The Weary Traveler returns!

I just got back from my trip to the Copper Belt; boy is it good to be back in the bush again! I didn’t take many pictures because I was so busy living, but here are a few of the highlights of the trip.

* I went to the dentist and found that instead of having a massive problem like I feared, I have a gum infection. Easily taken care of; less than $100 for a cleaning and the antibiotics. I love living in Zambia sometimes…

* I treated myself to a manicure and my first non-home haircut. I am very happy with both, and it was a nice way to pamper myself after a stressful term.

* I did a lot of shopping; I don’t know when the next time I’ll be able to take a buying trip is, so I stocked up on staples like flour and sugar, as well as not available in the bush commodities like meat, cheese, and apples. I also bought new curtains for my living room, and found a few other nice household things.

* I enjoyed getting to eat out a bit and enjoy gelato every afternoon on my way home. $2 for two scoops? Lovely little splurge!

* I got to spend some time with my ‘Zambian family,’ the Fernandos and enjoy some amazing Sri Lankan cooking as well as lots of laughter and fellowship. I desperately needed some family time, and the Fernandos were a good substitute for my family. No, I didn’t take any pictures because I was too busy enjoying my time with them!

* I ended up transporting 51 point of lay chickens as well as two bags of dried fish back up to the school with me, and picking up the school’s textbook order before heading up. Needless to say it was a smelly drive. I had to have all the windows cracked because the chickens generated so much heat, and so they could breathe. Feathers blew all over me and out the windows the whole way up, and if I never smell a chicken in that state again, it will be too soon!

*On my way back to Sakeji, after leaving the pavement in Mwinilunga, between the first and third river that you have to cross to get to the school I found myself facing a steep hill that had turned into a sea of mud after several cars had shredded it. I had to back down the mud hill to let a lorry down, and then I got stuck as I tried to climb it. I ended up being pushed up the hill by a crew of enthusiastic Zambians in exchange for a loaf of bread. I was nervous about what I would find on the last hill, but that one was still fine. Praise the Lord that it was still light, and that there was enough manpower on hand to get me up! It is very good to be back home in the bush.

Parting shots: This poor robot (what they call traffic lights here) in Solwezi got nailed!

This is what the car looked like when I got back!

This is how narrow the road is in many places right after Solwezi; after that it disappears entirely for large stretches while you are sent on long detours full of speed bumps, mud, and dust. They aren’t fixing it fast enough; this is the main highway through the country!

Finally, my new haircut right after it was done while my hair was still straight. The humidity took care of that in quick order!