Livingstone

So I am one week away from coming home. What a whirlwind it has been! Today is my first full day off since arriving and already it has been quite eventful. We flew into Livingstone yesterday after a very full week. Thursday we went back to Chazanga and Bwafwano and spent some time with the children. We did skits, singing, skipping and taught them cats cradle. The time flew by! As we left, a group of boys ran alongside and escorted us out of Chazanga. There were multiple points where they were faster than the car. It is a memory I will not soon forget.

Livingstone in many ways is like a different world. It is very touristy which has its ups and downs. It is certainly more expensive but there is a sense of pride evidenced on Main Street in the lack of garbage and the care of the buildings. This is the first time since I have arrived in Africa that I have not been overwhelmed by garbage everywhere.

A classmate of mine, Jasmin, and I are on our own today and we woke early to do a walking safari. It was amazing! The rhinos were only 10-15 feet away, if that, and we spent over half an hour just watching them. The giraffes were my favorite! Such beautiful creatures. We saw four grazing on the acacia trees, one of which was a baby. It is almost surreal, standing so close to these animals in their natural habitat.

We then went to the Royal Livingstone to watch the sunset and have supper. It was stunningly beautiful and quite the experience. When we went to have supper, the staff almost didn't let us in, because I don't think we fit the part! I think the backpack was a deterrent!

We had a young man named Gary who came to pick us up and he arrived before we were finished so we invited him to pull up a chair and enjoy dessert with us. As we chatted he spoke of how his father died in 1989 when he was five and how as an only child he felt responsible to care for his mother. Gary was clearly highly motivated and such a hard worker. It has not been easy for him as he related an all too familiar story of violence and alcohol abuse in his childhood. But despite the challenges, he spoke of integrity and honesty and the dream of one day having his own family to love and a business to run.

Then he stopped, and said that this was the first time he had been invited to share a meal with white people. I was so shocked! It is difficult to relate to the deeply entrenched barriers of color that exist in other parts of the world. He also expressed surprise that Jasmin and I travel together because of the differences in the colors of our skin. I learned so much that night in conversation with Gary. It was almost ironic that there the three of us sat, all different colors, sharing a meal at a place that almost rejected us because of our clothes and a backpack. Many of the deepest, most meaningful things that I have learned over the past month have occurred in informal conversations such as these.

Well there is so much I could continue to write, but I know you didn't sign up to read a novel, so I will save it for another time. Five days to go! Until next time....

Danielle

Meeting with UNICEF

Well today was supposed to be a trip to Chazanga but it was postponed until tomorrow. Instead we took a trip to the United Nations compound and met with UNICEF. It was quite an experience. The security was high and I had my camera confiscated. I have been designated the documentarian for our group and was planning to take a photo outside the compound and didn't realize that this was against the rules! Thankfully my camera was returned after our visit. Apparently I have a bit of a rebel inside....what can I say, I am my mother's daughter.

We met with four representatives from UNICEF to discuss issues relating to early childhood development and youth issues. It was truly inspirational. Two women in particular really resonated with my interests relating to to girls, self esteem and education. They have such a clear understanding of the need for girls to be involved in alternate activities such as sports and the arts to deter them from becoming involved in high risk activities. They were meeting with a group called Barefoot Theatre prior to our meeting, which is a theatre group that reaches out to children living in poverty in Lusaka. They are a group that is worth looking up on the Internet.

Time is certainly flying by...only a week and a half left. This weekend, I am heading down to see Victoria Falls in Livingstone which is considered to be one of the seven natural wonders of the world. I am sure that it will be an amazing experience. While this month in Zambia has been an opportunity I can't imagine missing, I am certainly looking forward to returning to my family and all of you at the clinic.

I will touch base again soon...until then.

Danielle

Safari

Well the weekend safari was amazing. I saw a lion, elephants, monkeys, baboons, sable antelope, hippos, puku and impala. It truly was a magical experience! I will attach pictures of our tent. We stayed at Mayukuyuku Camp in Kafue National Park. Their website is www.kafuecamps.com, feel free to take a look!

I was so impressed with the professionalism of the staff under the leadership of Pippa, the director. I told her I would put the camp on my blog with a five star recommendation. If you are ever in Zambia I highly recommend Mayukuyuku (and it is so fun to pronounce!).

On our morning game drive we came upon the bones of a hippo scattered about and being a chiropractor at heart, I jumped out of the jeep with my classmates and we pieced him back together. It was so much fun! A gentleman on our safari who has been in Africa for 24 years and participated in numerous safari activities, said it was one of his most memorable and enjoyable safari experiences. He thought we knew what we were doing...I will probably return home, take a closer look at my pictures and realize the "knee bones connected to the neck bone"! Despite my lack of expertise in hippo physiology, it was really fun!

Today we are heading back to Chazanga and Bwafwano to spend time with the children in an impoverished area of Lusaka. The plan is to do a children's program and learn more about their schooling, skills training programs and clinic.

Well, I should get ready for the day before the day sneaks up and takes me by surprise! Until next time...

Danielle

Western Province

Well, after 10 hours on the bus on Mothers Day, we arrived in Mongu. It was a true African experience. We arrived at the bus depot at 8:30 to leave at 9 and I think the bus finally pulled out around 10. And the luggage! The aisles were full of bags, boxes of bananas and fruits and bedding. Apparently we chose to travel on the last day of holidays so the bus was packed! It was a luxury bus much like our buses at home, yet with no air conditioning. There was however a TV and I have to laugh at the three movies that played during the course of our trip: 1. a tribal war movie, 2. killer safari movie (the dad was mauled, lots of screaming, and 3. a Vietnam movie with Martin Sheen and Harrison Ford from the 70s. Not reassuring film viewing when you are on a crowded bus in Africa! But, we made it safe and sound.

We arrived at dark and were taken to stay with Sister Stella and Kathy at Chestire House, a home that cares for orphans and children with physical disabilities that require rehabilitation. It was like arriving at a luxury resort! Each room had two beds and a bathroom with a shower and bathroom. Who knew we take so much for granted. There was a hot meal on the table and it was a wonderful gift for Mothers Day.

I have a great deal of respect for the work the sisters are doing. They care for 75 children with club feet, CP, juvenile arthritis and other limb deformities. Over 20 years, the facilities they have built up are quite overwhelming. They have a physio room, prosthetic lab and a paved central courtyard to facilitate movement for the children. I will post a picture of one young girl in the courtyard but I found the setting uplifting and inspirational.

We are now in Senanga and it is definitely rural Africa. It is quite an amazing spectrum of development from Lusaka to Senanga. Today we spent time with the medical director for the Senanga district as well as the director of the YWCA. The discussion of culture and gender roles was eye-opening to say the least and there is a great deal of work to be done in the area of violence against women. It is a lot to process!

Well tomorrow we are off to see the tribal Queen of Barotsi land. Hopefully I am more graceful than Mr. Bean when he met the Queen of England. Until next time thanks for your continued support and prayers!

Danielle

Hi Everyone!  I have a post all ready to go but have not had internet access until now.  Unfortunately I can't download it hear so I am going to keep you in suspense a bit longer!  I will tell you a bit about today though.  It was quite fun!

We are in Western Province, specifically in Senanga and today we took a trip out to a neighboring village called Sakumbi.  When we arrived, the women met us with singing and dancing.  It was amazing!  I also love to sing so I asked if I could join the and next thing I knew I was swept up, humming along and making them all laugh at my pronunciation.  These women are part of SMAG, which stands for Safe Maternal Action Group.  It truly is remarkable!  These women and men, volunteer to take antenatal care and education into the villages.  Some of them walk up to 40 km to reach these villages.  Their message is one encouraging mothers to go to health facilities to deliver their babies in order to reduce maternal and infant mortality.  So far their efforts have increased the number of women delivering in healthcare facilities from 15% to 50%.  This is all done without incentives!  One thing they identified as a need was T-shirts for SMAG members for community identification fostering a sense of belonging.  It is hard for our western minds to grasp that something that is so small to us....would be so meaningful to them.

As we left, I was given an African name.  Apparently, I am now Namakau, which means female farmer and implies that I am a hard worker!  Dr. Danielle Namakau Stewart-Smith...what do you think?

I must go, as I am sitting at an internet cafe in Senanga and am running out of time.  I will post some more adventures when I get back to Lusaka this weekend.  Tomorrow I am heading to a safari at Kafui park...I am hoping to see giraffes, elephants and perhaps a lion?  Wish me luck...until next time!

Danielle

Safe Arrival and Settling in

Well, I made it safe and sound and am sitting down at the end of my first day in Lusaka. It was very dark when I flew in so I can't say much about first impressions. The trip was largely uneventful: the KLM staff had a pet name for me by the time I left Calgary, my seat mate to Amsterdam was great and asked for my picture by the end so clearly I didn't drool on her as I slept, and I had the opportunity to hold a beautiful baby named Ugi on the way to Lusaka when she took a shine to me. Not bad for a start!

Kenzie asked me last night what Lusaka is like and it was night when we flew in so all I could say is dark! In the light of day, Lusaka is a city much like any other. We had a lunch date at the arcade mall today and what I have seen so far does not leave me in the culture shock I was anticipating. I must admit it is so nice not to have a language barrier!

The weather and vegetation reminds me a bit of Florida with rich red hues. The soil is copper in color and the air is warm and humid. The people are friendly and welcoming and I know I am going to learn a great deal from them.

In a few days we will be heading out to the western province and tribal area. I am sure I will have many stories to share when I return! Until then!

Danielle

Well this first update comes sitting in my own front room the night before I fly.  Having a hubby who is a "techie" means that I have a hard task master who is bound and determined to make sure that I know how to use all of the technology that I am taking with me!  I am quite new to the world of "blogger", "google plus" and "drop box" but with such a wonderful teacher, I am sure that I will quickly get the hang of it.

Thank-you all for your prayers, encouragement and support....next stop Africa!!

Danielle