New York and Frankfurt - 4th to 8th August
These were just transition stops for me. However not without drama. Flight from cancun to New York was 7hrs, on Luftansa which is the best airline so it was a ok trip. However when I got to New York at 1am , I discover my luggage hasnt arrived. My guess was that when I transferred in Charlotte, I didnt have much time to get to my flight, so the luggage didnt make it. However they reckon it was scanned in, they just couldnt find it. And they ladies were not the most helpful, omg, attitude. SO I went to get a shuttle and was told it will take an hour and half. Stuff this, caught a cab, got allocated my cave hole of a room (comfy bed though) and went to sleep.
Next morning, went to eat breakfast. I was in the soho area of New York, near little italy and chinatown. My ear was playing up so brought so ear drops and serious painkillers/ Then realised, I have no money, the money transfer i put to my credit card hadnt gone through so I had to watch what i spent (and ate). Back to the hotel (the gem) i asked the cutest receptionist if my bag had arrived. They had called saying it was on its way. Jose, then proceeded to flirt away. Cutie.
Walked around Little Italy and Soho but it was hot. Jose offered to take me to a dominican republic style resturant. Unfortunately he didnt come down to my room and by time i went up there he was gone. And still no luggage.
Went to a place called Kas.. for a $17 sandwich. Didnt expect that, but it was nice and full of pastrami (their specialty). Waited waited waited for luggage.......11pm!!!!!
I was relieved but very annoyed it took 12hrs to get. HOwever i could change my undies which is always nice. Next day flirt some more with Jose, caught subway to JFK to fly to Frankfurt. A
Arrived in Frankfurt at 5am with a massive earache and sooooo tired from non sleep. And I had 15 hrs to kill. SO I slept on the benches, got woken up by cops telling me to hold onto my bag, went to the airport doctor to sort out my ear (luckily the took my mastercard number without the card cause I had no money), slept on benches some more, and by this time could not be bothered going into Frankfurt so just hung around. The airport is huge so got lost many a time.
Then took another overnighter to Johburg and I was the lucky one on the whole plan to be surrouded by boyscouts. And smelly ones too. ARRGGGGHHH. But they were ok, alot more noisy in the airport than on the plane. Trip from johburg to zambia was effortless, except the hour wait to pay visa ($80 of my $82 I had to my name at this point) got picked up and taken to Jollyboys backpackers. Meet the crew who i will spend next month with.
Zambia
So i am living with Paula and Dan (very non talkative) both the mission owners, tour crew is Chelsea (my tent mate from oz, and oldest next to me), Dominic, Ruth and Ella and Rachel and Barry. We will also be working with Matt and Emma. The cooks are Mary and Berry and there are three local workers too. We are living at the village we will be working at (Mwandi) on Paula and Dan property, living in safari tents. Toilets are outdoor drop dunnies and outdoor showers. Pretty basic but all we need. Went for a walk in the village, greeted by all kids as per usual. Alot of people said hello and waved alot didnt.
We are not allowed to go into town at night, dont know if it is a religious thing or not. Cant say they are took strict, can drink and do what we want.
So we are going to build a hut for a family whos hut was burnt down. When we arrived they turned up so we meet the mother, Judith, three month old Kebe and Kib. The hut will be made of tree poles and mud so first morning we dug about 30 holes for the poles. Had to cut alot of the poles so used an axe. we all struggled with this, until kibb took over, he is about 12 yrs old, wearing thongs and just handled to axe like an expert. How embarrasing. Havent seen the man whos house it is anywhere. So we are basically going to work for our food. Apparently housed dont get built unless there are volunteers as the money goes towards materials. So least it is worthwhile. It is now lunchtime (for 2 hours) and we are all resting being very hot. We just had a game of arsehole to see which lucky three people are going to count pills at the hospital for the afternoon!! A few of us went to paint doors and windows of previous volunteer built huts.
Day 2 - today the rafters for our hut hadnt arrived, so we went to put another mud layer on a previous built volunteer hut. IT had cracks all over so we smoothed it down with termite mound mud with our hands. IT was a bit of fun. we then had a few friends down the river bank. Starting to get tired and sore but work must continue so we headed to a donor basketball court to shovel stones which will be used as cement for 2 hours. Hard work but a group of kids came to visit us and provided entertainment (well we had to provide the entertainment by twirling them around and taken lots of pictures). Good beer after work had put me nearly to sleep.
So far we have put all the supports and rafters on the hut we are building, we have been to church (which was pretty amazing and singing was stunning), we have shovelled stones for a never ending basketball court, we have visited a hospital (slightly uncomfortable) of which i have to go and help and candyarma tomorrow (old peoples home) which is like dongers. we have one full week of working ahead of us, then botswana.
Three days to Botswana, at the old peoples home we spent two hours raking the surrounding area for presentation purposes, then cleaned clothes in dirty dirty water. Lots of bleach and soap used. Today we started mudding our house, and most of the family and neighbours have come along to help. And of course the ladies and kids are so much better than us. However we fill the wall between the sticks with balls of mud, then when dry we 'throw' something i am not useful at - throw mud and the walls. This will continue for next two days.
Mwandi is a nice place, the air is constantly full of fire with people burning their rubbish, dust is everywhere, most ladies if not pregnant have a child on their back and one tagging behind them, chickens and their chicks everywhere, we have seen randomly roaming cattle in the streets, donkeys and pigs. It feels safe to walk around, most afternoons we have been going to Ians or Brians for a beer. I have befriended our next door neighbours named Lofonya ?? and we exchange lollies. each night we are very tired so some either sit around campfire or go to bed. We are not allowed in the village at night. Matt and Emma do this everynight, as to how they put up with it I do not know.
Heading to Botswana tomorrow, went to the OVC which I dont know what stands for but is run by australian church to feed orphan kids. About 270 kids come to be fed, have a play, do some activities. Awesome fun. All love having photo taken, get given good food to eat and plenty of it. One little kid stuck with me, loved laughing, couldnt get a smile off his face. Love them.
