put up a new building. So they are using a large blue and white tent with the internal, up to date appointments you'd find in any church building here: sound system (two lap tops, a PC, five microphones, Beringer mixer with a square yard or so of dials and slides, large paired speakers and monitor [we go for the sound and the Spirit here]), Yamaha keyboard, fancy lectern, stone floor, seats and benches. I know I am suppose to mention the orange roses in perfusion and gold and yellow ribbon, bows and fabric hangings (you can tell don't even know the vocabulary). The brides gown was white and she had a bouquet, there! The weather cooperated so temperatures were comfortable.

As the crowd gathered, I gradually became aware that there was only one muzungu (non-African) present. What made this most obvious was the line of about 6 young children (4 to 6 years old) seated at right angle to me who enjoyed staring. I didn't help things much by smiling at them and imitating their gestures, the most common of which is putting hands up to your face and almost covering up your eyes, but not quite and then turning away.

The service was to start at 2 pm. The groom arrived early. At 2:30, no bride, groom stressed, young children enjoying the silly muzungu. At 2:50 bride arrives, if you didn't know, the car horns and ululations were a good hint. The Bishop who will perform the ceremony (older brother of the groom) comes in and warms up the microphone and attendees. He introduces an unusual number of ministers, perhaps 8 for which special seating was provided, each had a role to play. The numbers were due in part to the fact that the Bishop is a bishop and his father, a minister was the guest of honor. The first sign that were we seriously about getting started, was that an attendant wipes down the lecture, a modern glass and chrome tubing structure.

At 3 pm we are underway with a prayer. The entire service was enjoyable and fun. The wedding party danced in. (oh, I forgot the pre-wedding rehearsals, not what you think). For months before the service the wedding party has been rehearsing weekly up to the last weeks when rehearsals become daily. Why? Because to be in the wedding party means that you must dance like a professional! Your wedding planner is also a choreographer and dance instructor. Back to the wedding ceremony. Well, suffice to say that each minister offered a word of advice and/or a prayer. Nothing too heavy except that the groom should have a vision or goal. If you should marry a man who is going no where, that is just where you will wind up. To me this advice was a little late in coming since they were half way to saying their vows and gone though an unusually long awkward period waiting for anyone to speak up as to why these two should not be married and then again while we waited to see if either of the couple had any reservations about the impending union. Several times it seem to be stated that divorce was not an option.

Must mention that the groom was told to be sensitive to the goals that his wife has, things that she has set to do for herself, before he proposed and she said yes.

I learned during the service and it was hard to miss, that the bride and groom were from different tribes. Thandie is a Tonga and Joshua a Bemba. Many jokes about misunderstood remarks between Tonga and Bemba's because of the similar sounding words with wildly different meanings. The Bishop told of his experience, marrying a woman from another tribe and feeling that he should know that language better, had begun to study it. Showing off to his mother-in-law he used a phrase in relation to her family which he took to mean something like "birds of a feather flock together" however a more literal translation is: those who spend time with folk suffering from diarrhea are apt to suffer from it as well!" When she made it clear what he'd said, he left quickly.

There was the exchange of vows and rings. The new husband was asked to unveil his wife and then demonstrate his affection so he very slowly and meticulously rolled it back off her head and kissed the bride. We were all asked if we had seen that, everyone to a person answered NO, a repeat performance, same question, same answer and another kiss.

Wedding party danced out, and the service was over at 5 pm. Have a feeling it might have gone longer, but the facility was needed for another function.

The reception was some kms and hours away in another church hall. This was fun, much dancing, displaying what months of rehearsals can do to 8 attendants and the couple. Dancing in Africa is not dancing unless a part of it at least is competitive, between the couples, between the males and between the females.

It was at the reception the over abundance of ministers started to overburden the affair from my perspective. It seemed the preaching wasn't preaching unless it was competitive. Of course the oldest minister and guest of honor had the last and the longest words, he finally said Amen and sat down, the MC gets up to wind things up when the Guest of Honor has one more word, one more charge from above which he had neglected earlier. Seems he has a sum of money is mind that should be collected and with many reminders that we would all receive more if we would only give more (when asked) and a couple of large plastic lids where passed to help finance the honeymoon. The old man said he didn't want the couple to call the Bishop in a couple days asking for money to get home. The sum of money was not quite enough, so the lids came round again.

At this point I get the high sign from Phillip and Maria and we were outa there. Only made one really bad gaff. My hand delivered invitation was so nice that I immediately made it a part of my daily log. It seems that I should have surrendered it at the door of the reception, but no one, I guess, was going to stop this old, odd looking, out of place man and hassle him for it. I walked in unscathed.

This is Sam Weeks with an invitation to next Weeks' blog and you can keep it!

Ms. Consilia Mwanza is the school.

There are many people who make this place happen and I have mentioned only a few of them. A while back I reported on Phillip Mvula, the manager and one small part of his large job. He had tried to tell in a simple a way as possible, how one obtains a piece of property here. My explanation was a poor summary of all that he told me regarding his negotiations with three different chiefs regarding the possibility of adding some property to our facilities.

Another key person is Ms. Consilia Mwanza, head teacher of the school. She is in charge of its operation and the education of the children. The school serves our resident children plus as many of the kids from the surrounding area as we can take, the total is about 120 children. She oversees the work of 8 teachers.

She has had a long career in teaching, including experience at the International School, acknowledged as the best in Zambia. She has done some work in government schools but mostly worked in private ones.

It has been my privilege and honor to work for her. You quickly learn that this is a sharp, diffident, private woman, almost singularly focused on the well fare and education of the children. I worked with her for some time before finding out she is caring for her mother (who recently died) and several relatives children. Very down to earth. On my initial visit, I learned to appreciate her in her absence, she became sick and I had to step into her position or try to step into her position. I remember that several new students were admitted while she was away. In talking with these students just a few minutes on her return, she told me exactly what each of them needed in order to catch up with the others at their grade level. I had been working with these kids for several weeks and couldn't have given such a concise answer as to what each needed and been so specific. She is a no nonsense teacher with a good sense of humor.

She is a private person, as evidence I had to try multiple times to get her to agree to an interview; also I have several pictures of her with a paper held in front of her face. But, I am persistent. One day recently when she and Phillip were in discussions outside the school, I took several good pictures of her and was quite pleased with myself. Did I mention that she is a deeply religious lady? Well, God was protecting her that day. This was the only roll of film I have ever had come out blank, as if it had been fully exposed to light before developing. So I still have no pictures of her and am feeling a bit reluctant to try again.


She first started with Chishawasha in 2002, a year she says she will always remember for it coincided with the loss of her only son. The first 'school' was located in a suburb of Lusaka in the Servant's Quarters in a large home being used as the orphanage. They then grew and the school moved out to the garage.



From there the whole operation moved to its present site, but lacking a school building and funds for such, classes were held in a grass hut, a very Zambian structure. But quite cold. They once had to cancel classes on account of low temperatures. The grass hut was still there when I came in '06 and we occasionally used the play area in front of it. I am sorry I never took a picture of that bit of history, we used sections of it to provide cover around the latrine of the 'next' school which was two cleared out corners of block-built warehouse. It was dirty, it was rough, had no amenities, a favorite haunt for bees, the door was a frame work of welded rebars and a flap of canvas. Could not talk during a rain storm, rain on the tin roof would drowned out any instruction. It was also cold and drafty unless it was hot. We had blackboard and chalk, pencils and paper and sufficient books for less than half the class members. That did not deter Ms. Mwanza from producing stellar graduates.

She works on the principle of whatever you do, you must do it very well. Her greatest joy is to take on a student with zero knowledge of English and send her/him out into the world, reading, writing and speaking correct English.


The New House

Well the new house shell is complete with roof, now the finishing work which I remember a contractor telling me is the second half of the job. It has grown up quickly and seems better built than the others. I am sure if I walk by today and ask when I can more in, the workmen will answer as they have the last 2 times I asked them, "Tomorrow."


Volunteers Go Home

Ellinor Angel and Mamie Spillane are leaving, they are leaving a different place than they came to. Both concentrated on the school. Ellinor on the school library and Mamie on class room instruction. Ellinor took a mostly empty room and made it into a functional library with organized shelves and a system that will let the teachers checkout books to their students. Plus she managed to get all the students interested in books and they library.

Mamie efforts through perhaps less visible, has none the less moved the school ahead and challenged our teachers with new ideas, techniques and some new materials that were badly needed. She left all we need to make more and similar materials to keep us up to day.

What these two have done leaves us in much better shape to face the future with a school of distinction. They will be missed, but not the work that they leave behind. [Slight correction, addendum] Ellinor has decided to leave twice, and will stop by again shortly before making her final exit for Obamaland.

This is Sam Weeks blog pressing out of Africa

New House Report

A correction and update on the new house dubbed number 7. I had made some rash predictions in my last blog regarding the imminent appearance of a roof. I was not quite right, my assessments of how the building was going were made mostly at night on my way to and from supper, so there was some imagination involve with what I was actually seeing. The lumber I thought was going for the roof was in reality used for concrete forms to pour the lintels over windows and doorway. Here, however the lintels are continuous and run all around the house covering all the openings. Then the blocks are again laid on that lintel layer on up a few more rows. So now I see new timber for roof rafter and the roof joists are in place. The windows and doors are being framed in. When asked, the workmen always assure me that I can move in tomorrow.

What a lot of water!

Kathe, Phillip and Mamie Spillane (teacher trainer) have gone to Livingstone to see Victoria Falls.

Dictionary game

Last week I decided it was time to learn about dictionaries and looking at a few copies I had of a small dictionary for kids, no definitions, just some common reading words listed in alphabetical order. Seemed pretty useless, I had used it as a source for spelling words. But I wanted to motivate them to get used to looking words up and becoming familiar and comfortable with such books. Recently been watching them play soccer and they are quite competitive. I didn't have enough books for everyone. So I split them into two teams the Elephants and the Lions, each had 3 copies of this same dictionary. I listed 10 words on the board and they had to find that word and write down the preceding word and the one that came directly after it. The team that finished first with the correct answers won. Well right from the first the Elephants would seem to outweigh the Lions in their reading skills at least and I was putting my money (in my mind) on them. And sure enough, they won the first few games. Turns out we couldn't play just once. Eventually the Lions pulled up and the last few games were all draws. Speed seemed to introduce errors, so they would both finish quickly but both would have made an error. This seemed a good time to stop.

An almost functional library!

Ellinor Angel has got our library going with the few shelves we have. She has grouped the books in way that make them easy to find both for students and teachers. She has put up some nice posters that just happen to go with a good story book and makes a nice reading corner.

So with with 4 bookcases and sufficient books to pretty much fill them and a good number of cardboard boxes and a few tables and classroom chairs its almost a functional library. This afternoon the teaching staff meet with Ellinor to talk about loaning policies and a way to make them more equitable. We have always been more lenient with resident student than with those kids from the outside. We almost never let books go off campus. But we will use a time-tested method of Ms. Mwanza who has some books that she lets go home with kids from the outside. If they show they are responsible, take good care of the book and return it with some knowledge of what its about, then they earn the priviledge of borrowing from the library and can take them home. Otherwise they can check them out for classroom use.

More from the students:

Marvin is a good student but can get on your nerves. He never hears when you announce a change in activities. I announce to the class what we are going to do next and then turn to Marvin, who after three attempts to communicate with him, suddenly notices and always responds by saying "What?" Then you say it again and hope. Well the other thing he does, is draw. At the slightest hint of a break in the chain of events and he will clear his desk and bring out a drawing and be off in his own world. Or if you are changing from one subject to another, he will be in your face saying, "I am asking for a sheet of paper." "Why, Marvin?" "I want to draw." "Marvin, we are just starting English right now, you don't have time to draw." He gives you a disgusted look and slowly returns to his seat.

So its not surprising then when asked to write about his favorite thing to do, Marvin responded:
[the following is rended as closely as posible as it was written] My favorite thing to do is Draw. I like draw because Drawing is good For me when I draw it look nice.

To the same question Precious wrote: My favorite thing to do is read and playing and cooking and learning at school maths and spellings and Read. and science and s. s. [social studies] Because I like to cooking fish every day.

Ireen responded: My favorite thing to do is read because it is impetoune to lenrn some word.

Stella is a bit more (too) verbal: I like to read and my best subject is English. I like to make some clay [make things from clay]. I like to talk Story of my life and I like to do math. You know when we are doing english I like to answer the question. and attending church...

Blog prssing out of Africa, its my favorite thing to do.

When the teachers are taught...

This Friday the teachers of the Glassco School had their first session with Teacher Trainer Mamie Spillane from Tucson, AZ. She is visiting for two weeks to spruce us up a bit. Her background is working with ESL kids from around the world, but mostly Mexican children. She shared with us her skills and methods and brought us up to date on the new method which Ms Mwanza pointed out was once called the old method. Seems you can't keep a good method down and its come around again. We all walked out of that first meeting with a useful tool, a tested game that will keep the children's interest while they learn the alphabet and the sounds the letters make. On Monday she will visit each class and demo a new (old) classroom teaching technique especially useful when your class members are at very different levels of skills.



Whats the chief thing you need to know in order to get property in Zambia?

Since Chishawasha is seeking land on which to build a secondary school and also to build some commercial enterprises, Phillip has been in negotiation with a variety of different people.



The president of Zambia has ultimate control over property in this country and can give it to whom he pleases. This is not often done, except in cases of national interest.



But at our level, you need to know the Chief of the Village and his tribe of the area in which you are interested. But you start at a level below the chief with some gifts. In the past gifts were pretty standard, chickens, a goat and the like. Now days things are more complicated, depending on whether you are of the same tribe as the chief or not. This will determine whether you know what gifts are appropriate or not. Anyway the headman begins the negotiations and receives the initial gifts. With luck, you move up to the Chief who control the property. There may be standard gifts that are expected, or you may actually receive a list of things. You will be pointing out to the Chief all the benefits to the village and tribe that will come with your development of the property. You will include things like the employment of folks, educating their kids, provide an outlet for some local products, etc. So if Chief says yes, it goes to the local council who then will recommend it to the Ministry of Lands who will then issue you a deed for the property for from 14 to 99 years.



Phillip has been in talks with 3 different chiefs of three different tribes, none of which are of his tribe. That means he has dealt with at least 3 different headmen as well. Each step is an interesting story which perhaps he will tell us when he has time.



House number 7 report:

The walls are complete and doors and windows are being framed in and the roof lumber seems to be assembled. This house is growing faster than any of the others.

More Stories:

Story of me
by Ian

My name is Ian Chipwende. I stay at 10 Miles. I am 14 years old.

Mother left me when I was a baby. Now I stay with my grandmother. My father left me in 2003. My brother left me in 2006.

I used to think of my father when he was telling me that "tomorrow you are going to town with me." Now my grandmother tells me that I shouldn't think bad of him otherwise we're going to be mad. Now I remember when he was telling me that Education is good. Yes, its good. When I grow up, I want to be a ZESCO [power company] worker.

Now I like to play with my friends, football, long jump, high jump and to drive a car [?]. Everything I like now makes me happy.

That is the end of my story.


About Myself
by Precious

My name is Precious Shabtubi, I am 17 years old. I was born in 1992. I live in Zambia.

Long ago, I was staying with my mother and father in the village. When my mother was sick, I was crying. My Auntie came and said, "Precious, why are you crying?" "My mother is sick," I said. "Don't cry, your mother is going to be okay." said Auntie. When my mother died, I was sleeping with her.

When someone talked about my mother, I used to cry. I stay with my Auntie or uncle. My father died when I was young, he left me when I was 3. But now I have grown up.

I learn at Chishawasha School. My Auntie is keeping me like her child. I have one brother but no sisters.


The Story of my Life
by Stella Mumba

Hi, I just want to tell you about my life.

You know when I was 7 years old, my grandmom like to tell me stories and I was very proud of what my grandmom told me.

You know when I became 8 years old, my mother died. I was not happy and my grandmom said, "Stella, don't cry too much, you will make yourself sick."

"No," I said, "I just want to know where my mother is. Is she in heaven or perhaps in hell?" "No," my grandmom said, "don't think about that, your mother will be alive really so stop thinking about it."

And grandmom told me that I will buy you a pair of shoes and stocking, "everything you want." And the school you will start from is that Chishawasha Children's Home. My mother died in 2008. And that is the end of my story.

Benefits of the writing of these stories:

Well, these stories have gotten these kids writing in a way that nothing else has. About 99% of their writing is copying. They are not used to thinking about their responses. Any question you ask will be a regurgitation of the last facts they remember, regardless of the question. So we try working on creativity. This writing is a good start.

I can't judge if it has any psychological benefits.

I can judge that it is very helpful for the teacher to know to whom he is talking and not push too hard on a student that lost his/her last parent within the year, for example.

This is Sam blog pressing out of Africa and gathering stories.