Tuesday 13 May 2014

Victoria Falls...

Pure Nature... Magical... Wild... BEAUTIFUL

Locals say, U should visit the Falls 12 times a year... or at least 4, in different seasons, which causes different water level and creates completely different view.




I was there in February, in the middle of raining season... 
I'm planning to come back in October (middle of dry season and the hottest month)

Will let you know, if Locals were right! :)

By Marta Karpinska
By Marta Karpinska


Funny Thing about VF... If you're a tourist u need to pay 100 KWA (20$) for the Entrance, 
while residents pay only 7 KWA ;)

Oh! And if you're planning to visit VF, do not take too many things with you! Local Monkeys really liked my bag and they tried to steal it. I can tell you, it was quite scary to struggle with furious, 
very strong actually, red eyed and hungry wild animals... don't try it! ;)

by Marta Karpinska
By Marta Karpinska

So, take the camera. That's it, u don't need anything else. 
If it's rainy u can rent a double (very pro) raincoat and flip-flaps for 5 KWA.

Few words for History Lovers ;)
David Livingstone, the Scottish missionary and explorer, is believed to have been the first European 
to view Victoria Falls on 16 November 1855. 

He named his discovery in honour of Queen Victoria, but the indigenous name, Mosi-oa-Tunya—
"the smoke that thunders"—continues in common usage. Mosi is also the most popular beer in Zambia ;)

www.businessrevieweurope.eu


Sunday 11 May 2014

Chinali Chokondweletsa

Means 'It was delicious'... it was my favourite lie ;)


Typical Zambian dish... Nshima! 




It's a mix of ground maize (corn flour) and water. It is absolutely tasteless. They make small nshima balls in hands, dip them in salt and eat... That's the simpliest, the poorest version. Sometimes they mix it with Carpenta (tiny, sorry but stinky fishes) or cabbage... 



Salt is the only 'spice' they know, so everything is really, really salty.




We eat Nshima, what do we drink? Chibuku!

It is a beer (at least they say so :p ) It's made of corn of course, it's white/grey ish, with some small grey/black pieces inside, tastes like stale milk, smells like leaven, and they sell it in Milk Boxes, 
2 KWA(0,3 USD) for 1 litre.

from www.khmer440.com

Once I was a guest and the Housewife prepared a meal especially for me. European meal (in her opinion) it was Rice, potatoes and pasta, boiled all together... and Coke... I was laughing that rice was so salty and potatoes  so greasy that I needed to drink coke to 'kill' the fat and salt in my stomach :)

Did I mention that I'm very active and I like healthy food and I generally 
don't eat white rice, pasta nor soft drinks? ;)

What did I say after finishing the meal? Chinali Chokondweletsa! :D


;)

Guys left me...

And I became...

That's another great thing about Africa... you go there as a student... 3 months later you can say you're a bricklayer, plumber, electrician, painter, english/maths/biology/philosophy/economics teacher, cook, nurse, doctor... and even a Pilot! :D



Cause the best cure is a colorful plaster and ice cream ;)



Kids in Zambia really enjoy school, of course only those who have the opportunity to attend classes. They understand how important education is. 
Teaching them was pure joy... they were even excited about homework! 
(I remember hating it :p )




African Hell's Kitchen ;)


by Jacek Gniadek
Need a Pilot? - Palibemvuto!
Haha :) 2 b honest, that's a picture from 'Pilots in Linda' event... Many of my Pupils told me, they wanted to be a Pilot, so I asked my friend to come, talk to them, show them pictures and movies from the plane ;) and he did! 
They absolutely loved it!

As you can see, in Africa I did maaaaaany things, but the greatest and most important was becoming a part of Linda's community (when people stopped calling me Muzungu, and I bacame Muzanga(Friend) or Dr Ana... Priceless!)





My African Family ;)

From the Beginning

I went to Africa with ASBIRO Foundation to build a school in Linda 
(the poorest neighbourhood of Lusaca, the capital of Zambia). 
I spent there 4 weeks with 6 amazing Guys and 1 Lady. 
Gentlemen were dealing with the roof, I was painting ;) 
we also did some plastering, 
and for few days I was electrician's helper ;)

by Marta Karpinska

by Marta Karpinska

by Marta Karpinska

by Marta Karpinska
It was a great time, loads of fun and good laugh. 
We were building the school with few Zambians, they were teaching us nyanja, we tried to teach them polish. They told us a lot about their country and generally 'bout life in Africa, We did the same, about Poland and Europe... in the end of the day, they always asked same, two questions.

1. When can I come to Poland?
2. Ana, will you marry me? 

Hahaha it was veeeery common, I can't remember a day, whithout marriage proposal!

Once, Lady asked me 'If I'd become her husband's second wife?' 

Guess what was my answer?

-Palibemvuto! :D



by Marta Karpinska

Palibemvuto

In Chinyanja it Means No Problem.


Chinyanja is one of 72 dialects used in Zambia. Yes! 72 different languages in One Country!

But Theoretically the Official Language is English... Practically apart from city centre of Lusaca, most People can only say 'How are you, Muzungu?' Muzungu means White Person or Stranger... but when they call u Muzungu, I don't think it's insultive, It's just sth new for them... especially for Kids, who are very curious...
When Children in Linda saw me, they were screaming Muzungu, Muzungu! But they were soooo cheerful and excited at the same time, They loved to run into me, take me down on the floor, hug, hold my hands, play with my 'extra soft' hair ;) ... but even just High Five with Muzungu, was sth super cool for them ;)






That is sth I loved about Africa... The People... 
They really don't need much to be happy. 
A chance to play with Muzungu's watch or sunglasses... 
or to borrow her Tshirt... priceless  ;)



Ladies and Gentlemen, am honoured to invite His Excellency, 
Bupe (in Nyanja it means Gift), my African younger Brother ;)
As you can see, Ana's tee + Ana's watch = Pure Happiness :D







One said that 'We've got success, They've got Happiness' ... 
It's true, their lives are simple.

Their needs are simple. 
They do not Overthink, Worry nor Calculate too much...


I have absolutely No Idea, How to Start...

So maybe I'll just keep it simple...

My name is Joanna, I am 20. I used to study Cognitive Science... Thn I'd been living and working in Dublin for 6 months, to earn some money and go to Africa... to be a volunteer... (cause it's not like people say... Everybody can do volunteering... you just need a good plan ;)

And believe me it is worth it! :)

I had been living in Zambia for 3 months and I must say, it was THE BEST TIME OF MY LIFE :D

I've met sooooo many great people, discovered completely different world, learnt a lot and definatelly I have changed a lot...

Africa was just the beginning... I want this blog to be about travelling... I hope it's gonna be interesting and you'll enjoy it  ;)


Stay tuned for the next episode ;)


xoxo

Jo