Some time in Lusaka

Between my time in Meheba and heading back to Mwange, I spent about a week in Lusaka. I worked really hard the whole week, but it was a much needed break from life in the bush. For my first few days, I worked with FORGE’s Lusaka coordinator (Alyssa) to write a really exciting grant proposal, which I will write about more later, to submit it before the deadline. I also had to finish up all the documentation for the work I did in Meheba; and, I wanted to do as much as I could to get things in order for Mwange before I left to the land of limited electricity and even less communication.

Even though we were really busy, Alyssa and I managed to have a really great time. She introduced me to some of the other ex-pats that work in Lusaka for organizations like the Clinton Foundation and Emery on development issues such as education, health and HIV/AIDS. It was great to see how well adapted these 20-somethings had become to life in Lusaka. And, it was really nice to know that not all development jobs in underdeveloped countries have hard living conditions.

We played ultimate Frisbee for a few hours one afternoon, which was great. I was so happy to be on a field and competing. I’ve missed that! We also dressed up one night and went to get drinks and see the new Sex and the City movie, which somehow premiered in Lusaka at the same time it did everywhere else. I don’t even know much about the TV series, but it was fun to see New York and hang out with other Americans for a change. After a good week to reinvigorate my spirit and get me ready for some more time in the bush, I was off to Mwange.

xoxo