The Adventures of Everyday Life

It is Monday morning and I am sitting at my desk knowing full well what I have planned for my day but wanting to sneak in a moment to blog.

Last week was spent focused on writing the Semi-Annual Report for the office.  I was responsible for taking information from the Program Director, Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Specialist, Finance and Grants Manager and Chief of Party and organizing their respective parts into a cohesive well written report.  I also had to incorporate  information form the previously filed Quarterly Report into the final document.  I felt good about the assignment especially as I felt a good flow in my writing and ideas.   Sometimes it happens and other times I struggle to get the ideas and concepts down (read: writers' block).

I felt organized and must say I even managed to complete the assignment ahead of schedule.  By Tuesday I had a draft to the Chief of Party.  Accepting her comments and track changes in the document would be easy and quick and it looked like I should start making plans to get myself on a flight Wednesday to Amsterdam for a long weekend to celebrate Konningendag (Queen's Day) with my friends there.  The flights were open (seats were available for standby travelers) and I was getting my head around the fact that after a 12+ hour all night flight on Wednesday I would be with my friends in my favorite city for my favorite party of the year by Thursday morning.  Perfect.

I didn't hear back from Jeannie until 18h00 (6:00PM) Tuesday before we left work to head home.  She had been swamped with her new responsibilities as interim VP for Africa the entire day and hadn't an opportunity to look at the report.  To make matters worse, she was leaving for Namibia in the morning so wouldn't have anything back to me until sometime Wednesday afternoon.  The likelihood of making the trip to Amsterdam seemed to be in jeopardy.  Within a matter of hours I went from being elated to be going to Amsterdam to the disappointment of missing the biggest weekend of the year there.

The bad news was it looked more and more like I would not get the feedback on the report back in time to make the flight to Johannesburg to connect to the flight to Amsterdam.  The good news was that I had a back up plan to go with my friend Simone to Harare, Zimbabwe for the weekend international arts and entertainment festival there should the Amsterdam trip not materialize.  I'd be lying if I didn't say I was bummed not to be making the trip to Amsterdam and in my obsessive way couldn't stop thinking about how I could make the last flight out of Lusaka to Johannesburg that would allow me to connect to the only flight Wednesday to Amsterdam.

The report was not forthcoming and I watched the clock on Wednesday as the minutes passed turning into hours and the hour past 13h40 and my last opportunity to get to my party weekend past.  I resolved myself to the fact I'd miss getting to Amsterdam and focused my thoughts on a great weekend ahead in a place I had never been enjoying Harare's festival.  I sent Simone a text saying simply "Zim?" and passed the rest of Wednesday looking for accommodation in Harare and flights for Simone and I to get there and back.

To make a long story short the plans for the arts and entertainment festival in Harare also fell through.  For a guy who is used to doing things his way and making things happen usually on a whim (especially when it comes to traveling and having a good time) I was bummed.  I was determined to make something happen by going to Harare alone, but without a vehicle here of my own and what was now a $650 airline ticket on Air Zimbabwe (had I made an 'application' the day prior Air Zimbabwe would have provided me a reduced rate ticket) my chances to get away for the weekend were foiled.

Wednesday night I was invited by Nicholas to join his Dad at his "Primary Years Program Exhibition" at the American International School in Lusaka.    The kids prepared during the course of their entire primary education for this event.  They chose a theme (in this case recycling) and a topic ('Finding a Balance') and through research, song, dance, interviews and multi-media presentations they explained everyone's role and responsibility in sustaining the planet.  It was such an impressive presentation for a group of fifth graders!  No doubt the kids of expats get a great education.

Despite the travel disappointments it was a good weekend here in Lusaka.   I finished the report Friday afternoon and got out of the office a little after 16h00.  Kathleen and Al were hosting a dinner party on Friday night at their place so I made a stop at the Manda Hill Shoprite before heading home for some wine and other provisions to take to the party and for the weekend

What was planned as a pizza party became a BBQ for 25.  I made my guacamole which has now become a hit among my new circle of friends.  It was a great evening.  I met a family from Tacoma and had some great conversations throughout the evening.

I started my weekend Saturday morning with my usual run through Kabulonga neighborhood and was perched on my lounge chair at the pool shortly thereafter.  I took a break from my sunbathing to join Al and Kathleen at the Dutch Reform Church Market that is held on the last Saturday of each month.  The market is a treat for the senses with unforgettable sights, sounds and smells.  There are food vendors grilling, frying, steaming and otherwise preparing incredible Chinese, Indian, Mexican and African foods, among others.  There is even fresh, locally made cheeses.  Artists display their art and vendors show off wood and stone carvings, jewelery, sewing and other wares both Zambian and from throughout Africa.  I loaded up on some local cheeses and some tortillas and fresh salsa thinking about mixing up some more guacamole for dinner.  Avocados are found everywhere here in Zambia and grow in huge mature trees.  They are a dime a dozen here and their availability is a decadence and luxury of living here!

When I got home I asked Davies (the gardener) if he could harvest some avocados for me from a huge tree in the yard.  He gladly agreed, fetched a ladder, removed his shoes and began climbing high into the tree.  He picked a couple and I told him to drop them and that I would catch them so they did not bruise when hitting the ground.  Did I mention how large and heavy these avocados are?  The first one was dropped and instead of catching it the way I thought I could, it hit my little finger and, well, hurt it.  I knew immediately with the sound, sight and feeling that a bruised avocado would have been better than a broken finger.  I immediately pulled on the tip of my finger to make sure it was in place and began to bend it.  I didn't think it was broken until I woke up on Sunday and my finger was swollen in place.  The damn avocados weren't even ripe.

Mike and I continued our West Wing marathon late into Saturday night.  What a great show!  Not being one for TV I can say it is probably the best TV I have ever watched!  We're well into season 3 now and I look forward to perching in front of the set every night with Mike to get an episode or two in.  Jeannie returned from Namibia Saturday night and we sat up talking about her trip.

Jeannie and I had a run on Sunday morning.  I always feel so much more inspired to run when Jeannie is home.  It is good to have someone to run with and to set the pace a bit faster than normal.  I hit the lounge chair again for a couple of hours listening to podcasts of NPR shows.  Mike, Nicholas and I went for a hair cut and to do some shopping for an impromptu Sunday afternoon BBQ and yard party.  Al, Kathleen and the girls came over and Michael, Diana and their kids also joined in.  I felt in my element preparing food for our end of the weekend feast.  I so enjoy being with these people and feel so fortunate that they have welcomed me so warmly and lovingly into their circle.  It was a beautiful day!

Though the weekend was not what I anticipated it was lovely all the same.  I don't feel as though I am having so many 'adventures' as much as I am simply living an ordinary daily life here.  Things are normal and ordinary as though I were at home and I am beginning to feel I am.  Nice.

I am off to the doctor to have an x-ray of my finger and to find out just what kind of damage that falling avocado has done.  Keep your fingers crossed (no pun intended) it isn't too screwed up.

Thanks for reading!