Well I left Flatdogs in an open truck yesterday and all was going well till we had a blow out. We had 30 minutes to get to the airstrip - but hey all hands to the deck as all the locals came out - I'm not sure if they really helped JJ change the tyre as teh truck was lifted, bounced, jacked from all angles but we made it.
Anyway a bumpy flight ended with a smile as in Lusaka airport one of the groundcrew came up and slipped me the number of Hope the stewardess - ha ha - well I must look butch after my time in the bush - she will remain just that - Hope
Anyway another night at teh Marble Inn - you may remember that from an earlier blog - no marble, no hot water and this time no lights!
Up at 5 am to catch the post bus to get to work for 11 - well if the last post bus was eye opening this was eye popping. I don't know what it was but everyone was in a real fiesty mood - and the bus was overloaded - I counted one lady with 15 bags - I guess they just use it to move house. Anyway boarding the bus was more chaotic than I imagine that the last chopper from Vietnam was - but we all got on - and thanks to the conductor who got my bag into a retrievable place.
Anyway we sped, bumped and twisted our way up the Great North Road - 7 of us in our row for 5 - but everything was flying about - I got hit by a suitcase, a saucepan and some maizemael - and then there was a fight - it was good to get off after 5 hours.
Anyway Donata had tried hard with the work I had left her and done most - the main issue being that she had appraised all the staff in a group session so they shared each others strengths and weaknesses - needless to say Chloe who is never late is offended at being called late
Anyway an admin day today - finishing all the paperwork I have designed and absorbing all of their feedback. I will produce final copies later tonight and then we are all systems go. It does feel like we have entered the next stage. School has finished for 4 weeks now - but all the kids are back in on thursday to see me - and apparently they are practising a song etc which is a big secret but was teh reason we couldn't go to school today but ahd to work in my new hut.
Time away in luangwa was great - time to reflect on how little can mean so much to these guys - when you see kids carrying litres of water on their heads - and you realise that local people can't afford to bu the produce they raise you realise something is wrong. I knew that Zambia is poor - it's one of the poorest countries in the world, but as I talk to other people round the country I realise that the people in this town are poor - and to be poor in a poor country is not a great place to be. despite this the laughing, smiles and friendliness of all is contagious.
I am sure we will bring some of the young people from Rathbone here to see this - to help - but as importantly to realise their place in the world and their need to act responsibly and to build them into some kind of Ambassadors. I guess it's about developing their broadest education and experiences - I'm also determined that it won't be just about coming to help build this school - it will also about understanding the culture and beauty of this place - and experiencing things such as seeing elephants, lions and other animals in their rightful place in the ever decreasing bush.
Anyway we are re-doing appraisals tomorrow - then off to see the Chief if he grants us an audience - Donata is scared as there are Lions in the valley - I told her we are going in a cab we should be safe.
Catch up tomorrow
Richard
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