In a few minutes time, I fly home. Therefore, this will be the final blog. Phew. That’s from me as much as it might be from you!
Seriously, I hope you have enjoyed reading these blogs even half as much as I have enjoyed writing them; if they had only been for my recollection in years to come and to prove that I was safe and well to loved ones (yes, Mum, that’s for you!), I would have considered them a worthwhile exercise. With an impending university course ahead of me, they have got me back into a habit of research and expression that I am sure will prove useful too though. And the fact that there have been well over 3000 page views (and that is without counting the published blog too) and a few of you have encouraged me to keep going means I believe at least some people have enjoyed these musings.
Firstly, I am pleased to report that the 2nd Wallace Tournament on Saturday was a resounding success. A few last minute stresses and disagreements, as with any event, were overcome and the children had a great day out playing sport, being with friends and developing a few new skills. The Shoprite sponsorship went down really well and I especially enjoyed the story of the girl who had never eaten a mars bar before, wondering what it was, face lighting up at the taste. Not perhaps an ideal sporting supplement but she was playing volleyball in over 30 degrees celsius of heat so I suppose she deserved it!
I was also fortunate enough to spend the rest of the weekend enjoying a few last Zambian sights and sounds… Firstly, a visit to the (in)famous nightclub called East Point, followed by the even more salubrious African Braai. Then, in rather contrasting circumstances, a visit to the United Church of Zambia for some gospel singing on Sunday morning. It strikes me that if we have half as much success with international development as the missionaries across Zambia had with spreading the gospel then we will be onto something and Zambia will look very different one hundred years from now. Whether we do what we do with the same zeal or not is open to debate I would say but the sport for development cause could be equally impactful I believe. Long may it continue.
So, finally, what am I going to miss about Zambia? Lots of things of course, just as much as there are other things I definitely won’t miss. Having already detailed some of the things I won’t miss, I asked for some feedback from various expats here as to what they miss: the usual list of cars with brakes, reliable electricity and water and less dust were also supplemented by, more bizarrely, a yearning for pavements – I doubt that is at the top of the Zambian government’s to-do list! So what will I miss? The people most certainly, especially those named previously on this blog, but that was almost a given. And, in no particular order, the following: crazy adverts (especially for Harvey Tiles); the general xenophilia; the fact I haven’t seen rain for two months; the sun sets; the children; the IDEALS students and team leaders; and the general happiness, difficult, perhaps impossible, to put my finger on exactly what that means and how it manifests itself but everyone who has been here will know what I mean. And, who knows, I might even miss the nshima!
So, as the Zambian’s might say, it is time to knock off. Come again, boss? Yes, please. Or am I just speaking too much British?!
Posted in 2013
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