Ndine munthu, sindine nyama! by Charlene

I have completed my two week course and I have been thoroughly initiated into the ways of the Zambian people. The course was really excellent and it covered topics such as Zambian history, culture, economics, traditional religion, the judicial system, the role of chiefs in today’s society and much more. Most of the topics had guest speakers who were experts in their field making it very interesting.

The course also included daily language training. Zambia has 12 official languages so most communications are done in English but I wanted to learn a few of the basics in Nyanga (nee-AN-ja). When I go on my morning walks and when I shop at the market I have been greeting local people with “Mwauka bwanji?” (mwa-OOO-ka BWA-ngee) which is always met with surprise, a smile and sometimes laughter. It seems that not many muzungus (white people) take the time to learn any local language. I think of it as bringing joy to someone’s day. Just like yesterday when Siggi passed me on the road and gave me a huge bunch of bananas still on the stem. I turned to carry them back home and there were a group of Zambians who actually pointed and shouted out loud “A muzungu carrying bananas!” Apparently it was terribly funny. Anyway, the language training was good but I couldn’t get my head around all of the phrases. The expression in the title of this blog is “I am a person, I am NOT an animal!” It was one of the first phrases we learned but I haven’t found occasion to use it but just in case the question arises, I’m ready for it!

We had a couple of outings as part of the course and meeting Christine was one of the most inspirational moments. This Scottish family moved here on business (she is a doctor and he is an accountant) and they have a tremendous heart for the street kids. To make a long story short, they started by inviting the street kids over for Sunday dinner and gave them an opportunity to bathe, wash their clothes, swim in their pool and have a nice big meal and that has developed over a couple of years to them now having 44 street kids living in their home with them! They send all of the school age kids to private school and they also teach the boys carpentry, welding, farm management and she has recently started a catering and baking business to teach more skills to her household. A completely amazing and inspirational family that has changed the future of these children forever.

Christine in her converted garage which is now a bedroom for 14 boys.