BLOG #24: "Oh, Zambia…"

Power outages, bad roads, car trouble, broken equipment, bugs in the bed, slow internet…such is the life in Zambia even in the major cities. I've now been stuck in Lusaka (the capital city of Zambia) for almost a week longer than expected due to car trouble and power outages. It's usually nice being stuck in the major city because there is a lot more to do, but without power you might as well stay in the bush.



My favorite part of being stuck here is getting to hang out with the Sudanese, Congolese and Angolan men that are being sponsored by FORGE to go to University in Lusaka. They are technically still refugees, but they applied for special student VISA's to be able to study here. They are great guys and I've learned so much through conversations with them about everything from their home countries to their lives as refugees to how to cook nshima to living in Lusaka. They are a very inspiring group! (Some girls should be coming to study soon, but unfortunately not that many girls finish secondary school in the refugee camps and thus are not eligible to apply for University.)



It's also been fun to be stuck in the city during the Africa Cup (being held in Ghana this year). Everyone is rockin' their Zambia gear (red, gold and green) and getting really fired up for the games. However, Zambia's economy is not doing well enough for their public television companies to be able to afford to televise the games. The only people who will get to watch the games this year are those who can afford DSTV. Additionally, with power being out for days at a time, you have to have DSTV and be able to afford a generator to power the TV. In our house, we're going old school and listening to it on the radio!



Hopefully we'll make it back the Mwange soon, though it will be a quick turn around. We are scheduled to be back in Lusaka during the first week of February and then to Meheba refugee camp for a retreat during the second week of February. Lots of traveling!



xoxo