Happy in Zambia.

Mongu, Zambia.   I can’t believe I’ve been in Mongu now almost 9 months.  I have come to love this little town in the west.  Filled with sand and fish!  When you look out onto the plains it feels like you are at the end of the world.  The sunsets here are amazing.  Truly some of the most spectacular I’ve seen in my lifetime.  I love my work and the people here.  I feel really busy.  I teach yoga to a small group a couple times a week (and, yes, I'm still running in the morning!) and have a network of friends which keep me busy.  When I leave my office I’m tired - a good kind of tired.  I travel into the field for monitoring and evaluation site visits usually twice a month which is always an adventure (one that I love).  I have learned so much about logistics as it relates to health commodities in Zambia.  I really wish I had the opportunity to stay longer here as I just feel like I am getting settled and starting to contribute.  I am really happy.  But, change is always around the corner...and as we all know wherever you go, there you are.

     

What's in Sioma.

This weekend we did a quick overnight trip to a tiny little town about two hours south of Mongu called Sioma.  According to Lonely Planet, the only reason to go to Sioma is Ngonye Falls and I do have to agree with them although it's worth a visit as the falls are quite beautiful and it was a nice little break from Mongu.  In order to get to Sioma, you have to take a couple of taxis and cross the Zambezi River.  But I was pleasantly surprised at how organized this process was? It amazes me sometimes how transport can just work out as you are getting around Africa (I mean you still have to wait but things usually do come together).

Sioma really is quite beautiful and the falls are truly spectacular – imagine Victoria Falls except there are literally no tourists around (I mean there were barely any people in the entire town)?  There is also a game park nearby which we didn't go to but maybe next time?  Now that we know it’s really not that difficult to get to the area and I’ll be coming back in a couple of weeks for work to a neighboring district (Shangombo) and I’m told that I’ll get to see game as we drive to the health facilities.  Pretty spectacular.

I've put a couple of pictures up so make sure to visit my Photo Album!

Sending my love from Sioma.

Mongu Family.

We had to say goodbye to one of our Mongu family members.  And that’s what it really has become - we are a small but mighty family unit.  It’s nice.  We have 'family' gatherings just to chat, we go out dancing at all the major Mongu hot spots, do yoga together, have dinner together, and just generally take care of each other.  Unfortunately, you know that at some point people will move on…that’s just the way it is.  You will be missed here in Mongu, Patrick.  

And I say a big cheers to the rest of my Mongu family.  I am happy you have made your way into my life...

Thinking about home.

I’ve been thinking a lot about home.  And what that means.  People ask me all of the time if I miss home.  I miss my sister and those amazing boys of hers.  I miss going to movies with my mom.  I miss going to eat Mexican food with my Grandmother.  I miss my dad’s quiet ways and his willingness to always help.  I miss going to yoga (or drinks or hiking or just spending time) with my friends.  I miss my Carnelian sisters.  I was just looking at pictures and I can’t tell you how much I miss all of you…wherever you are.  But I don’t know that I miss "home."  I feel like part of this journey the past 3 years or so has been a bit of searching for where my home might be...I still don’t know that I’ve found the perfect place for me but I know that wherever I go I find more people that continue to make a place feel like home even if the place isn't quite home yet.  And although it makes me sad that I can’t carry everyone around in a little bag with me wherever I go, just knowing that you are all with me (reading my blog or sending me an email  or text or just thinking about me) it makes me feel like I’m already home.  Wherever I go.  And someday I will actually have a home where you can visit me.

Kuomboka 2013. Amazing.

I feel really lucky that not only was I able to attend Kuomboka but that I had so many friends (and friends of friends who quickly became friends over the course of the weekend...) come to Mongu to take part in the festivities…and all 15 of them stayed at my house.  People arrived Friday night and left Sunday morning and it was a big celebration the entire time they were here.  We watched live Zambian music, took a boat out into the floodplains of Lealui where the king prepared to start his journey, watched traditional dancing as the Zambian Vice President arrived in his helicopter and escorted the king to start his 6+ hour journey (with a crew of many paddlers supporting him along the way) then saw him arrive later in the evening to his home on higher ground in the village of Limulunga (with a spectacular crowd and an amazing sunset). 

I loved having the opportunity to show everyone around Mongu and while at times it was a bit hectic with so many people, I would do it again this weekend in a heartbeat…in fact, I’m told there is a smaller “Kuomboka-like” ceremony taking place in a village just outside of Mongu this coming weekend.  Maybe I’ll try to go...I can't get enough.  Although I wish all of my friends would come back.  I miss them already. :(

I have some pictures up in my photo album so please take a look.  And I recommend if you are ever in Zambia in the Western Province around the time of Kuomboka…you must attend.  It was amazing.

Group shot (most of the group anyway).

Kuomboka. It's almost time.

Kuomboka is coming.  April 20, 2013.  We have been waiting for this date to be announced for months yet I think they are just organizing for the ceremony this week.  Oh, how I love Africa and last minute planning.  I will be hosting about 15 people in my humble house (I’ve told them they all have to sleep on the floor because I don’t have beds) as we enjoy the ceremony.  Look for pictures coming soon but for now read up on Kuomboka (click on the link below) which means "getting out of water." Or of course you can google Kuomboka and find lots of information.

The Kuomboka Ceremony in Mongu

Easter and Music in Zambia.

During Easter weekend, I don’t think I ate a single bit of chocolate??  Or attended any religious functions for that matter! :) But I did watch a lot of live music?  In Africa, you find new ways to celebrate holidays, I suppose.  

I ended up making my way with a few friends (via a couple of buses and taxis) to Siavonga (which is a beautiful little town/village on Lake Kariba which I think I wrote about when I went there for a work function a few months ago) where they were holding a Zambian music festival.  Although this was the first year this festival was being held, we had been told that “thousands” of people were expected to attend so were anxious to check it out and enjoy music outside by the lake.  Unfortunately, the “thousands” number had been quite inflated.  I would guess that maybe a hundred people were there?  After the initial shock of realizing we were going to be dancing mostly alone (oh well?!), we figured it was still a beautiful setting and there was great music?  So we enjoyed our time anyway…hopefully next year more people will take advantage of the opportunity to hear some great music.  Just so you can feel like you were almost there with me (!), check out the links below (I tried to give a sample of just a few of the great artists)!  I have to say that Zambian music is slowly growing on me…

Mutinta - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G6KMhtgftkI

Scarlet - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VPs231eK68w

B-Flow - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=odQDVWU2Df0

The outdoor stage at the music festival.